depersonalization

[ dee-pur-suh-nl-uh-zey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of depersonalizing.
2. the state of being depersonalized.
3. Psychiatry. a state in which one no longer perceives the reality of one's self or one's environment.

depersonalization

/ dɪˌpɜːsnəlaɪˈzeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of depersonalizing
2. psychiatry an abnormal state of consciousness in which the subject feels unreal and detached from himself and the world

Word History and Origins

Origin of depersonalization¹

First recorded in 1905–10; depersonalize + -ation

Example Sentences

He denounced what he described as Western “Russophobia,” claiming that “our diversity and unity of cultures, traditions, languages, and ethnic groups simply don’t fit into the logic of Western racists and colonialists, into their cruel scheme of total depersonalization, disunity, suppression and exploitation.”

From Washington Times

“Self-disturbances” characterize conditions such as psychosis, depersonalization, borderline personality disorder, codependency, eating disorders and dissociation, among many others.

From Scientific American

Psychology researchers define burnout as experiencing depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and a loss of accomplishment or efficacy.

From Slate

But I’ve found that when interventions oversimplify and universalize complicated feelings under the banner of burnout, they compound my sense of losing control, depersonalizing an experience already marred by depersonalization.

From Slate

Michels said depersonalization or feeling as if one is in a video game is common.

From Seattle Times