Definition
“Fixation” is a term originated by Sigmund Freud to signify the persistence of archaic sexual gratifications, early developmental modes, and the effects of trauma on the mind. More descriptive than explanatory, it addresses the common clinical observation that people remain attached, mostly unconsciously, to certain sexual proclivities, behaviors, and relationships with others that are rooted in their past. The specific usage of “fixation” in psychoanalysis has evolved as Freud’s thinking developed and as other theorists adapted its meaning to their own perspectives.
Evolution of the Concept of Fixation
Freud used “fixation” at different stages of his theorizing regarding the etiology of neurosis and its origins in the patient’s history. Early on Freud (Breuer and Freud 1895/2009) proposed that neurosis is the result of fixation to trauma and specifically...
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Tsuman, L. (2020). Fixation. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_587
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