Oedipal resolution is presented as a later phase of self development, i.e., beyond the earlier issues of cohesion and fragmentation. In the case presentation a woman patient became irritable when guilt about positive oedipal longings for the father-analyst was spoken of. This negative affect persisted until the analyst told the patient that she wanted the mother-analyst to acknowledge support or at least not attack the patient for her desires about father. This was understood to be a transference repetition of the oedipal child's need to have the mother mirror (support, approve) the child's desires for father, i.e., a transference. Only after this was clarified could the oedipal transferences to father be effectively worked with in the analysis. The mirroring function of the parent as an oedipal selfobject supports the child, thereby allowing the relinquishing of infantile object ties and wishes, and the formation of identifications and superego structures. A harsh parent who cannot provide empathic mirroring can produce harsh identifications and ultimately a harsh superego in the child.