engulfing figure

English translation: an overpowering person

11:46 Mar 21, 2016
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Psychology / sentence
English term or phrase: engulfing figure
"I need hardly spell out that in turning the teacher into an engulfing figure whose words of criticism--words which arrive with the weight of the institution behind them--threaten the integrity of the self, that if to say, the self he or she has self-constructed, the student is drawing the teacher into a transference whose manifestations--typically indirect--may nonplus or bewilder the teacher."

What does " engulfing figure" mean here?
macky
Local time: 02:58
Selected answer:an overpowering person
Explanation:
I think it means that the teacher is seen as such a dominant/overpowering person that his/her ideas/personality swamp (engulf) those of the student and thus prevent the student's own individuality coming to the fore.
Selected response from:

Armorel Young
Local time: 19:58
Grading comment
Thank you for help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +8an overpowering person
Armorel Young


  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +8
an overpowering person


Explanation:
I think it means that the teacher is seen as such a dominant/overpowering person that his/her ideas/personality swamp (engulf) those of the student and thus prevent the student's own individuality coming to the fore.

Armorel Young
Local time: 19:58
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 32
Grading comment
Thank you for help!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
7 mins

agree  Sheri P
24 mins

agree  P.L.F. Persio
1 hr

agree  Robert Forstag: "All-important figure."
1 hr

agree  acetran
1 hr

agree  Victoria Britten
1 hr

agree  Arabic & More
2 hrs

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
13 hrs
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