It is proposed that the confusion surrounding the diagnosis of hysterical personality disorder may be eliminated by restricting its applicability to cases with a specific psychodynamic formulation. The primary developmental problem is conflict at the oedipal stage, with the drive organization being phallic and directed toward the mother. The major aim of the defensive organization is to avoid re-emergence of the phallic narcissistic injury, and the superego is subject to the influence of others. Clinical material is cited. The authors review the literature extensively and conclude that confusion results from including syndromes with too wide a range of symptom formation and psychodynamics.