(1) An obstacle or impediment. (2) In psychiatry, a conflictual agent that blocks behavior that could help resolve a personal struggle. (3) In psychotherapy, anything that acts as an impediment to the insight, constructive change, healing, and growth of a patient (e.g., an unhealthy or primitive defense mechanism; secondary gain; conflicted ambivalence; unconscious motivation derived from residual conflict from an earlier developmental stage; stubbornness; lack of ability to detach, observe, or analyze). [M.E., fr. O.Fr. barriere, fr. L.L. barraria]
