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THE NATURE OF THE CHILD'S SENSE OF HIMSELF CANNOT BE traced without characterizing his relationship to his closest objects, his parents; nor can it be understood without examining the implications of his helplessness at birth.
The biological factor is the long period of time during which the young of the human species is in a condition of helplessness and dependence. Its intra-uterine existence seems to be short in comparison with that of most animals, and it is sent into the world in a less finished state. As a result, the influence of the real external world upon it is intensified and an early differentiation between the ego and the id is promoted. Moreover, the dangers of the external world have a greater importance for it, so that the value of the object which can alone protect it against them and take the place of its former