APA Dictionary of Psychology

vicarious

Updated on 04/19/2018

adj.

substitutive or second-hand: applied, for example, to the satisfaction obtained by viewing the experiences of others in television programs. It is widely believed that human conditioning of fear responses can occur through vicarious means and that gratification of needs can be partially accomplished through watching the actions of others. See also observational learning.
occurring when one organ performs part of the functions normally performed by another.

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