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rootwork

n. a cultural or folk health belief system, common in the southern United States and the Caribbean, that attributes illness to witchcraft, hexing, voodoo, or spells (i.e., “roots”). The individual displays intense fear, symptoms of anxiety, and related somatic complaints and typically remains in this state until a traditional healer, called a root doctor, ostensibly removes the root. Also called brujeria; mal puesto.

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Psychology term of the day

September 17th 2024

tremor

tremor

n. any involuntary trembling of the body or a part of the body (e.g., the hands) due to neurological or psychological causes. Psychological (or psychogenic) tremor may be mild, due to tension, or violent and uncontrolled in severe disturbances. Toxic effects of drugs or heavy metals may produce a transient tremor. A coarse tremor involves a large muscle group in slow movements, whereas a fine tremor is caused by a small bundle of muscle fibers that move rapidly. Some tremors occur only during voluntary movements (see action tremor); others occur in the absence of voluntary movement (see resting tremor). See also essential tremor.