Psychiatrists are taught that frustration tolerance is an ego strength that human beings need in order to make a successful adaptation to life. While the newborn is entitled to have all its needs met promptly and unconditionally, the developing child is expected to gradually learn to delay gratification as s/he must wait for the parent to produce food, remove a wet diaper, soothe aching gums, play a game, etc. Decreasing frustration tolerance, in lay language, translates into a lack of patience.