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misidentification syndrome

a disorder characterized by the delusional misidentification of oneself, other people, places, or objects. The misidentification may be expressed as the mistaken belief that a person has altered his or her identity in some way, either physically or psychologically, or that some place or object has undergone transformation. Also called delusional misidentification syndrome. See also Capgras syndrome; Fregoli’s phenomenon; intermetamorphosis syndrome.

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Psychology term of the day

February 17th 2025

schizophrenogenic mother

schizophrenogenic mother

the stereotypic mother of an individual with schizophrenia. She is held to be emotionally disturbed, cold, rejecting, dominating, perfectionistic, and insensitive. At the same time, however, she is overprotective, fosters dependence, and is both seductive and rigidly moralistic. Historically, this type of mother was considered to play a causal role in the development of schizophrenia, but this view is no longer held. [first defined in 1948 by Frieda Fromm-Reichmann]