In the first oral phase, the infant sees a 'mother' in every object and, splitting her into a good and a bad component, it creates two sets of symbolic equivalents. On losing the loved object the child goes through the depressive experience, and assimilates (recaptures) the object as a symbol within the ego. This is the fundamental mechanism in symbol formation: every aspect of the lost object, every situation that is surrendered in the process of growing, gives rise to symbolic representation. Symbols enable one to conceive and elaborate feelings and ideas concerning objects.