Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Uncontrollable repetition of a particular response, such as a word, phrase, or gesture, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus, usually caused by brain injury or other organic disorder.
- noun The tendency to continue or repeat an act or activity after the cessation of the original stimulus.
- noun The act or an instance of persevering; perseverance.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun psychology Uncontrollable repetition of a particular response, such as a word, phrase, or gesture, despite the absence or cessation of a stimulus, usually caused by brain injury or other organic disorder.
- noun psychology The tendency to continue or repeat an act or activity after the cessation of the original stimulus.
- noun The act or an instance of persevering; perseverance.
- noun Argument by repetition; a mantra.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the act of persisting or persevering; continuing or repeating behavior
- noun the tendency for a memory or idea to persist or recur without any apparent stimulus for it
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word perseveration.
Examples
-
One abnormality of this function is called perseveration, which is the unnecessary repetition or maintenance of action.
The Neuropsychiatric Guide to Modern Everyday Psychiatry Michael Alan Taylor 1993
-
Some words are repeated in a stereotyped fashion, called perseveration.
Clinical Work with Adolescents Judith Marks Mishne 1986
-
Occasionally other abnormalities are noted, such as perseveration or distraction.
A Study of Association in Insanity Grace Helen Kent
-
"perseveration" of tactual images which had a strong feeling tone and which were associated with seen or heard reports of the experiences of others.
Psychotherapy Hugo M��nsterberg 1889
-
It seems to have something to do with Tyler's perseveration on the increasing blandness of BBQ sauce.
-
Lyme patients have a penchant for saying, “Wait a minute”, 2-3 times rapidly when the only demand on them is to record a phone number, which also speaks of perseveration.
-
There's a moment when the perseveration becomes unproductive.
-
Almost all successful writers exhibit behaviors which would be unhealthy perseveration in the everyday world, but are critical success factors in publishing.
At Least LiveJournal is Tax Deductible... jaylake 2009
-
Maybe Vic will take off his wolf suit, give up the Rumpus perseveration and come home to a late night snack and the civilizing process like Max does in the story.
The Volokh Conspiracy » Books I Would Recommend to those Who Disagree With Me 2009
-
From there he fixated on baseball, reciting players 'names and stats ad nauseam, whether or not anyone was listening — a behavior experts call perseveration.
Erasing Autism 2009
john commented on the word perseveration
“And though perseverance can be an admirable trait and is essential for all success in life, when taken too far it becomes perseveration — uncontrollable repetition — or simple perversity.�?
The New York Times, Brain Is a Co-Conspirator in a Vicious Stress Loop, by Natalie Angier, August 17, 2009
August 21, 2009