Unedited
9/22/11

Abreaction

To an observer of a person’s behavior, abreaction is defined as a temporary, unexpected reversal of moral course. For instance, a very religious person who preaches against alcohol may experience a convergence of stressful events that triggers an abreaction leading to their intoxication. Business people who are too strict ethically might find themselves suddenly doing something entirely unethical. On the page entitled whimsy one might see a more common form of this when a businessperson under considerable stress parks in a handicap or loading zone to go to lunch.
When people are overwhelmed they can abreact. Ordinary business people abreact by doing whimsical things. For example, a very moral and considerate businessperson might suddenly use a yellow parking zone to go eat. Ordinarily they dutifully avoid using the yellow zone for personal use.
Revised 3/23/11

• Whimsey
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