"Janov" is a surname that is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet as /dʒænɒv/. The first letter, "j", represents the consonant sound made by pressing the tongue against the roof of the mouth and expelling a burst of air. The vowel sounds, "a" and "o", are pronounced as the short "a" and the rounded "o" respectively. The final consonant, "v", is pronounced by pressing the upper teeth against the lower lip and vibrating the vocal cords.
Janov is a term commonly associated with primal therapy, a type of emotional release therapy developed by the American psychologist Arthur Janov. Primarily used as a noun, the term Janov refers to both the therapy and the therapist himself. The therapy aims to address deep-rooted emotional pain and unresolved trauma that individuals may have experienced during early childhood, hypothesizing that these unresolved issues can be the source of various psychological and physical afflictions later in life.
Janov emphasizes the significance of addressing these deeply embedded emotional traumas as a means of achieving psychological healing and personal growth. The therapy often involves patients revisiting and re-experiencing past traumas through primal scream therapy, wherein individuals release repressed emotions by vocalizing intense feelings, such as fear, anger, or sadness. The ultimate goal of Janov's therapy is to enable individuals to confront and process these repressed emotions, leading to an improved overall psychological well-being.
The term Janov is also colloquially used to refer to practitioners or followers of the primal therapy approach. These individuals may have undergone primal therapy themselves or share a common belief in the efficacy and principles of Janov's work. Thus, "janov" can refer to both the therapy itself and individuals who adhere to or administer the therapy.