The act of dismissing, rejecting, or minimizing another person's feelings, thoughts, or experiences. This can range from subtle dismissal to outright denial of someone's emotional reality.
Formed by adding the prefix 'in-' (meaning not) to validation, creating the opposite meaning. The psychological concept gained prominence in the 1990s through research on borderline personality disorder and family dynamics.
Chronic invalidation, especially in childhood, can teach people to distrust their own emotions and perceptions - it's like being told repeatedly that your internal compass is broken. This is why phrases like 'you're too sensitive' or 'you're overreacting' can be so damaging to developing minds.
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