Theoretically, free, uninhibited and unconscious flow of psychic energy from one thought to another. Dominated by the pleasure principle and without regard to reality, primary process thinking is exemplified by dreams and magical thinking on the part of young children. Also referred to as primary-process thinking.
PRIMARY PROCESS: "Primary process thinking provides hallucinatory fulfillment of wishes in younger children."
Cite this page: N., Pam M.S., "PRIMARY PROCESS," in PsychologyDictionary.org, April 28, 2013, https://psychologydictionary.org/primary-process/ (accessed October 20, 2021).
