A central feature of early disturbances is the unsuccessful or yet-to-be-successful transition from the nesting of the micro-worlds of mother and child to an autonomous connection with the abilities of being alone and the positive connection with the micro-world of another object. The manipulation of object relations is the preferred defense mechanism, while intrapsychic defense is typical for neurotic forms of conflict regulation. However, psychoanalysis lacks a comprehensive theory of fantasizing. How should the relationship between affective processes and fantasies be understood? A theory of the mental micro-world provides the prerequisite for this.