In the preceding chapter the phenomena produced by the repression of a complex were divided into two groups, those due to the indirect expression of the complex itself, and those due to the presence of a resistance or censure which prevents the complex exercising its normal direct effect. In all the examples hitherto considered the symptoms present could without much difficulty be assigned to one or other of these two groups. It will nevertheless be obvious that this distinction is largely artificial, and that in the formation of each symptom the factors of indirect expression and resistance both take part. The symptoms may be regarded, in fact, as a compromise between the two factors in question. The complex struggles to express itself, while the resistance endeavours to prevent it achieving its end. The symptom is finally evolved as a compromise between the two opposing forces. In each of the examples cited in the last chapter, however, one of the two components seemed to play a preponderating part in the compromise produced, so that the symptom could be classified as belonging to the corresponding group.

The group of symptoms to which we must now direct our attention, those due to the mechanism of ‘projection’, exhibit this preponderance of one component to a less marked degree, and the phenomena belonging to it are best regarded as instances of compromise formation in which the parts played by the two opposing forces are approximately equal.