Noun: acting out
- (psychiatry) the display of previously inhibited emotions (often in actions rather than words); considered to be healthy and therapeutic
"The therapist encouraged controlled acting out to help the patient process repressed feelings"
- A (usually irritating) impulsive and uncontrollable outburst by a problem child or a neurotic adult
"The therapist helped the family deal with the child's frequent acting out"
Type of: blowup [informal], blow-up [informal], display, ebullition, effusion, gush, outburst
Encyclopedia: Acting out