Aa: Abreaction

tr.v. ab·re·act·ed, ab·re·act·ing, ab·re·acts

To release (repressed emotions) by acting out, as in words, behavior, or the imagination, the situation causing the conflict.

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[Translation of German abreagieren : ab-, away + reagieren, to react.]

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abre·action n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Noun

1.

abreaction - (psychoanalysis) purging of emotional tensions catharsis, katharsis purging, purge - an act of removing by cleansing; ridding of sediment or other undesired elements depth psychology, psychoanalysis, analysis - a set of techniques for exploring underlying motives and a method of treating various mental disorders; based on the theories of Sigmund Freud; "his physician recommended psychoanalysis"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Satire, parody, absurdity, stark realism, and abreaction all became tools in the Modernist's at tempts to untangle social, moral, and spiritual "truths" The Modern artist manipulated objects and concepts in abstract ways to produce cosmic or chaotic reorganizations of our philosophical constructs.

Chaos and cosmos: the search for meaning in modern art by Hinrichs, Bruce / The Humanist