acute anxiety

a sudden feeling of dread and apprehension accompanied by somatic symptoms of tension, usually precipitated by a threatening situation, such as an examination or court hearing. The feeling typically subsides as soon as the situation is over.

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Psychology term of the day

February 20th 2025

dual representation

the ability to comprehend an object simultaneously as the object itself and as a representation of something else. For example, a photograph of a person can be represented both as the print itself and as the person it depicts. Also called dual encoding; dual orientation.