Reification: meaning, definitions and examples

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reification

 

[ ˌrɪɪfɪˈkeɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in philosophy

The process of treating an abstraction or concept as if it had a concrete or material existence. Reification involves making something abstract into a concrete thing or treating an idea as if it were a physical object, often leading to the belief that the abstract concept is real.

Synonyms

concretization, hypostatization, objectification

Examples of usage

  • The reification of social constructs can lead to the misconception that they are inherent and unchangeable.
  • The reification of love in romantic movies often sets unrealistic expectations for relationships.
Context #2 | Noun

in psychology

The process of treating an abstract mental construct as if it were a concrete, tangible entity. Reification in psychology can lead to the belief that abstract concepts, such as personality traits or intelligence, are fixed and unchangeable.

Synonyms

concretization, hypostatization, objectification

Examples of usage

  • The reification of intelligence can result in labeling individuals as 'smart' or 'dumb' based on standardized test scores.
  • The reification of mental disorders can stigmatize individuals and limit their access to appropriate treatment.

Translations

Translations of the word "reification" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reificação

🇮🇳 वस्तुकरण

🇩🇪 Verdinglichung

🇮🇩 reifikasi

🇺🇦 реїфікація

🇵🇱 reifikacja

🇯🇵 物象化 (ぶっしょうか)

🇫🇷 réification

🇪🇸 reificación

🇹🇷 reifikasyon

🇰🇷 물화 (物化)

🇸🇦 تجسيد

🇨🇿 reifikace

🇸🇰 reifikácia

🇨🇳 物化 (wùhuà)

🇸🇮 reifikacija

🇮🇸 hlutgerving

🇰🇿 реификация

🇬🇪 რეიფიკაცია

🇦🇿 reifikasiya

🇲🇽 reificación

Etymology

The term 'reification' originated from the German word 'Verdinglichung', which was popularized by the philosopher Georg Lukács in his work 'History and Class Consciousness' in 1923. It gained prominence in Western philosophical and psychological discourse in the mid-20th century, particularly in discussions about the nature of abstraction and its implications for understanding human experience and social structures.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,363, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.