What is cathect?

Cathect is a term used in psychoanalytic theory and refers to the emotional energy or investment that a person places in an object, idea, or person. This term was coined by Austrian psychoanalyst Wilhelm Reich and has since been developed and expanded upon by other psychoanalysts.

The concept of cathect is closely related to the idea of libido or psychic energy and is central to understanding how emotional ties are formed and maintained between individuals and objects. For example, a person may cathect onto their romantic partner, their job, or a particular hobby or interest.

Cathecting can be both positive or negative; positive cathecting involves investing emotional energy in something that is deemed desirable or attractive, while negative cathecting involves investing emotional energy in something that is rejected or disliked.

Psychoanalytic therapy seeks to uncover and analyze one's cathectic investments in order to understand how they affect their relationships and behavior, and ultimately help them achieve emotional insight and self-awareness.