dissociation

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dissociation (dis-soh-si-ay-shŏn) n. (in psychiatry) the process whereby thoughts and ideas can be split off from consciousness and may function independently, allowing conflicting opinions to be held at the same time about the same object. Dissociation may be the main factor in cases of dissociative fugue and multiple personalities (see dissociative disorder).
—dissociative (dis-soh-shă-tiv) adj.

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