folie à deux

a rare psychotic disorder in which two intimately related individuals simultaneously share similar or identical delusions (French, “double insanity”). It is the most common form of shared psychotic disorder. Rarer forms involving more than two intimately related individuals or members of the same family are called folie à trois (a delusion shared by three people), folie à quatre (a delusion shared by four people), and so on.

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Psychology term of the day

October 31st 2024

nail biting

the compulsive habit of chewing on one’s fingernails, usually thought to be a means of releasing tension.