vicarious

Vocabulary Word

Definition

'Vicarious' describes the idea of living or feeling through another person's experiences, actions, or emotions. It's like when you read a book and feel exactly what the main character is feeling.

Examples in Different Contexts

In psychology, 'vicarious' experiences can impact learning and emotional responses. A psychologist might explain, 'Vicarious learning allows individuals to learn from observing others’ behaviors and the consequences of those behaviors, shaping their own responses and actions.'

Practice Scenarios

Impact

Scenario:

Social workers are reporting high levels of stress. Could prolonged exposure to traumatic situations be impacting our team?

Response:

It could be. Vicarious trauma is a common concern among social workers.

Business

Scenario:

Our team needs to understand the customer's shopping habits better. Would observing them in the store provide more insights?

Response:

Certainly! Through observing customers, we can gain a more vicarious understanding which will be of great help.