dissociation
dih-soh-see-AY-shun
/dɪˌsəʊ.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
A psychological defense mechanism involving a detachment from immediate reality, memory, identity, or consciousness.
Ranges from mild daydreaming or 'spacing out' during routine tasks to severe clinical disorders where identity feeling becomes fragmented.
The story behind the word. In Latin, 'dissociare' meant breaking up an alliance or partnership. French psychologist Pierre Janet introduced 'dissociation' to psychology to describe the splitting of mental contents.
Word relationships
- detachment: A state of being objective or emotionally distant.
- disconnection: General severance of a link or union.
- association: The state of being connected or linked with an idea or environment.
- integration: Combining aspects of mind and awareness into a unified whole.
Commonly confused with
- disassociation: Disassociation is used informally; dissociation is the proper technical psychiatric term.
Word family
- dissociate (verb): Disconnect or separate from a thought or reality.
- dissociative (adjective): Relating to or causing psychological dissociation.
Collocations
- peritraumatic dissociation
- profound dissociation
- dissociation disorder
- dissociation from reality
Example sentences
- "Dissociation often serves as a coping mechanism during extreme stress or traumatic experiences." Trauma Research
- "The patient experienced profound dissociation, reporting a sensation of observing their own body from above." Clinical Observation
Memory hook
DIS (apart) + SOCiAtion (socializing/joining). Splitting mental functions APART. Splitting apart from current reality.
When not to use
Do not use for a simple logical disagreement between two people or ideas.
Fun facts
- Mild dissociation is extremely common, such as 'highway hypnosis' where you drive for miles on autopilot with no memory of the trip.
Explore more words
disengagement, detach, escapism, disoriented, neurosis, amnesia
Also appears in
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