The study deals with the problem of primary and secondary processes, with their concepts being in progression at present. The opinions of several depth psychology oriented authors have been presented, as well as the latest fi ndings in the fi eld of neurobiology, polemizing with the Freud’s original characterization of both processes. The structural character of primary process has been considered, as well as their parallel development. Besides, the considerations on therapeutic use of imagination, the method applied in Guided Affective Imagery by Leuner, in connection with the primary process have been presented.

        Key words: primary process, secondary process, implicit-procedural memory, explicit-declarative memory, Guided Affective Imagery.