compartmentalization

n. a defense mechanism in which thoughts and feelings that seem to conflict or to be incompatible are isolated from each other in separate and apparently impermeable psychic compartments. In the classical psychoanalytic tradition, compartmentalization emerges in response to fragmentation of the ego, which ideally should be able to tolerate ambiguity and ambivalence. See also isolation. —compartmentalize vb.

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Psychology term of the day

May 10th 2024

masking level difference (MLD)

Sorry, "masking-level-difference-mld" is not in the Dictionary of Psychology. Please report to APA if you believe this is an error.