sensitization
(sɛnsɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən)
[f. sensitize v. + -ation.]
1. The act or process of sensitizing.
| 1887 Brit. Merc. Gaz. 15 June 25/1 Experiments in sensitization of molecular masses of differential volumes, showing attraction, propulsion, and negation, will follow. 1904 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 10 Sept. 559/2 The view of Bordet and the French school generally, that the action of immune body is what they describe as a sensitization. 1916 [see sensitizin]. 1947 Ann. Rev. Microbiol. I. 298 Very striking is the effect of mycobacteria on sensitization to some simple compounds such as picryl chloride and 2:4 dinitrochlorobenzene... When these are injected intraperitoneally a state of anaphylaxis alone ensues, while the use of mycobacteria produces in addition sensitization of the contact dermatitis type. 1969 Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va.) 12 Jan. a2/4 It also brings its own problems of sensitization to the horse serum from which it is made. |
2. Psychol. The fact or condition of responding in a sensitized or sensitive (as opp. to a repressed) manner, esp. to an emotional stimulus; the process of being sensitized to a particular stimulus.
| 1947 Jrnl. Personality XVI. 75 Such sensitization represents..the obverse of defense... We now find sensitization in the presence of ‘dangerous’ stimulus objects. 1959 Ibid. XXVII. 364 The opposite syndrome, composed of high Admission, low Denial, and high Anxiety scores describes the other end of the repression continuum, which has been labeled ‘sensitization’. 1967 Psychol. Reports XX. 459 The word ‘sensitization’ is used because the purpose of the procedure is to build up an avoidance response to the undesirable stimulus. 1976 Jrnl. Clin. Psychol. XXXII. 321 Results were interpreted according to an approach-avoidance model of repression-sensitization. |