reality principle

in classical psychoanalytic theory, the regulatory mechanism that represents the demands of the external world and requires the individual to forgo or modify instinctual gratification or to postpone it to a more appropriate time. In contrast to the pleasure principle, which is posited to dominate the life of the infant and child and govern the id, or instinctual impulses, the reality principle is posited to govern the ego, which controls impulses and enables people to deal rationally and effectively with the situations of life.

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Psychology term of the day

October 5th 2024

holding environment

1. in the object relations theory of British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott (1896–1971), that aspect of the mother experienced by the infant as the environment that literally—and figuratively, by demonstrating highly focused attention and concern—holds him or her comfortingly during calm states. This is in contrast to the mother who is experienced as the object of the infant’s excited states.

2. in psychoanalysis, any therapeutic space that allows an emotionally fragile or insecure person to deal with affects that might potentially be overwhelming.