Automatism - Definition, Meaning, and Examples in English

Definition

^{Context #1 | Noun}

psychology, actions

Automatism refers to actions performed without conscious thought or control. In psychology, it often relates to behaviors that occur automatically as a response to specific stimuli. These actions can be involuntary and might be evident in conditions like sleepwalking or certain types of seizures. Automatism is significant in discussions of free will and how unconscious processes influence behavior.

Synonyms

automatic response, involuntary action, mechanism.

Examples of usage

She displayed automatism when she berated her colleague without realizing it.
The artist's automatism technique allowed her to express emotions freely on canvas.
During the lecture, he talked about the automatism of routine behaviors.
His actions during the blackout were classified as automatism.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

In psychological terms, it often refers to actions that occur unconsciously, such as habits.
Freudian theory discusses automatism as a way to express repressed thoughts and feelings.
It's sometimes used in therapy to help patients explore subconscious motives and behaviors.

Art

In art, automatism was a technique used by Surrealist artists to create without conscious control, allowing for spontaneous creativity.
Artists like André Masson and Joan Miró famously employed this technique to produce artworks that expressed deeper, often hidden realities.
This approach aims to bypass the critical mind to reveal subconscious imagery.

Technology

Automation in technology refers to using machines or software to perform tasks without human intervention, sharing a conceptual similarity with the term.
Modern industries heavily rely on automation to improve efficiency, doing tasks more quickly and accurately than humans often can.
The field of robotics is an advanced form of automatism, where machines perform complex tasks automatically.

Philosophy

Philosophers have debated the implications of automatism on free will, questioning whether automated actions impact our sense of agency.
The question of whether humans can truly act freely or whether many actions are simply automatic responses is a key philosophical inquiry.
Existentialism often addresses the tension between conscious choice and automatic behavior in understanding human existence.

Origin of 'automatism'

Main points about word origin

The word comes from the French 'automatisme', which means self-acting or automatic.
Its roots can be traced back to the ancient Greek word 'autos', meaning 'self'.
The concept emerged in the early 20th century, particularly in psychological and artistic discussions.

The term 'automatism' has its roots in the late 19th century, originating from the French word 'automatisme'. This itself derives from 'automate', which can be traced back to the Greek word 'automatos', meaning 'self-acting' or 'self-moving'. Originally, the concept was utilized in philosophical and psychological discussions to describe actions performed without conscious will. The application of automatism expanded significantly in the early 20th century, particularly in the context of surrealism in art, where artists sought to access their subconscious mind. The idea was that through automatism, individuals could bypass rational thought and tap into deeper, instinctual creativity.

Automatism Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations