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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

January 19th 2025

holism

holism

n. any approach or theory holding that a system or organism is a coherent, unified whole that cannot be fully explained in terms of individual parts or characteristics. The system or organism may have properties as a complete entity or phenomenon in addition to those of its parts. Thus, an analysis or understanding of the parts does not provide an understanding of the whole. —holistic adj.