Bergeret considers the economic differences which separate "depressivity" from actual depression. "Depressivity" or the "essential depressive" seems to correspond to the depressive personality organization. Depressivity constitutes a defense as much against the failure of narcissistic counterinvestments as against perceived threats of object loss. By this the author means that there is a difficulty in preserving an internal object, in addition to a difficulty in abandoning the relationship with an external object and mourning for its loss. As a defensive organization, depressivity results in characterological compromises which are often long-lasting and which can succeed, more or less, in maintaining self-esteem and object idealization sufficient to permit adequate functioning and sometimes even to incite a certain level of restorative creativity. Yet the functioning is barely adequate, and there is vulnerability to decompensation and actual depression. The anal-receptive phase of development is very important. Oral