The author believes that guilt (or what appears to be guilt) may, like every other emotion, have various origins and serve various psychic functions. She disputes the idea that the only source of guilt is fear of the superego. Much that appears to be guilt is really a hidden reproach at the object aimed at making him feel guilty. Self-reproach may be a method of obviating reproach by the object and thus gaining an advantage. Guilt may be due to introjection of the guilt of the object. Excessive guilt may act as a reassurance that in reality things are not so bad, as occurs in an 'examination dream'. Guilt seemingly caused by one thing may act as a defense against more severe guilt felt about something else. The author warns against analyzing guilt simply as a threat by the superego, thus missing the hostile elements aimed at the object. The author does not always make it clear whether she is writing about primary guilt secondarily turned to other uses, or about fraudulent guilt primarily used otherwise than as a punishment imposed by the superego.