What happens to the defenses under the impact of analysis? Few analysts believe that defenses are abolished. The author formulates the concept of an integration of the defenses. By this he means a change from unconscious, segregated, pathogenic defenses to those which are under the control of the conscious ego. To the extent that the defenses become 'integrated', there is increased mastery of the impulses and decreased intersystemic conflict, as well as decreased conflict within the ego.