PsychologyAugust 30, 2026

effacement

eh-FAYS-muhnt

Definition

The act of removing oneself from notice or importance, often by being shy or modest.

Etymology

Derived from the French word 'effacer', meaning 'to rub out' or 'to erase', which comes from the Old French 'face' meaning 'face'. It literally refers to the act of wiping a face away or making something vanish.

In the news

The article mentions that a culture rewarding self-effacement can cause people to over-apologize, as they are taught to downplay their own needs to keep others comfortable.

The psychology of over-apologizing: what genuinely happy people have stopped saying sorry for, and why

Read the full article ↗

ScienceBlog.com

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