Plural of cathexis; in psychology, the concentration of emotional or mental energy on a particular object or person.
From Greek cathexis, derived from katechein meaning 'to occupy, hold' (kata- 'down' + echein 'to have'). Freud popularized this term in psychology in the early 20th century.
Freud borrowed this Greek word to describe how our minds get 'stuck' on things—when you can't stop thinking about someone or something, you've invested psychological energy (a cathexis) in them!
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