This phenomenon is known as semantic satiation and it causes us to perceive a real word as meaningless sounds.
Let’s get into why this happens…happens?
Causes
To reiterate.
Verywell Mind / Getty
There are multiple theoriesas to why semantic satiation occurs.
Another theory is that fatigue causes the connection between word and meaning to get jumbled.
In other words, pun intended, there isnt a consensus as to why semantic satiation happens.
A word in itself doesn’t actually have meaning.
It Can Be Helpful in Therapy
Another use of semantic satiation is in mental health therapy.
McCarthy said that losing the meaning of a word temporarily can help disconnect thetriggeringthat a particular word may cause.
In her work with acceptance and commitment therapy this is a version of cognitive defusion.
McCarthy gave the example of children asking for a cookie over and over.
Can Semantic Satiation Be Resolved?
One of the techniques she uses is a mindfulness technique known as mind wandering or decoupling.
“Its almost a good technique.
That is just a collection of syllables without, without meaning.
Tian X, Huber DE.
Testing an associative account of semantic satiation.Cogn Psychol.
2010;60(4):267-290.
2024;7(1):1-12.
2023;9(7):e18341.
