Displacement: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word originates from the Latin 'displacere', meaning 'to remove or to drive away'.
• It has been used in the English language since the late 14th century.
• The prefix 'dis-' indicates a reversal or negation, while 'placement' refers to positioning.

Psychology

• In psychology, displacement refers to redirecting emotions from a true source of distress to a safer target.
• For example, a person angry at their boss may come home and take it out on their family instead.
• Freudian theory examines displacement as a defense mechanism to manage anxiety and conflict.

Physics

• In physics, displacement is a vector quantity that reflects the shortest distance from an object's initial position to its final position.
• It's key in understanding motion, indicating both direction and distance moved.
• Displacement can differ from distance traveled when an object returns to its starting point; the distance can be much greater than the displacement.

Social Studies

• Displacement is often discussed in the context of refugees and displaced persons who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict or natural disasters.
• The concept can also refer to populations moving due to urbanization or environmental changes.
• Understanding displacement helps address global humanitarian issues by highlighting the needs of affected individuals and communities.

Literature

• Displacement as a theme appears in various literary works, where characters often find themselves in unfamiliar environments.
• Writers explore emotional displacement when characters feel out of sync with their surroundings, reflecting deeper societal issues.
• The experiences of displaced characters resonate in narratives about journeys, identity, and belonging.

With rank #4,372, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

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