Univalence is spelt as /juːnɪˈveɪləns/, with stress on the second syllable. The word is derived from the Latin word "unus" meaning "one" and "valentia" meaning "strength". It is used to describe the property of being able to bind with one other molecule or ion. The spelling of the word follows the principles of English orthography where "u" represents the /juː/ sound, "a" represents the /æ/ sound, and "e" represents the /ɛ/ sound. The final "s" is added to form a singular noun.
Univalence is a concept that can be defined in different contexts, particularly in mathematics and psychology.
In mathematics, univalence refers to a property of functions in complex analysis where a function is said to be univalent if it is injective or one-to-one within a certain domain. This means that for every input, there is only one corresponding output and no two distinct inputs produce the same output. Univalence is a useful concept in various mathematical fields such as geometric function theory and conformal mapping, where the preservation of shapes and angles is of interest.
In psychology, univalence is a term used in the field of personal construct theory, originally introduced by George Kelly. It relates to the tendency of individuals to evaluate and interpret the world in a dichotomous manner, categorizing experiences or objects into distinct and mutually exclusive categories. In this context, univalence can lead to rigid thinking patterns, as individuals perceive things as either good or bad, right or wrong, with little room for nuance or ambiguity.
In both mathematics and psychology, univalence embodies the notion of exclusivity and uniqueness. Whether referring to the injectivity of a function or the cognitive process of dichotomous thinking, univalence represents a concise way to describe a condition where distinctness and singularity play a crucial role.
A valence of one, the state of being univalent.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "univalence" is derived from the Latin term "univalentia" which is composed of two Latin words: "uni-" meaning "one" or "single", and "valentia" meaning "power" or "strength". Hence, "univalence" refers to the state or quality of having a single, coherent meaning or interpretation. It is often used in the context of semiotics, linguistics, and logic to indicate that a term, concept, or statement has a singular and unambiguous interpretation.