Definition of security blanket

The term "security blanket" originated during the early 20th century to describe a comfort item, usually a soft cloth or blanket, which was often carried by infants and young children as a means of soothing themselves and promoting a sense of security. The phrase is thought to have been coined by psychoanalysts, who suggested that the blankets served as a "transitional object" that helped children cope with the separation anxiety they experienced as they began to develop a sense of independence and self-reliance. In psychoanalytic theory, this separation anxiety is a natural part of the process of growing up, and the security blanket provided a way for children to manage their feelings of insecurity and uncertainty. The use of the term "security blanket" has since expanded beyond its origin in psychoanalytic theory, and is now commonly used to describe any object that provides emotional or psychological comfort and stability, particularly in times of stress or uncertainty.