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Kanner's autistic infantile psychosis and Mahler's symbiotic infantile psychosis are described in detail by Silbermann as a basis for his examination of certain aspects of preoedipal character disorder. The autistic child has no affective awareness, is withdrawn and alone. The symbiotic type remains fixed at a parasitic relation between child and mother, failing to achieve an object-libidinal cathexis with her. The nucleus of its ego is less damaged than is that of the autistic child, and it can therefore cope to a certain degree with its drives in spite of severe ego distortions. In comparison with such cases, Silbermann describes two patients with character disorders, both resembling obsessive-compulsives. One showed withdrawal and limited interest in his environment, the other too intensive and prolonged dependency. 'The autistic character disorder, symbiotically starved, may be likened to an immoderate anal system; the symbiotic character disorder, symbiotically overfed, to a large open-mouthed stomach, eager to receive and never filled to satisfaction.' Both infantile psychoses show a marked defect in ego development, with failure in transforming, taming, and controlling the id. The 'constitutionally damaged' psychotic child does not possess the endowment to create an adequate ego; the child with preoedipal character disorder has an immature and developmentally delayed ego nucleus which under unfavorable conditions becomes an incompetent ego. The 'conditions' are imposed by the personality of the parents, primarily of the mother: if her aggressions predominate, autism ensues, whereas if her unhealthy libidinal forces prevail, symbiosis results.