abreaction
|ab-re-ac-tion|
C1
/ˌæbriˈækʃən/
emotional release
Etymology
Etymology Information
'abreaction' originates from German, specifically the word 'Abreagieren,' where 'ab-' meant 'away' and 'reagieren' meant 'to react.'
Historical Evolution
'Abreagieren' was adopted into English as 'abreaction' in the early 20th century, maintaining its psychological context.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to react away,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'emotional release through reliving experiences.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the expression and emotional release of a previously repressed emotion, often through reliving the experience that caused it.
The therapist encouraged the patient to undergo abreaction to deal with past trauma.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/05 23:36