Two episodes of insight near the end of a patient's analysis are presented. The author describes one as psychoanalytic, the other as reality-oriented. Both are considered essential for working through. An attempt is made to delineate various phases in the achievement of insight such as suspension of active attention, attempted mastery through fantasy, self-observation, and re-integration. While reality-oriented insight is also achieved by working through there is a different manner in 'deploying attention', and mastery through fantasy production is not as important. In the former the observing ego is better able to revive the original childhood conflict, to cope with and master it. The analysand may continue to employ such technique even after the termination of his analysis.

Genetic factors that may foster the capacity for psychoanalytic insight are also discussed. Of paramount importance in developing this capacity are the interactions between child and parents in which the child is permitted to tolerate uncertainty and to gain mastery over conflicts.