Psychotherapists have been slow in recognizing the impact on the ego of change in the surrounding reality. Modern reality prevents development of individuality and maturity, the establishment of higher values, and the expression of deeper feelings. The extensive ego modifications of our time are results of this changed social reality, to which technical and scientific advances have contributed. Deindividualization results in formation of and tendencies toward supraindividual groups which enforce standardization; individuality is possible only within communal groups. Modern art, music, and poetry mirror the distortions and dehumanizations to which the individual is subject. For instance, in art the attitude of the ego is reflected in feelings such as apathy, block of affect, coldness of presentation, and severe distortion of object relationships. Classical æsthetic standards are rejected. The therapeutic dilemma is one in which therapy fosters an increased individual expressiveness which runs counter to the autoplastic changes of the ego in relation to modern reality.