PsychologySeptember 2, 2026

nonhierarchical

non-hi-uh-RAR-ki-kul

Definition

Characterized by an absence of formal ranking, power imbalances, or top-down authority, instead favoring equality among participants.

Etymology

Derived from the prefix 'non-' (not) combined with 'hierarchical', which originates from the Greek 'hierarkhia' (rule of a high priest). It describes a structure that rejects the traditional, stratified order of authority.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the collaborative, democratic nature of the therapeutic relationships that Frieda Fromm-Reichmann cultivated, which contrasted with traditional, top-down psychiatric models.

First-Person Knowledge and the Meanings of Madness: An Interview with Gail Hornstein

Read the full article ↗

Mad In America

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