somatic obsession

preoccupation with one’s body or any part of it. This concern may be associated with compulsive checking of the body part (e.g., in a mirror or by touch), comparing oneself to others, and seeking reassurance about one’s body. Somatic obsession is the central feature of body dysmorphic disorder but may also be a feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder if other obsessive-compulsive symptoms are present.

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Psychology term of the day

March 14th 2025

teratogen

n. an agent that induces developmental abnormalities in a fetus. The process that results in these abnormalities is called teratogenesis; a teratomorph is a fetus or offspring with these abnormalities.