auto-, aut- +
(Greek: self, same, spontaneous; directed from within)
autoecholalia
1. The tendency to repeat several times in a meaningless manner the last syllable of a word, the last word of a sentence, or even the last part of a phrase.
2. The repetition of some or all words in one's statements.
3. A morbid repetition of another person's or one's own words.
4. Parrot-like repetition of words and phrases initially uttered by the patient himself/herself; seen in catatonic schizophrenia and in certain cerebral degenerative disorders.
autoechopraxia
Purposeless repetition of a stereotyped movement (repetitive, seemingly driven, and nonfunctional motor behavior; such as, hand shaking or waving, body rocking, head banging, mouthing of objects, self-biting, picking at skin or body orifices, hitting one's own body).
autoemasculation
Self-castration.
autoepilation, autodepilation
A spontaneous loss of hair.
autoerotic asphyxiation
The practice of self-strangulation while masturbating, which purportedly increases pleasure due to the decrease of oxygen going to the brain; also written autoerotic asphyxiation, also called autoerotic asphyxia.
autoeroticism, autoerotism, autoerotic
1. In psychoanalytic psychology, the earliest stage in the development of object relationships where the self is the only object recognized and the infant does not differentiate between self and nonself.
2. Spontaneous erotism, self-erotism; sexual gratification aroused or obtained by oneself, i.e. not with another person; masturbation.
autofellatio
The act of oral stimulation of one's own penis as a form of masturbation.
autofocus
Having the ability to focus automatically; such as, an autofocus lens or an autofocus camera.
autogamous
Self-fertilization in plants.
autogamy
1. In botany, self-fertilization or self-pollination in plants by their own pollen.
2. In biology, the union of nuclei within and arising from a single cell, as with certain protozoans and fungi.
3. Reproduction in which a single cell undergoes reduction division producing two autogametes that subsequently fuse.
autogamy, autogamic, autogamous
1. Self-fertilization.
2. In biology, fusion of sister-cells or of pairs of nuclei within a cell.
autogenesis
1. The supposed development of living organisms from nonliving matter.
2. The process by which a vaccine is made from bacteria obtained from the patient's own body.
autogenetic
1. Self-generation.
2. Origination within the organism.
autogenic
1. Occurring within a given system.
2. Produced by the activities of living organisms within a system and acting upon that system.
autogenic training, autogenic therapy
1. A method of relieving stress by using meditation and other mental exercises to produce physical relaxation.
2. A relaxation technique utilizing self-suggestion, and meditation.
Autogenic Therapy is a research based relaxation technique that promotes self empowerment and peace of mind.
"Autogenic" means generated from within and once learned, Autogenic Therapy becomes a skill for life which can help to reduce stress and increase well being.
Autogenic Training (AT) is a relaxation technique, a psycho-physiologically-based form of autonomic self-regulation, and a self-help resource for health.
It is a method of inducing the relaxation response which is opposite to the stress response, bringing about a healthy balance between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and the parasympathetic (rest renewal and repair) activities of the body's autonomic nervous system.
Autogenic training, devised in the early 1900s by German psychiatrist and neurologist, J. H. Schultz, first published in 1932, is a way of using suggestive words or phrases; such as, "I feel calm" or "I feel heavy" to passively encourage your body to relax.
Dr. Schultz' method, known as autogenous training, teaches a people to create a feeling of warmth and heaviness throughout their bodies; thereby experiencing a profound state of physical relaxation, bodily health, and mental peace.
Once you become proficient at it, you can use autogenics to overcome addictions (such as smoking or gambling), change unwanted behaviors (such as nail biting), and resolve anxieties (such as fear of flying). In fact, you can use autogenics to help overcome just about any psychological or physiological problem; the results will vary (a) according to the severity of the problem and (b) according to your own discipline and confidence.
Related-word units meaning same:
equ-;
homeo-;
homo-;
iso-;
pari-;
peer-;
syn-;
tauto-.
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