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masochistic personality disorder

a personality disorder in which individuals persistently and characteristically obtain gratification or freedom from guilt feelings as a consequence of humiliation, self-derogation, self-sacrifice, wallowing in misery, and, in some instances, submitting to physically sadistic acts. This disorder was listed in DSM–III–R as self-defeating personality disorder but was deleted from DSM–IV–TR. The term is controversial because many believe that in some cases it blames the victim of abuse.

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Psychology term of the day

November 21st 2024

feedback system

feedback system

a circuit in which output information (e.g., biological, mechanical) is used to modulate the input to the same circuit. In a negative feedback system, the output is used to reduce the input; such systems play important roles in maintaining equilibrium of processes within organisms. See homeostasis; positive feedback.