The authors attempt a metapsychological description of play. They point out that all the characteristics of the primary process can be seen in children's play. In play, forbidden anxiety-producing impulses can be acted on without guilt or anxiety, and they can be used to bring external reality under control of the ego. The principal mechanism by which this can be achieved is denial of the forbidden impulses with the attendant anxiety and flooding of the self with libido. The many parallels between the characteristics of infantile sexuality and childhood play are emphasized. The basic model for play is what Kardos and Peto label 'primal play at the breast', where there is a denial of the bad aspects of the situation. The authors also discuss play in contrast to the phenomenon of depersonalization, which is described as the 'archaic patterns of losing objects' whereas play 'represents the effort of finding and integrating this object'.