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flight into illness

1. a tendency to focus on or exaggerate minor physical complaints as an unconscious means of avoiding stressful situations and feelings.

2. in psychotherapy, the sudden development of neurotic or physical symptoms by a client or prospective client. Psychoanalytic theory interprets this as an unconscious defense mechanism that is used to avoid examination of a deeper underlying conflict. Also called escape into illness; flight into disease.

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Psychology term of the day

March 13th 2025

visceral sense

visceral sense

the sense associated with functions of the viscera.