inhibition

/,inhi'biʃn/

Thân thiện

A child feels no inhibition while singing on stage.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A feeling that makes one self-conscious and unable to act in a relaxed and natural way; a psychological restraint on one's behavior or thoughts: This is the most common meaning, referring to an inner feeling of shyness, restraint, or anxiety that prevents free expression or action.
   • The action of inhibiting, restraining, or preventing a process or action: A general meaning referring to the act of holding something back or stopping it from happening.
   • (Physiology/Biology) The slowing or prevention of a process, reaction, or function by a particular agent: A technical meaning where one substance or nerve signal stops or reduces the activity of another.
   • (Psychology) The conscious or unconscious restraint of a thought, feeling, or impulse: The mental process of suppressing unacceptable thoughts or desires.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to shyness or psychological restraint:
  • He lost his inhibition after a few drinks and started dancing.
  • She has no inhibition about speaking in front of large crowds.
• Referring to the act of preventing something:
  • The inhibition of cell growth is a key goal of some cancer treatments.
  • Strict laws led to the inhibition of trade.
• In technical/scientific contexts (Physiology, Biology, Chemistry):
  • The vagus nerve causes inhibition of the heartbeat.
  • This enzyme works by competitive inhibition.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Social inhibition": The restraint one feels in social situations due to fear of embarrassment or judgment.
  • Social inhibition can make networking events very difficult for some people.
• "Disinhibition": The opposite of inhibition; a reduction in or loss of normal social or psychological restraints.
  • The head injury caused disinhibition, leading to impulsive behavior.
• "Inhibition zone" (Microbiology): A clear area on a culture plate where an antibiotic has prevented bacterial growth.

Variants and Related Words

• Inhibit (verb): To hinder, restrain, or prevent an action or process.
  • Fear can inhibit learning.
  • The drug inhibits the virus's replication.
• Inhibitory (adjective): Having the function of inhibiting.
  • The neurotransmitter has an inhibitory effect on the neuron.
• Inhibited (adjective): (Of a person) unable to express feelings or desires freely; overly restrained.
  • He was too inhibited to join the conversation.

Synonyms

• Restraint: A measure or condition that holds one back.
• Suppression: The conscious effort to put thoughts or feelings out of mind.
• Repression (Psychology): The unconscious exclusion of distressing thoughts from the conscious mind.
• Shyness: The quality of being nervous or timid in the company of others.
• Hindrance: A thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction.

Antonyms

• Disinhibition: Loss of inhibition.
• Expressiveness: The quality of expressing feelings or thoughts readily.
• Facilitation: The action of making a process easy or easier.
• Impulsiveness: Acting without forethought.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "To lose one's inhibitions": To become much less restrained in behavior, often due to alcohol, excitement, or a change in environment.
  • At the karaoke party, everyone lost their inhibitions and sang loudly.
• "To act without inhibition": To behave in a completely free and unrestrained manner.
  • The artist painted without inhibition, using bold colors and wild strokes.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the action of prohibiting or inhibiting or forbidding (or an instance thereof)
   • they were restrained by a prohibition in their charter
   • a medical inhibition of alcoholic beverages
   • he ignored his parents' forbiddance
2. (physiology) the process whereby nerves can retard or prevent the functioning of an organ or part
   • the inhibition of the heart by the vagus nerve
3. the quality of being inhibited
4. (psychology) the conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts or desires

Từ đồng nghĩa

• prohibition
• forbiddance
• suppression