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Fairbairn traces the general development of some concepts of analytic theory and practice: the unconscious, repression, infantile sexuality, the Oedipus situation, and the influence of early experiences, repressed elements, and parental introjects, in determining 'internal reality', character structure, and symptomformation. He discusses changes in Freud's thinking, such as his broadening the concept of the unconscious to include, besides 'the repressed', elements of structure and energy. Freud's early view of symptoms as manifestations of the 'return of the repressed' was submerged later in the ideas about ego defenses. Fairbairn discusses some connections between aggression, repression, and resistance, and some of the ideas of Melanie Klein and Glover regarding transference phenomena and the internalization of 'good' and 'bad' objects. He describes attempts to isolate differentiating features of psychoanalytic therapy and compares the passive and active techniques of adult and child analytic therapy. He compares therapy with religious salvation in regard to the need of forgiveness of 'sins' and the need to cast out 'devils', (which are 'bad' introjects). Therapy has progressed from interpretation of the repressed to work with defenses, resistance, and transference. The 'here and now' of the analytic situation must be interpreted in terms of both the patient's early history and current internal situation. The chief contribution of psychoanalysis to the cause of mental health lies in the prophylactic enlightenment of the public about the importance of giving the child the emotional security of a home and attention from both parents, guarding it against emotional deprivations such as separation from the mother, the traumatic effect of excessive jealousy, observation of sexual intimacies of parents, and other influences shown by psychoanalysis to be harmful.