APA Dictionary of Psychology
flight into illness
- a tendency to focus on or exaggerate minor physical complaints as an unconscious means of avoiding stressful situations and feelings.
- in psychotherapy, the sudden development of neurotic or physical symptoms by a client or prospective client. Psychoanalytic theory interprets this as an unconscious defense mechanism that is used to avoid examination of a deeper underlying conflict. Also called escape into illness; flight into disease.
Updated on 04/19/2018
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