Cathexis
Encyclopedia
In psychoanalysis
, cathexis is defined as the process of investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object, or idea. The Greek
term cathexis (κάθεξις) was chosen by James Strachey
to render the German
term Besetzung in his translation of Sigmund Freud
's complete works. For Freud, cathexis is defined as an investment of libido
. Freud often described the functioning of psychosexual energies in mechanical terms, influenced perhaps by the dominance of the steam engine
at the end of the 19th century.
Freud often represented frustration in libidinal desires as a blockage of energies that have, or would eventually build up and require release in alternative ways. This release could occur, for example, by way of regression
and the "re-cathecting" of former positions, that is, fixation
at the oral phase or anal phase and the enjoyment of former sexual objects ("object-cathexes"), including autoeroticism
.
When the ego blocks such efforts to discharge one's cathexis by way of regression
, that is, when the ego wishes to repress
such desires
, Freud uses the term "anti-cathexis
" or counter-charge. Like a steam engine, the libido's cathexis then builds up until it finds alternative outlets, which can lead to sublimation
or to the formation of sometimes disabling symptoms.
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
, cathexis is defined as the process of investment of mental or emotional energy in a person, object, or idea. The Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
term cathexis (κάθεξις) was chosen by James Strachey
James Strachey
James Beaumont Strachey was a British psychoanalyst, and, with his wife Alix, a translator of Sigmund Freud into English...
to render the German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
term Besetzung in his translation of Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
's complete works. For Freud, cathexis is defined as an investment of libido
Libido
Libido refers to a person's sex drive or desire for sexual activity. The desire for sex is an aspect of a person's sexuality, but varies enormously from one person to another, and it also varies depending on circumstances at a particular time. A person who has extremely frequent or a suddenly...
. Freud often described the functioning of psychosexual energies in mechanical terms, influenced perhaps by the dominance of the steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
at the end of the 19th century.
Freud often represented frustration in libidinal desires as a blockage of energies that have, or would eventually build up and require release in alternative ways. This release could occur, for example, by way of regression
Regression (psychology)
Regression, according to psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, is a defense mechanism leading to the temporary or long-term reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of development rather than handling unacceptable impulses in a more adult way...
and the "re-cathecting" of former positions, that is, fixation
Fixation
Fixation may refer to the following:In science:*Fixation , the state in which an individual becomes obsessed with an attachment to another human, an animal, or an inanimate object...
at the oral phase or anal phase and the enjoyment of former sexual objects ("object-cathexes"), including autoeroticism
Autoeroticism
Autoeroticism is the practice of stimulating oneself sexually. The term was popularized toward the end of the 19th century by British sexologist Havelock Ellis, who defined autoeroticism as "the phenomena of spontaneous sexual emotion generated in the absence of an external stimulus proceeding,...
.
When the ego blocks such efforts to discharge one's cathexis by way of regression
Regression (psychology)
Regression, according to psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, is a defense mechanism leading to the temporary or long-term reversion of the ego to an earlier stage of development rather than handling unacceptable impulses in a more adult way...
, that is, when the ego wishes to repress
Psychological repression
Psychological repression, also psychic repression or simply repression, is the psychological attempt by an individual to repel one's own desires and impulses towards pleasurable instincts by excluding the desire from one's consciousness and holding or subduing it in the unconscious...
such desires
Interpersonal attraction
Interpersonal attraction is the attraction between people which leads to friendships and romantic relationships. Interpersonal attraction, the process, is distinct from perceptions of physical attractiveness which involves views of what is and is not considered beautiful or attractive.The study of...
, Freud uses the term "anti-cathexis
Anticathexis
In psychoanalysis, anticathexis is the energy derived from the Superego to run the Ego, according to Freud. The function of the anticathexis is to restrict and block cathexis from the Id for overall benefit....
" or counter-charge. Like a steam engine, the libido's cathexis then builds up until it finds alternative outlets, which can lead to sublimation
Sublimation (psychology)
In psychology, sublimation is a mature type of defence mechanism where socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are consciously transformed into socially acceptable actions or behaviour, possibly converting the initial impulse in the long term...
or to the formation of sometimes disabling symptoms.