Researches into the functioning of the ego have brought forth the insight that its conflict-free sphere develops at an innately determined rate if the environment provides adequate opportunity for such development. This insight has led to increased understanding of such phenomena as masturbation, which is now seen not only as an id manifestation but as an important and normal step in the child's separation from the mother and ability to gratify himself independently. The implications for technique focus on exposing the factors that have interfered with ego as well as psychosexual development to the end the ego can continue in the direction of increasing autonomy and capacity to handle drives. In more disturbed cases support of the highest level of development the ego has reached is necessary, along with interpretation of the original situation which hampered development. In the analytic relationship the development of dependence on the analyst is accompanied from the outset by the analyst respecting and promoting the patient's autonomy so that he becomes increasingly independent of him.