Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


ego anxiety

in psychoanalytic theory, anxiety caused by the conflicting demands of the ego, id, and superego. Thus, ego anxiety refers to internal rather than external demands. Compare id anxiety; superego anxiety. See also signal anxiety.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

November 11th 2024

endogenous smile

endogenous smile

a spontaneous or reflexive smile that is observed when an infant, early in life, is in a state of REM sleep. Characterized by a simple turning up of the corners of the mouth, such smiles are seen from birth and are not elicited by social stimulation. Compare social smile.