fixations
Thoughts that stick
Fixations are obsessive attachments or preoccupations—things the mind returns to repeatedly.
In psychology, a fixation is an arrested stage of development where emotional energy remains stuck: an oral fixation.
More broadly, fixations are persistent concerns that may seem excessive to others: her fixations on cleanliness, his unhealthy fixation with celebrity gossip.
The word often carries a clinical or critical tone, suggesting something beyond healthy interest.
Persistent dominating thoughts
- phobiasIrrational intense fears
- neurosesMild psychiatric disorders
- complexesRelated buildings or neuroses
- hang-upsPersistent emotional obstacles
arrested development · Freudian · developmental stage · regression · attachment · psychoanalysis · unconscious · childhood
Short-lived popular obsession
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
- enthusiasmIntense eager enjoyment
- passionIntense emotional drive
- infatuationShort-lived intense attraction
fever · ardor · zeal · fanaticism · devotion · idée fixe · monomania · fascination
Sustained single-minded attention
- attentionFocused mental awareness
- gazeFixed, intent look
- stareProlonged fixed gaze
- aimPurpose or direction
target · sight · observation · scrutiny · watchfulness · absorption · intentness · awareness
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
- preoccupationAbsorbing mental focus
- addictionCompulsive substance reliance
- urgeStrong inner drive
- driveOperate a vehicle
impulse · habit · dependence · repetition · ritual · routine · inflexibility · perseveration
Steadily increasing in degree
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- anchoringFastening securely to position
- fasteningJoining two parts together
- securingMaking firmly fixed
stabilization · clamping · positioning · bracing · hardware · screws · bolts · brackets
obsessions
Persistent dominating thoughts
- phobiasIrrational intense fears
- neurosesMild psychiatric disorders
- complexesRelated buildings or neuroses
hang-ups · arrested development · Freudian · developmental stage · regression · attachment · psychoanalysis · unconscious · childhood · libido
craze
Short-lived popular obsession
- frenzyViolent mental agitation
- enthusiasmIntense eager enjoyment
- passionIntense emotional drive
infatuation · fever · ardor · zeal · fanaticism · devotion · idée fixe · monomania · fascination · hyperfixation
concentration
Sustained single-minded attention
aim · target · sight · observation · scrutiny · watchfulness · absorption · intentness · awareness · clarity
obsession
Persistent, intrusive preoccupation
- preoccupationAbsorbing mental focus
- addictionCompulsive substance reliance
- urgeStrong inner drive
drive · impulse · habit · dependence · repetition · ritual · routine · inflexibility · perseveration · single-mindedness
mounting
Steadily increasing in degree
- attachmentConnection or fondness
- anchoringFastening securely to position
- fasteningJoining two parts together
securing · stabilization · clamping · positioning · bracing · hardware · screws · bolts · brackets · formalin
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- Enneagramreformer, helper, achiever, individualist, investigator
- eye trackingeye tracker, eye tracking, eye movement, saccade, heat map
- readingfluency, read, comprehension, readers, books
- preferencespreferences, prefer, likes, like, liking
- flawsfaults, defect, flaw, blemish, flaws
fixationsindifference
Lack of interest
whims · disinterest · apathy · detachment · unconcern
fixationsaversions
Strong feelings against
repulsions · dislikes · revulsions · antipathies · loathings
fixationsflexibility
Ability to adapt easily
open-mindedness · adaptability · letting go · fluidity · detachment
- oral fixationPsychological attachment to mouth activities
- mother fixation
- nitrogen fixationConverting inert gas to ammonia