negativism

negativism
A tendency to do the opposite of what one is requested to do, or to stubbornly resist for no apparent reason; seen in catatonic states and in toddlers.

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neg·a·tiv·ism 'neg-ət-iv-.iz-əm n
1) an attitude of mind marked by skepticism about nearly everything affirmed by others
2) a tendency to refuse to do, to do the opposite of, or to do something at variance with what is asked

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n.
behaviour that is the opposite of that suggested by others. In active negativism the individual does the opposite of what he is asked (for example, he screws his eyes up when asked to open them). This is uncommon in adult life and is usually associated with other features of catatonia. In passive negativism the person fails to cooperate (for example, he does not eat). This occurs in schizophrenia and depression.

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neg·a·tiv·ism (negґə-tĭ-viz″əm) resistance or opposition to advice, suggestions, or commands; e.g., in catatonic schizophrenia patients may lower their arms if asked to raise them or may resist efforts to move them.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • negativism — (n.) 1824, the policy of opposition; see NEGATIVE (Cf. negative) + ISM (Cf. ism). In a psychological sense, it is attested from 1892 …   Etymology dictionary

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  • negativism — n. behaviour that is the opposite of that suggested by others. In active negativism the individual does the opposite of what he is asked (for example, he screws his eyes up when asked to open them). In psychosis it is usually associated with… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • negativism — noun Date: 1824 1. an attitude of mind marked by skepticism especially about nearly everything affirmed by others 2. a tendency to refuse to do, to do the opposite of, or to do something at variance with what is asked • negativist noun or… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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  • negativism — noun a) A persistent pessimistic or skeptical attitude. b) A stubborn tendency to do the opposite of what one is asked …   Wiktionary

  • negativism — Synonyms and related words: abnegation, alienation, arrest, arrestation, arrestment, autism, autistic thinking, avoidance mechanism, blame shifting, blockage, blocking, challenge, check, clogging, closing up, closure, combative reaction,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • negativísm — s. n …   Romanian orthography

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