westermarck: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareAcademic/Technical (Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology)
Quick answer
What does “westermarck” mean?
The Westermarck effect is the theory that people who grow up in close domestic proximity during childhood (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The Westermarck effect is the theory that people who grow up in close domestic proximity during childhood (e.g., siblings or children in communal households) are desensitized to sexual attraction towards each other later in life.
A phenomenon studied in psychology, anthropology, and sociology, often used to explain the apparent universality of the incest taboo as a result of evolved psychological mechanisms rather than solely cultural norms. It is a proper noun derived from the name of the Finnish anthropologist Edvard Westermarck.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage, spelling, or meaning. Both varieties use it solely in academic contexts.
Connotations
Purely technical/scientific, carries no additional cultural connotations in either variety.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both, found only in specialized literature.
Grammar
How to Use “westermarck” in a Sentence
The [Westermarck effect] + [verb, e.g., explains, predicts, prevents] + [noun phrase].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Central term in discussions of incest avoidance and evolutionary psychology. Example: 'The Westermarck effect is a key concept in understanding the biological underpinnings of exogamy.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used precisely to refer to the specific psychological mechanism of desensitization.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “westermarck”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “westermarck”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “westermarck”
- Misspelling as 'Westernmark', 'Westermark', or 'Westermarch'.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a westermarck') instead of a proper noun.
- Mispronouncing the 'c' as /s/ instead of /k/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively used as part of the fixed phrase 'Westermarck effect' or 'Westermarck hypothesis' in academic texts.
He was a Finnish anthropologist and sociologist, known for his work on marriage, morality, and religion, who first proposed the effect named after him.
The opposite is often considered 'sexual imprinting', where early childhood exposure leads to attraction, or 'Genetic Sexual Attraction' (GSA), which can occur between close relatives separated early in life.
It would be highly unusual and likely confusing, as it is a very specialized term. More general phrases like 'growing up together' or 'sibling familiarity' would be appropriate.
The Westermarck effect is the theory that people who grow up in close domestic proximity during childhood (e.
Westermarck is usually academic/technical (psychology, anthropology, sociology) in register.
Westermarck: in British English it is pronounced /ˈvɛstərmɑːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɛstərˌmɑrk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'West' where families settle, 'march' away from each other romantically. Westermarck = growing up in the West makes you mark siblings as off-limits.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAMILIARITY BREEDS INDIFFERENCE (or AVERSION).
Practice
Quiz
In which academic field is the term 'Westermarck effect' primarily used?