Fixation

Fixation is a term used in both psychology and biology, with different meanings in each field. In psychology, fixation refers to an obsessive interest or feeling about someone or something. In biology, it refers to the process of preserving or stabilizing biological material (like cells or tissues) for microscopic examination.

Psychological Fixation

In psychology, fixation is a concept originated by Sigmund Freud to denote the persistence of anachronistic sexual traits. The term subsequently came to denote object relationships with attachments to people or things in general persisting from childhood into adult life.

Biological Fixation

In biology, fixation is a process by which biological materials are preserved from decay. This is a crucial step in the preparation of cells and tissues for microscopic examination. The goal of fixation is to preserve cells and tissue components so they don't degrade before they can be examined.

Types of Fixation

Psychological Fixation

• Oral Fixation: This is a concept in Freudian psychoanalysis that refers to the idea that an individual can be stuck in the oral stage of development, leading to behaviors related to oral activities in adulthood.

• Anal Fixation: This is another concept from Freudian psychoanalysis, suggesting that individuals can become fixated in the anal stage of development, leading to behaviors related to control and orderliness in adulthood.

Biological Fixation

• Chemical Fixation: This is the most common type of fixation in biology. It involves using chemicals to preserve biological tissues. The most common chemical fixatives include formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, and osmium tetroxide.

• Cryofixation: This is a type of fixation where tissues are preserved by freezing. This method is often used when the structure of the tissue needs to be preserved as close to the living state as possible.

See Also

• Freudian psychoanalysis
• Cell biology
• Histology