primal envy

in the object relations theory of Melanie Klein, envy that is first expressed in the infant’s coveting of the mother’s breast, leading to the child’s fantasized desire to spoil or destroy the good object that the breast represents (see good breast).

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

February 28th 2025

hypnotic regression

a therapeutic technique in which an individual under hypnosis is induced to relive a previous experience that may be contributing to current emotional difficulties. There are two types of hypnotic regression: age regression and past-life regression.