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Recent developments in ego psychology have led to increased interest in the theory of schizophrenia, with special reference to very early stages of infant development. Some studies lay stress on predispositional factors: a primary disturbance of the instincts with quantitatively increased aggression; insufficient libidinal neutralization of aggression; and maternal deprivation. Pathological ego formation, with its grave consequences, results under such conditions. According to Melanie Klein, some schizophrenia develops from an accentuation of the usual process of splitting an object into good and bad portions, with corresponding splitting of the ego. Hartmann believes the central problem is failure of neutralization of aggression because of defects in the inherited ego apparatus. Mahler and Eissler also emphasize constitutional factors to explain ego defects. The author suggests that such a defective ego fails to protect the very young infant against too great intensity of stimuli,—in nursing, for example. That experience therefore is unpleasant; there is failure to derive normal gratification in nursing, and the relative depletion of libidinal investment in the object, the breast, upsets the balance of libidinal-aggressive forces, producing unneutralized aggression. Modell also discusses the relation of structural defects to symptoms.