Parapraxia, also known as a lapsus linguae or a Freudian slip, is a psychological phenomenon characterized by a slip of the tongue, pen, or other forms of speech or action that deviates unintentionally from what was intended. It involves the occurrence of an error or a mistake in the act of verbal communication or physical movement, where a different word, phrase, or action is produced instead of the intended one.
The term parapraxia originates from the Greek words "para," meaning beside or alongside, and "praxis," meaning action or practice. It was first introduced by Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, who believed that these slips were manifestations of repressed thoughts, desires, or conflicts within the unconscious mind. According to Freudian theory, such errors occur when the unconscious mind temporarily gains control over the conscious mind, revealing hidden and often socially unacceptable content.
Parapraxias can take various forms, including slips of the tongue, misreading or mishearing words or sentences, forgetting names or facts, misplacing objects, and even unintentional physical actions. These errors can range from simple and innocent mistakes to revealing and embarrassing ones.
In modern psychology, parapraxia is often seen as a normal aspect of cognitive functioning rather than purely Freudian in nature. It is understood as a breakdown in attention, concentration, or memory retrieval systems, influenced by factors such as stress, fatigue, distraction, or emotional arousal. While parapraxias are usually harmless and common in everyday life, they can provide psychologists with valuable insights into an individual's unconscious processes and motivations.
