fixation
The persistence of libidinal investment in an earlier developmental stage, preventing full psychological maturation.
Full Definition
Fixation occurs when psychological development becomes arrested at a particular stage, with excessive libidinal energy remaining invested in the conflicts, objects, and modes of satisfaction characteristic of that phase. This can result from either excessive gratification or traumatic frustration during critical developmental periods. Fixations create points of vulnerability to which individuals may regress under stress, and they influence character formation and symptom development. Different types of fixation (oral, anal, phallic) are associated with specific personality traits and psychological difficulties in Freudian theory.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from general usage meaning obsession; in psychoanalysis refers specifically to developmental arrest.
In Context
- "The patient's oral fixation manifested in compulsive eating and smoking behaviors." — Character analysis
- "Anal fixation contributed to his obsessive-compulsive personality traits." — Diagnostic assessment