inhibition
Mental holding back
Inhibition is the holding back of impulses, desires, or actions.
In psychology, inhibitions are internal barriers that prevent someone from acting freely or spontaneously: She lost her inhibitions after a few drinks.
Someone with few inhibitions behaves openly, sometimes recklessly.
In biology and chemistry, inhibition refers to blocking or slowing a process: enzyme inhibition, neural inhibition.
The word carries a slight clinical tone—having too many inhibitions suggests repression, while having none suggests poor judgment.
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- impulseSudden urge to act
- fearEmotional response to threat
neurosis · phobia · subconscious · conditioning · prefrontal · neurotransmitters · psychodynamics · therapy
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- quashingForcibly ending or voiding
- dampeningReducing or wetting slightly
silencing · subduing · squelching · smothering · muffling
Something blocking the way
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
blockage · hurdle · deterrent · restriction · limitation · constraint · roadblock · stumbling-block
Voluntary impulse control
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- self-disciplineRegulating one's own behavior
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
- curbRaised road margin
check · brake · control · holdback · governor · abstinence · sobriety · continence
Lacking courage or confidence
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- reservedRestrained in manner
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- reticentDisinclined to speak freely
diffident · withdrawn · wallflower · introverted · meek · demure · unassertive · insecure
Protein that hastens reactions
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
- synapticOf nerve connections
- GABAInhibitory brain neurotransmitter
serotonin · dopamine · antagonist · blocker · suppressor · downregulation · feedback · competitive
Athletic motor skill collapse
- nervesTense apprehension
- pressureForce upon contact
- freezingExtremely cold
- overthinkingDwelling excessively on thoughts
second-guessing · self-sabotage · twisties · performance-anxiety · clutch · blocking · paralysis
repression
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- self-controlAbility to restrain impulses
- impulseSudden urge to act
fear · neurosis · phobia · subconscious · conditioning · prefrontal · neurotransmitters · psychodynamics · therapy · behavioral
repression
Unconscious blocking of thoughts
- stiflingOppressively hot and close
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- quashingForcibly ending or voiding
dampening · silencing · subduing · squelching · smothering · muffling
obstacle
Something blocking the way
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- blockSolid mass, or impede
obstruction · blockage · hurdle · deterrent · restriction · limitation · constraint · roadblock · stumbling-block · interference
self-restraint
Voluntary impulse control
- moderationAvoidance of excess
- self-disciplineRegulating one's own behavior
- temperanceHabitual moderation in behavior
curb · check · brake · control · holdback · governor · abstinence · sobriety · continence · prudence
timid
Lacking courage or confidence
- bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
- reservedRestrained in manner
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
reticent · diffident · withdrawn · wallflower · introverted · meek · demure · unassertive · insecure · sheepish
enzyme
Protein that hastens reactions
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
- synapticOf nerve connections
GABA · serotonin · dopamine · antagonist · blocker · suppressor · downregulation · feedback · competitive · noncompetitive
yips
Athletic motor skill collapse
overthinking · second-guessing · self-sabotage · twisties · performance-anxiety · clutch · blocking · paralysis
- downregulationsuppression, repression, silencing, attenuation, negative feedback
- signal regulationfeedback loop, negative feedback, positive feedback, downregulation, upregulation
- cognitionthinking, reasoning, thought, cognition, remembering
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation
- Troublesproblem, trouble, issue, setback, snag
- brain activitybrain waves, brainwave, brain signal, alpha waves, beta waves
inhibitiondisinhibition
Reduced behavioral restraint
uninhibitedness · abandon · impulsivity · unrestraint · spontaneity
inhibitionstimulation
Evoking a response
activation · excitation · facilitation · potentiation · stimulus
inhibitionopenness
Quality of being accessible
candor · frankness · forthrightness · outspokenness · bluntness
- growth inhibitionBlocking normal development
- lowered inhibitionsDiminished behavioral restraint