What does folie a deux mean Meaning and Definition
What does folie à deux mean
Pronunciation
/foʊli ɑː ˈduː/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A mental disorder in which two people, often romantic partners or family members, share delusional beliefs or behaviors, often as a result of mutual influence or persuasion.
Etymology
The term “folie à deux” is a French phrase, with “folie” meaning “madness” and “deux” meaning “two”. It was first coined by French physician Eugène Fullner in 1902 to describe a specific type of shared psychotic disorder.
Usage Notes
Folie à deux is often used in medical and psychological contexts to describe a specific type of mental health disorder. However, it can also be used more broadly to describe any situation where two people share similar beliefs or behaviors, often without understanding the underlying causes.
Cultural References
- The concept of folie à deux has been explored in various film and literature, including the novel “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath and the film “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962).
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
- “The devil is in the details” – This phrase is often used to describe how small details can have a significant impact on a larger issue, similar to how folie à deux can have significant consequences for those involved.
Related Words or Phrases
- Shared psychosis
- Mutual delusion
- Suggestion
Collocations
- What does folie à deux mean?
- Folie à deux is a form of shared psychosis.
- The couple’s folie à deux is a result of their shared delusional beliefs.
Frequency of Use
Folie à deux is a relatively rare term, but it is commonly used in medical and psychological contexts to describe a specific type of shared psychotic disorder.
Common Misspellings
- Foly à deux
- Folie a deux
- Folie à deux is a French term, so it is often misspelled by non-native speakers or those unfamiliar with the language.