doublethink etymology

Etymology

• Doublethink is a neologism coined by George Orwell in his 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.

• It is a portmanteau word, combining double, meaning "two-fold" or "ambiguous," and think, referring to the process of cognition.

Meaning

Doublethink is a form of cognitive dissonance in which a person holds two mutually contradictory beliefs simultaneously, without recognizing the contradiction.

• This occurs when an individual:
  • Accepts a proposition despite internally acknowledging its falsity.
  • Rejects a proposition despite subconsciously believing its truth.
  • Alternates between holding and rejecting contradictory beliefs, depending on the context.

Origin

Orwell developed the concept of doublethink as a key element of his dystopian vision in Nineteen Eighty-Four. The totalitarian regime in the novel uses doublethink to control its citizens by:

• Indoctrinating them with a contradictory official ideology (Ingsoc).
• Forcing them to deny their own memories and experiences (memory holes).
• Encouraging them to engage in mental gymnastics to reconcile opposing beliefs.

Doublethink has become a widely recognized term, used in various contexts to describe:

• Cognitive dissonance
• Self-deception
• Political propaganda
• Institutionalized denial

doublethink relate terms

• double

  Etymology The word double has two possible etymologies From the Middle English dob

• think

  Etymology Etymology is the study of the origin and history of words It involves tracing

• methinks

  Etymology Methinks is a contraction of the Old English phrase me thinketh which mea

• thought

  Etymology The word thought comes from the Old English word thoht which means mind

• thank

  Etymology Origin Old English þancian from Proto Germanic þankōną from Proto In

• methinks

  Etymology Methinks is a contraction of the Old English phrase me thinketh which mea

• doublespeak

  Etymology Double speak Meaning Doublespeak is a type of language that uses euphem

• double

  Etymology The word double has two possible etymologies From the Middle English dob

• speak

  Etymology The word speak originates from the Old English word specan which means to

• doublethink

  Etymology Doublethink is a neologism coined by George Orwell in his 1949 novel Nineteen

• Newspeak

  Etymology Newspeak is a fictional language created by George Orwell in his novel Ninetee

• austere

  Etymology Late Latin austērus harsh severe Greek austēros dry harsh Proto I

• juggernaut

  Etymology From Sanskrit jagannātha or jagad nātha Jagannātha means Lord of t

• threshold

  Etymology Old English therscwald doorsill threshold From Proto Germanic threskō

• uncanny

  Etymology Uncanny derives from Middle English oncunnend meaning unknown or stran

• paradox

  Etymology The word paradox originates from the Greek language para παρά mea

• spurious

  Meaning Spurious etymology is the false or mistaken belief about the origin or meaning o

• camouflage

  Etymology Camouflage comes from the French word camoufler meaning to disguise onese

• disease

  Etymology Middle English disease from Old French desese from Latin dis aese not

• rock

  Etymology The word rock originates from the Old English word rocc which meant a la