anaclitic object choice
in psychoanalytic theory, the selection of a mate or other love object who will provide the same type of assistance, comfort, and support that the individual received from the parents during infancy and early childhood: A woman chooses a man resembling her father and a man chooses a woman like his mother. Sigmund Freud contrasted this with narcissistic object choice, which involves selecting a mate who is similar to oneself. According to Freud, these are the only two possible types of object choice. Also called anaclitic love. See also anaclisis.