inflicted insight

English

WOTD – 5 February 2012

Etymology

First attested in 1971.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Noun

inflicted insight (usually uncountable, plural inflicted insights)

1. (psychology) Unsolicited revelation of aspects of one’s character, usually as a result of a deceitful experiment that has psychological dimensions, and especially where this results in emotional trauma and prolonged anxiety.
   • 1971, The American Psychologist (American Psychological Association) XXVI, page unknown

     Inflicted insight, as opposed to deceptive debriefing, is even defended by one writer as being in the subject’s best interests.

Further reading

• inflicted insight on Wikipedia.Wikipedia