Which term describes investment in the real, tangible object rather than its image?

• A. Ego cathexis
• B. Object cathexis
• C. Anticathexes
• D. Libido

Answer: (A)

Cathexis is the process of investing psychic energy into something—an object, a person, or an idea. When that energy goes toward the self, toward the ego and one’s own reality, the term used is ego cathexis. The scenario describes focusing energy on the real, tangible thing rather than a mental image, which aligns with directing energy into the self and reality-testing, rather than into an external representation. In contrast, object cathexis refers to investing energy in an external object or its image, anticathexis involves defenses that inhibit such investment, and libido is the general psychic energy itself. So the best fit for this description is ego cathexis.