Chapter 8 — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Chapter 8

deference (noun)

Humble submission and respect shown to someone in authority; polite yielding to the judgment or wishes of another.

epistemic (adjective)

Relating to knowledge or the conditions and limits of knowing; concerning the foundations of belief and understanding.

severance (noun)

The act of cutting off or separating; a permanent break or disconnection from something.

psychoanalysis (noun)

A method of treating mental and emotional disorders by exploring unconscious thoughts, feelings, and childhood experiences, developed by Sigmund Freud.

agitated (adjective)

Feeling or appearing troubled, nervous, or disturbed; unable to remain calm or still.

insidious (adjective)

Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way but with harmful effects; treacherous in a stealthy manner.

complicity (noun)

The state of being involved with others in an illegal or morally wrong activity; partnership in wrongdoing.

disorientation (noun)

A state of mental confusion regarding one's position, direction, or sense of self; loss of one's bearings.

confessional (adjective)

Characterized by the act of confessing or revealing private thoughts and feelings; intensely personal and self-disclosing.

futility (noun)

The quality of being pointless or useless; the state of having no practical result or purpose.

solidarity (noun)

Unity or agreement of feeling or action among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.

visceral (adjective)

Relating to deep inward feelings rather than to the intellect; felt in the body rather than processed through reason.

bureaucratic (adjective)

Relating to a system of government or management marked by rigid procedures, rules, and hierarchical authority.

valences (noun)

The different meanings, aspects, or emotional qualities that a single word or idea can carry simultaneously.

catalyst (noun)

A person or event that precipitates change or action; something that speeds up or triggers a significant transformation.