The 'trade lover' among homosexuals is one who hates other homosexuals and prefers as an ideal partner a heterosexual, married athlete; it is desirable that the partner be homosexually a virgin and one who is trying out homosexual contact for the sake of variety. The 'trade lover's' greatest triumph comes when he can evoke 'active participation' in the initially passive resistant partner. The difficulty of finding a partner to meet these specifications is obvious.

Bergler theorizes that the typical homosexual wishes to be mistreated by a woman—mother. This wish is an alien one, and the homosexual camouflages it by substituting man for woman. The aim however is continued. Although he speaks of wanting love and understanding from a man, the underlying need is for mistreatment. The 'trade lover' is a hypermasochist. He sets up conditions which absolutely assure disappointment. Two case histories are presented to support and illustrate the author's thesis.