1. to invest emotional energy or desire in a person, object, or idea
Usage: psychology, psychoanalysis; formal

Examples

• The patient cathected strong feelings onto the therapist during treatment.
• Children often cathect their emotional needs onto a favorite toy or stuffed animal.
• She cathected her hopes for the future onto her career ambitions.
• The theory suggests that people cathect libidinal energy onto objects in their environment.
• He cathected deeply with the mentor figure who guided his early development.