The cliche is often advanced that if you inhibit your desires a phenomenon of conditioning (superego) takes place. As already explained, overindulgence in one's desires conditions the ego also. The unfortunate part is that the awareness of ego conditioning is not self-evident. In such cases the ego becomes colossal, and the psychologist and his patient do not become aware of it until the ego starts to behave like a despot or psychopath. The harm caused by ego conditioning is much greater than the superego conditioning, commonly known as subconscious suppression.