automatism
|au-to-mat-iz-um|
/ˌɔːtəˈmætɪzəm/
self‑acting, involuntary action
Etymology
'automatism' originates from French, specifically the word 'automatisme', where 'automate' (from Greek 'automatos') meant 'self-moving' (from Greek 'autos' meaning 'self' and the verbal element related to 'move').
'automatism' changed from French 'automatisme' and was adopted into English in the 19th century; the French term itself derived from Greek 'automatos' via Latin/French channels and became the modern English 'automatism'.
Initially, it referred broadly to 'self-acting' or 'automatic operation'; over time the sense extended to medical/psychological involuntary actions, a legal doctrine about non-volitional acts, and an artistic technique of automatic creation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an involuntary or unconscious action or movement performed without deliberate intention or conscious control (used in medicine/psychology).
The patient displayed several automatisms during the seizure.
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Noun 2
a legal concept referring to involuntary conduct that may excuse criminal liability because the act was performed without conscious control.
The defendant argued that the act was an automatism caused by a sudden medical episode.
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Noun 3
a technique of producing art or writing without conscious thought, especially used by Surrealist artists and writers (automatic creation).
Surrealist poets experimented with automatism to tap into unconscious imagery.
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Last updated: 2025/11/26 22:16