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reverse discrimination

a term sometimes used to denote advantageous or preferential treatment of a historically disfavored or minority group over a generally favored or majority group, as when twice as many women as men are promoted to management positions. The concept of reverse discrimination is controversial, especially in the context of affirmative action and similar policies. Also called positive discrimination. See equal opportunity. See also discrimination.

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Psychology term of the day

November 17th 2024

mother figure

mother figure

1. a person who occupies the mothering role in relation to a child: a mother surrogate.

2. in psychoanalytic theory, a person onto whom the patient transfers feelings and attitudes that he or she had toward the real mother or the primary caregiver. Also called mother substitute.