Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


risk aversion

the tendency, when choosing between alternatives, to avoid options that entail a risk of loss, even if that risk is relatively small. Compare risk proneness.

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

October 5th 2024

holding environment

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.