fixation
fick-SAY-shun
/fɪkˈseɪ.ʃən/
An obsessive or unhealthy emotional attachment to or focus on a single subject.
Carries a restrictive connotation where an individual cannot detach or reconsider options.
The story behind the word. Fixation originates from Medieval Latin 'fixatio', from Latin 'fixus' (fastened or stuck). Sigmund Freud popularized the term in psychoanalysis to describe emotional growth becoming 'stuck' at a particular developmental stage.
Word relationships
- obsession: Obsession emphasizes intrusive thoughts; fixation emphasizes rigid focus and inability to adapt.
- flexibility: Flexibility is the mental ability to adapt focus to new information.
Commonly confused with
- fixture: A fixture is a permanently attached piece of equipment; fixation is mental rigidity.
Word family
- fixate (verb): To focus obsessively on something.
- fixated (adjective): Obsessively attached or focused.
Collocations
- unhealthy fixation
- fixation on details
- develop a fixation
- cognitive fixation
Example sentences
- "The investigator's fixation on a single suspect caused him to overlook key physical evidence." Psychology
Memory hook
FIXED in place and unable to move your gaze. Glued to one idea.
When not to use
Do not use to describe lighthearted or flexible hobbies.
Fun facts
- In eye-tracking science, a 'fixation' is the brief period (200-300 milliseconds) where the eye remains completely still to process visual information.
Related words
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