eroticism

1. the quality of being sexually arousing or pleasurable or the condition of being sexually aroused.

2. a preoccupation with or susceptibility to sexual excitement.

3. the use of sexually arousing themes, images, or suggestions in entertainment or the arts.

4. in psychoanalytic theory, the pleasurable sensations associated not only with stimulation of the genitals but also with nongenital parts of the body, such as the mouth or anus (see anal eroticism; oral eroticism). Also called erotism. See also autoeroticism; erotization. —erotic adj.

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Psychology term of the day

December 7th 2024

catatonia

n. a state of muscular rigidity or other disturbance of motor behavior, such as catalepsy, extreme overactivity, or adoption of bizarre postures. It is most frequently observed in catatonic schizophrenia, but it can also occur with other disorders, such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, and neurological conditions such as encephalitis, among others. Also called catatonic state. —catatonic adj.