Shrink Is Slang for Psychiatrist
Interesting Facts in Easy English
Pre-Listening Vocabulary
- shrink: short for headshrinker; slang for psychologist or psychiatrist
- psychiatrist: a doctor with a specialization in mental health; can prescribe medication
- psychologist: one who has a degree in psychology (may do research or clinical work); usually is not licensed to prescribe medication
- term of endearment: a name that shows one’s admiration or love for someone
- ego: one’s sense of self importance
- alleviate: to remove something troubling or painful
Comprehension Questions
- What is shrink slang for?
- Why does the report mention a shark?
- In what way could the word shrink be considered a term of endearment?
Discussion Questions: What other slang words are used for jobs and professions? Do all of these words have a negative connotation?
show Answershide Answers
Shrink Is Slang for Psychiatrist
The word
shrink is
slang for
psychiatrist or
psychologist. Like the word
shark, which is slang for
lawyer, the word
shrink has negative connotations. Shrink is the short form of
headshrinker. Headshrinking was an ancient tribal practice observed in the Amazon rainforest. A warrior would take an enemy’s head as a trophy after a battle. A special
technique was used to shrink the head and prevent the spirit of the dead from taking revenge. Some historians believe that the word
shrink has a different origin in relation to psychotherapy. At one time, the
primary role of a psychotherapist was to shrink a person’s ego. Today,
mental health professionals work on shrinking their patients’ or clients’ problems and alleviating trouble in the
brain. When someone says, “I have to go and see my shrink tonight,” it could be considered a term of endearment.
- The word shrink is slang for psychiatrist or psychologist.
- The report mentions a shark because this is slang for lawyer, and also has a negative connotation.
- A shrink could be considered a term of endearment because it suggests that the psychologist or psychiatrist is doing his/her job by shrinking a person’s problems.
