The structure of character armour is based on the denial of libidinal, i.e. sexual, needs in childhood, depending on the developmental stage at which drive satisfaction is blocked. If, for
example, a baby is hindered in the satisfaction of oral pleasure needs - contact with the mother's breast - or if a three-year-old child, instead of being allowed to feel pleasure in excretion,
is forced to develop disgust and revulsion, certain character trajectories are set. However, the formation of character is sealed by the form of overcoming the Oedipus complex. The child develops
genital needs towards a parent, these are rejected and the child turns the force of sexual strivings against its own person. What kind and how strong the neurotic aspect of the character is thus
depends on the time of the drive denials, their intensity and frequency, as well as on the failing person himself.
Wilhelm Reich contrasts the neurotic character with the genital character. While the neurotic character is no longer able to experience direct drive satisfaction, the genital character has never
been blocked too far so that it can engage in satisfying sexual and social contacts.
Normally, sick and healthy elements of the character structure mix, so there are no purely neurotic or purely genital characters. The aim of all Reich's psychiatric methods is to secure healthy,
i.e. genital, character elements as comprehensively as possible.