Hierarchical structuring of drives and defenses makes it possible for the ego to rely on displacements or shifts in cathexes, as well as on countercathexes, in the service of repression.

Parapraxis represents an attempt to achieve repression by countercathexis, for example, when words or names are forgotten. When the slip of memory produces substitute words, the choice can be determined by a shift of cathexis to another level of drive organization in an attempt to re-enforce repression of the presenting conflictual drive derivatives. As further conflict is encountered at the level to which the conflict has been displaced, recall of the forgotten word may occur as an apparent resolution of the parapraxis. However, further analysis often reveals that this can represent another defensive shift, and the clues provided may be used to uncover the defensive activity and the drives at each level.