Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


mother surrogate

a substitute for an individual’s biological mother (e.g., a sister, grandmother, stepmother, adoptive mother), who assumes the responsibilities of that person and may function as a role model and significant attachment figure. Harry Harlow’s classic research demonstrated that young monkeys preferred a mother surrogate covered in cloth to one that was simply a wire frame, even though the latter was the source of food. Also called mother figure; surrogate mother.

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

December 19th 2024

separation–individuation

separation–individuation

n. a developmental phase in which the infant gradually differentiates himself or herself from the mother, develops awareness of his or her separate identity, and attains relatively autonomous status. [defined by Hungarian-born U.S. child psychoanalyst Margaret Schönberger Mahler (1897–1985)]