schizophrenogenic mother

the stereotypic mother of an individual with schizophrenia. She is held to be emotionally disturbed, cold, rejecting, dominating, perfectionistic, and insensitive. At the same time, however, she is overprotective, fosters dependence, and is both seductive and rigidly moralistic. Historically, this type of mother was considered to play a causal role in the development of schizophrenia, but this view is no longer held. [first defined in 1948 by Frieda Fromm-Reichmann]

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Psychology term of the day

February 20th 2025

cortical blindness

blindness, with normal pupillary responses, that is due to complete destruction of the optic radiations or the striate cortex. Because the subcortical structures (white matter) of the visual system are involved, it is also called cerebral blindness. Typically caused by a stroke affecting the occipital lobe of the brain, cortical blindness can also result from traumatic injury or hypoxia. In children, it is often a consequence of hydrocephalus, meningitis, toxic or hypertensive encephalopathy, trauma, or diffuse demyelinating degenerative disease. Complete loss of vision in a portion of the visual field is called partial cortical blindness.