EROTOMANIAC Meaning and
Definition
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An erotomaniac is an individual who suffers from a psychological condition called erotomania. Erotomania is a rare delusional disorder characterized by a fixed and strong belief that someone of higher social status, typically a public figure or celebrity, is deeply in love with the affected person, despite a lack of evidence or reciprocation. The erotomaniac often believes that the object of their delusion is making secret declarations of love through subtle gestures, public appearances, or coded messages in media outlets.
This condition is also known as de Clerambault's syndrome, named after the French psychiatrist who first described it. Erotomania predominantly affects women, though cases involving men have also been reported. Individuals suffering from erotomania do not easily accept alternative viewpoints or explanations that contradict their delusion.
The erotomaniac's obsession can become all-consuming and may lead to various consequences. They may engage in obsessive behaviors such as stalking, writing love letters, making unwanted phone calls, or attempting to make contact with the object of their delusion. In some extreme cases, erotomania can escalate into harassment or even violence if the erotomaniac believes that their love interest is being blocked by others.
Given the potentially severe impact of erotomania on both the individual and the object of their delusion, it is important for affected individuals to seek professional help. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, medication, and support to help the erotomaniac overcome their delusional beliefs and manage their emotions in a healthier manner.
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A sufferer from erotomania.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for EROTOMANIAC
- wrotomaniac
- srotomaniac
- drotomaniac
- rrotomaniac
- 4rotomaniac
- 3rotomaniac
- eeotomaniac
- edotomaniac
- efotomaniac
- etotomaniac
- e5otomaniac
- e4otomaniac
- eritomaniac
- erktomaniac
- erltomaniac
- erptomaniac
- er0tomaniac
- er9tomaniac
- eroromaniac
- erofomaniac
Etymology of EROTOMANIAC
The word "erotomaniac" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "eros" meaning "sexual love" and "mania" meaning "madness" or "obsession". The term originated from the French word "érotomanie", which was first used in the 19th century to describe a psychiatric condition characterized by an intense delusional obsession with someone else, usually believing that person is in love with them, despite evidence to the contrary. The word "erotomaniac" is used to refer to individuals who suffer from this condition.
Similar spelling word for EROTOMANIAC
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