Oscillation is a repeated back and forth movement or fluctuation between two states around a central point or equilibrium.
At its core, oscillation involves:
- A center or equilibrium
- Movement away from it
- A restoring force or tendency
- Repetition over time
In Psychology
Oscillation can describe:
- Emotional swings (e.g., hope to despair)
- Attachment to avoidance dynamics
- Identity instability
- Cognitive rumination loops
In trauma psychology, people may oscillate between:
- Hyperarousal (anxiety, activation)
- Hypoarousal (numbness, shutdown)
Healthy regulation isn’t the absence of oscillation, it’s the capacity to return to center.
In Philosophy
Oscillation can describe tension between:
- Realism: Idealism
- Faith: Doubt
- Individual: Collective
Some thinkers see oscillation as fundamental to reality, not a flaw, but a structure.
Simple Definition
Oscillation: repeated movement between two poles around a center.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 