primitive superego

in object relations theory, an early superego that is formed in the pregenital phase by the introjection of especially harsh and terrifying bad objects. [first used in 1934 by British psychoanalyst James Strachey (1887–1967)]

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Psychology term of the day

December 19th 2024

response cost

response cost

a procedure in operant conditioning in which certain responses result in loss of a valued commodity. The intent of such procedures is to produce punishment. See negative punishment.