Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Language/2015 September 17

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September 17

Get yourself a shrink

Hi, as far as I can understad, "get yourself a shrink" means "get yourself a psychiatist", which is (at least translated to german) a good advice if somebody has a psychiatric disorder or an insult if he hasn't. My question is, is that English phrase also used joculary, as a fun word, a harmless practical joke or with any other non-medical and non-offensive meaning? --Superbass (talk) 15:09, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

Oh, I'd venture that the phrase carries negative affect in English, too. But possibly in a less intense way than in German. StevenJ81 (talk) 15:47, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

(edit conflict) You may find this of interest. Personally, I think the original use of headshrinker or shrink to refer to a psychiatrist, although it may have been (at least sometimes) jocular, has pretty much lost all jocularity by now. I can't think of any current use in which "get yourself a shrink" would be anything other than either well-intended advice or an insult. Deor (talk) 15:49, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

All insults can also be intended as jokes between good friends. This is one of those things that can be lost in translation, as the concept of the good-natured insult is a uniquely American phenomenon (or at least used to be, it may, like other parts of American culture, be exported), formal events in America known as a roast, where people hurl horrible, disgusting insults at really good friends. In many places in America, the insulting of one's good friends is normal, and part of the culture. --Jayron32 18:12, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

ObPersonal: in my (6 decades) experience of (male) British culture it's entirely normal here, too, so I disagree that it's "a uniquely American phenomenon". {The Poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 185.74.232.130 (talk) 13:16, 18 September 2015 (UTC)

It is my understanding, by the way, that among psychologists the term "shrink" refers to a clinical psychologist as opposed to an experimental psychologist. I knew someone who said, "I'm not a shrink; I'm a rat-runner." "Rat-runner" of course refers to the common use of rats in mazes for experiments. Robert McClenon (talk) 18:56, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

See Rat running for an alternate meaning. Akld guy (talk) 20:19, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

I usually use it for the analytical psychology sort, who shrink complex and disparate issues into simpler archetypes, for easier compartmentalization. The tired Freudian Couch deal, not the hackneyed Psycho Pyschologist (too much id) or the plain old Mad Doctor (too much ego). InedibleHulk (talk) 21:28, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

Technically, if you're on a Freudian couch, that's psychoanalysis, but it's all the same, as far as the mainstream cares. InedibleHulk (talk) 21:33, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

Is it offensive or just jocular? I guess it depends if you're rich and famous. Martinevans123 (talk) 21:42, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

Quite harmless of course. Advice you might well be given by "Eric from Manchester." Martinevans123 (talk) 07:31, 18 September 2015 (UTC)