What term refers to the extreme preoccupation with a subject that might become pathological?

The term that refers to an extreme preoccupation with a subject, which can develop into a pathological condition, is fixation. A fixation involves an obsessive focus on a specific idea, object, or individual, often leading to an inability to shift attention away from that issue. This can have detrimental effects on an individual’s life, as it may hinder their ability to function normally or engage in healthy relationships.

In the context of psychological terms, fixation might manifest in various ways, such as compulsive behaviors or an inability to move past certain thoughts or experiences. This can tie into various psychological disorders where there is an obsessive component driving the fixation.

The other terms, while related to psychology or emotional responses, do not specifically encapsulate the notion of problematic preoccupation to the same extent as fixation. For instance, the domino effect refers to a chain reaction of events, which does not inherently relate to preoccupation. Grievance concerns a complaint or resentment, focusing on perceived wrongs rather than an obsessive fixation on a subject. Ideation relates to the process of generating ideas, which can be a normal cognitive function and does not inherently imply a pathological focus on a specific subject.