PsychologyJuly 14, 2026

deprivation

/ˌdɛprɪˈveɪʃən/

Definition

The state of being kept away from, lacking, or denied essential environmental stimuli and natural surroundings.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word 'deprivare,' meaning 'to dispossess' or 'to take away.' It entered Middle English through Old French, maintaining its core sense of being deprived of something desired or necessary.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the moon's stark, artificial environment as a 'sensory deprivation chamber' that lacks the natural variety and sensory input necessary for human psychological health.

Neuroscientist Reveals What Living on the Moon Could Do to Human Mind

Read the full article ↗

Newsweek

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