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This paper discusses mature altruism ("otherhood") that is not primarily defensive but occurs for the expansion of another sense of self. The authors connect this kind of mature altruism to adult development as first conceptualized by Erikson (his stage of generativity). They trace the notion of psychological development as a lifelong process from Erikson to Benedek's ideas of parenthood as a developmental process, Loewald's adult analysis, including a developmental thrust apart from insight and conflict resolution, and Kohut's self-enhancement through the resumption of normal development in the narcissistic sphere. The authors delineate the range of mature altruistic ("otherhood") experiences in adult life in which another's emotional needs have priority over one's own. These include relationships in which the two participants exist on different emotional gradients, e.g., teacher-pupil, parent-child, and others in which there is less of a difference in the emotional gradient, such as husband-wife. "Full adult empathy," the capacity to comprehend and respond to one's objects in their own right, is required. The Shanes also believe that this type of response is a basic need throughout life, not just in infancy. They briefly outline Stern's concepts and use them to identify three "otherhood" functions. Even in mature altruism, one is at the same time either consciously or unconsciously satisfying one's own needs. They turn to three clinical cases to clarify these theoretical points. Their focus is not directly on the transference, however, but on the patients' reports of their interactions with significant persons outside the transference. One case is reported in detail and over a long period of time, so that the development of the capacity for "otherhood" can be seen. The authors separate out what they believe to be the effects of the analysis, the patient's marriage, and his fatherhood on the development of this "otherhood."