cathexis

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κάθεξις (káthexis, “holding, retention”). The term entered the English language as a translation for the common everyday German word Besetzung, which in the context of psychoanalysis means "occupation" in the sense of a position or something being occupied or filled, and not a military occupation of a place or the filling of job positions (although it can also mean either of these in other contexts). (In English translations, a Greek word was used to be more scientific.)

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kəˈθɛk sɪs/

Noun

cathexis (countable and uncountable, plural cathexes)

1. (psychoanalysis) The concentration of libido or emotional energy on a single object or idea.
   • 2013, Isher-Paul Sahni, “More than Horseplay”, in Studies in Popular Culture, volume 35, page 76:

     How contemporary artistic performances elicit cathexis on the part of the audience and promote unifying social rituals.

Derived terms

• acathexis
• anticathexis
• cathect
• cathectic
• countercathexis
• decathexis
• hypercathexis
• recathexis

 

Translations

the concentration of libido or emotional energy on a single object or idea

• Catalan: catexi f
• German: Objektbesetzung f
• Korean: 주의 집중(注意集中) (juui jipjung)
• Polish: kateksja f
• Portuguese: catexia f, catexe f
• Turkish: kateksis