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psyching out

the use of various techniques to create fear, apprehension, and doubt in another person. This colloquialism probably originated in sport with reference to the psyching out of a competitor but has become generalized to numerous other situations.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

agape

agape

n. a complex form of love involving feelings of tenderness; protectiveness; self-denial; and aesthetic preference for the features, gestures, speech, and other traits of a person. The term, which derives from a Greek word meaning “brotherly love,” is sometimes used to denote an unselfish love as taught by such religious figures as Jesus and the Buddha.