2006-09-08 05:06:36 · 11 answers · asked by kitty 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
First, shrink is broader than just 'psychiatrist'; it is also used for 'a psychotherapist, especially a psychoanalyst'.
The word shrink is short for headshrinker. Headshrinker was originally used (among certain tribal peoples) when a person decapitates a victim and shrinks and preserves the victim's head as a trophy. By 1950 this was being applied to psychotherapists as a mildly derisive term; it became common relatively quickly.
The clipped form shrink is first recorded in the early 1960s, and it also became common quickly. Shrink was preceded by a couple of years by shrinker, from 1960 but never terribly popular. Finally, the verb shrink 'to treat by psychotherapy' (and less commonly 'to work as a psychotherapist') is first recorded in the early 1970s.
2006-09-08 05:17:06 · answer #1 · answered by sarah b 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anent sarah b's erudite answer, there's a country in the Far East where it is not uncommon still nowadays for fatalities from road and building site accidents to be discovered afterwards with the head missing - "The head was decapitated" goes the newspaper reports. Coincidentally new building work often gets suspended for months for no apparent reason. Because the human head considered necessary to go into the foundations wasn't immediately available the work can't go ahead. Work recommences soon after a reported decapitation accident. A human head is easier to conceal when made smaller - after shrinking it can be dropped into the concrete mixer more easily - and there might be a connection there with the question. Most modern building there have them, a skull or two. All old ones have. So I'm told, by a resident.
2006-09-08 16:19:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This could be down to several things.
They and their type, shrink you, they try to destroy your sense of self and place their own version there instead. They make others feel inferior in or out of a session. They pry into areas not of their concern.
They use your bank account like their own piggy bank. They will take all of your problems and shrink them down to one reason - Blame the parents. Whether this is true or not. They do not take into account anything you really say only what they say you said.
So in effect the term 'shrink' covers the whole field covering the psyche. Rather than use all the titles people simply say shrinks.
2006-09-12 10:43:33 · answer #3 · answered by Alucard 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shrink", taken from "head shrinker", is a slang term for a psychiatrist or psychotherapist, sometimes treated as derogatory or offensive.
2006-09-08 12:10:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They write things down about you even if you don't appoint them on some occasions. Things which you'll never find out. And play god with your mind. They must have been feared in the early years. Very belittling.
The rapists assault the mind.
Besides, who needs them? are they based on science?. Are they the end product of useless school qualifications?
2006-09-08 12:29:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because they shrink and reduce your ego to a point of non-existance and then try to encourage you to re-build it again thus further "shrinking" your bank balance!
2006-09-08 12:16:22 · answer #6 · answered by sammi 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Maybe they help to shrink your demons.
2006-09-10 04:16:29 · answer #7 · answered by Princess415 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they work on your head like what was said before the head shrinkers.
2006-09-08 16:32:41 · answer #8 · answered by wantedman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
becouse they skink you, asin make you feel small and worthless and sent already crazy people more crazy
2006-09-08 12:09:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
they just known...
2006-09-08 12:10:36 · answer #10 · answered by Max 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋