object cathexis

in classical psychoanalytic theory, the investment of libido or psychic energy in objects outside the self, such as a person, goal, idea, or activity. Also called object libido. See cathexis.

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Psychology term of the day

December 23rd 2024

within-subjects design

an experimental design in which the effects of treatments are seen through the comparison of scores of the same participant observed under all the treatment conditions. For example, teachers may want to give a pre- and postcourse survey of skills and attitudes to gauge how much both changed as a result of the course. Such a design could be analyzed with a dependent-samples t test, a within-subjects analysis of variance, or an analysis of covariance. Also called related-measures design; repeated measures design; within-groups design. Compare between-subjects design.