Glossary O

Overkill is defined as a common mistake that couples make during arguments, in which one person threatens the worst but doesn’t mean what he or she says.

Overlap refers to a period of simultaneous speech during the last word of a speaker's projected closing. Please see also Interruption.

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Overlearning means learning or practice that continues after initial mastery of a skill; learning or practice that continues after initial mastery of a skill; practicing a task even after it has been mastered in order to retain learning. Moreover, Overlearning means continued Rehearsal of material after one has first appeared to have mastered it.

Overload refers to a principle of training describing the need to increase the load / intensity of exercise to cause a further adaptation of a system. Overload, moreover is defined as a psychological reaction to situations and experiences that are so cognitively, perceptually, or emotionally stimulating that they tax or even exceed the individual’s capacity to process incoming information.

Overly permissive parents are parents who give little guidance, allow too much freedom, or do not require the child to take responsibility.

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Overmatching refers to a deviation from matching in which the proportion of responses on the richer schedule versus poorer schedule is more different than would be predicted by matching.

Deutsch: Überbehütung / Español: Sobreprotección / Português: Superproteção / Français: Surprotection / Italiano: Sovraprotezione

In the psychology context, overprotection refers to a behavioral pattern in which a caregiver, often a parent, excessively shields their child from potential risks, failures, or challenges, more than is developmentally appropriate or necessary. This behavior can limit the child's ability to develop independence, resilience, problem-solving skills, and confidence in their own abilities. Overprotection is often rooted in the caregiver's anxiety or fear about the child's safety and well-being, but it can lead to unintended negative consequences for the child's emotional and psychological development.

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Deutsch: Überreaktion auf nicht-bedrohliche Situationen / Español: Reacción exagerada a situaciones no amenazantes / Português: Reação exagerada a situações não ameaçadoras / Français: Réaction excessive à des situations non menaçantes / Italiano: Reazione eccessiva a situazioni non minacciose

Overreaction to Non-Threatening Situations refers to an disproportionate emotional, cognitive, or behavioral response to stimuli that objectively pose no significant danger or harm. This phenomenon is frequently observed in clinical and subclinical populations, particularly in individuals with anxiety disorders, trauma-related conditions, or heightened stress sensitivity. It reflects a maladaptive overactivation of threat detection systems, often leading to unnecessary distress, avoidance behaviors, or social conflicts.

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