false self

in the object relations theory of British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott (1896–1971), the self that develops as a defense against impingements and in adaptation to the environment. This contrasts with the true self, which develops in an environment that adapts to the infant and allows him or her to discover and express true impulses.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

exon

n. a sequence of DNA within a gene that encodes a part or all of the gene’s product or function. Exons are separated by noncoding sequences (see intron).