castration complex

Main Entry: castration complex
Function: noun
: a child's fear or delusion of genital injury at the hands of the parent of the same sex as punishment for unconsciousguilt over oedipal strivings; broadly : the often unconscious fear or feeling of bodily injury or loss of power at the hands of authority

castration complex n.

1. In psychoanalytic theory, a child's fear of injury to the genitals by the parent of the same sex as punishment for unconscious guilt over oedipal feelings.

2. An unconscious fear of injury from those in authority.