decathect

[dee-kuh-thekt]

verb (used with object)

Psychoanalysis

1. to withdraw one's feelings of attachment from (a person, idea, or object), as in anticipation of a future loss.

   He decathected from her in order to cope with her impending death.

Other Word Forms

• decathexis noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of decathect¹

First recorded in 1955–60; de- + cathect

Example Sentences

I intone: You have suffered an object loss in which you had an over-cathesis of libido and have been unable to decathect the libido and invest it in a new object.

From Time Magazine Archive

When To Use

What does decathect mean?

To decathect means to detach yourself emotionally from a person or thing, especially one that you think you’re going to lose, such as a loved one who is dying. This is typically thought to be a coping mechanism to avoid or lessen the pain of losing a person or thing that you’re emotionally attached to.Decathect is a formal term used in the context of psychology. It is the opposite of the verb cathect, which means to become emotionally invested in or attached to someone or something.The process of decathecting is called decathexis.Example: As my novel got rejected by publisher after publisher, I began to decathect from my dream of becoming a published author.