philobat

English

Etymology

    Blend of philo- +‎ acrobat.[1] Coined by Hungarian psychoanalyst Michael Balint in 1955.

    Noun

    philobat (plural philobats)

    1. (psychoanalysis) Someone who enjoys handling challenging and dangerous situations on their own.
      Coordinate term: ocnophil
      • 2008, Isabel Fonseca, Attachment, London: Chatto & Windus, →ISBN, pages 182–183:
        Or maybe this was her true personality coming through, the way alcoholism showed in some people around thirty-five. Jean the philobat, on the pattern of acrobat, the type that prefers to cope alone with difficult, uncertain situations. Though of course she hadn't been alone.

    Derived terms

    References

    1. ^ “philobat, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
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