A thought, feeling, or activity that someone cannot stop thinking about or doing, often in an unhealthy or extreme way.
From Latin "obsessio" meaning "a siege, a blockade," from "obsidere" (to besiege, occupy). The word originally described being besieged or haunted, especially by evil spirits.
The root image of obsession is a mental siege: a thought camps around your mind like an army that won’t leave. That’s why obsessions feel less like choices and more like something that has captured you.
Cultural narratives have gendered 'obsession' differently—women portrayed as obsessively romantic or appearance-focused, men as obsessively work- or status-focused. Clinical concepts of obsessive-compulsive disorder have also been unevenly understood across genders.
Use 'obsession' carefully and avoid reinforcing gendered stereotypes about what people are 'obsessed' with; distinguish casual from clinical usage.
["fixation","preoccupation","strong interest"]
Women researchers and advocates have helped refine understanding of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, including gender differences in diagnosis and care.
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