Phaedra complex

English

Etymology

Named for the Cretan princess Phaedra who fell in love with her stepson, Hippolytus of Athens in Greek Mythology.

Noun

Phaedra complex (uncountable)

  1. (informal, psychology) A designation to the sexual desire of a stepparent for their stepchild; the term has been extended to cover difficult relationships between stepparents and stepchildren in general.
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