HealthAugust 27, 2026
dystonic
dis-TON-ik
Definition
In a psychological context, describing thoughts or behaviors that are inconsistent with a person's self-concept, values, or desired way of behaving.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'dys-' meaning 'bad' or 'difficult' and 'tonos' meaning 'tension' or 'tone', originally used in medical contexts to describe abnormal muscle tone before being adapted into psychological terminology.
In the news
The article uses the term to explain that OCD-related intrusive thoughts are ego-dystonic, meaning they conflict with the person's true desires and values, contrasting them with the commands of auditory hallucinations.
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Read the full article ↗Psychology Today