A particular way in which some patients respond to unwelcome interpretations is described: initial agreement is immediately followed by some reference to factors in external reality which the patient states also played a part in determining his reactions. The patient consciously believes himself in agreement with the interpretation, but the addenda emphasizing reality factors actually represent an unconscious denial of the correctness and importance of the analyst's explanation. This response is a kind of defense, the structure of which is analogous to negation.

A clinical illustration is presented showing this defense in operation. The purpose of the defense is to ward off uncomfortable affects associated with the content of the interpretation and also to avoid bad feelings toward the analyst for making the unwelcome observation. For convenience, this defense is called the 'Yes, but …' response, although these words need not literally appear in the verbal content of the patient's remarks.