PsychologyAugust 23, 2026
dissociative
di-so-she-AY-tiv
Definition
Relating to a psychological state in which a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, or sense of self; often misused in casual speech to describe simple sadness or withdrawal.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'dissociare', meaning 'to separate' or 'sever', the term moved into psychology in the late 19th century to describe the detachment of mental processes from consciousness.
In the news
The article uses 'dissociative disorder' as an example of how people incorrectly label normal, transient feelings of sadness or being withdrawn as severe clinical conditions.
The pitfalls of armchair psychology
Read the full article ↗The Daily Star