strive to decondition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "strive to decondition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is attempting to break free from conditioned responses or behaviors, often in psychological or self-improvement discussions. Example: "In order to achieve personal growth, one must strive to decondition old habits and embrace new ways of thinking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We must strive to decondition ourselves from this damaging habit.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

We strive to get better".

The New York Times - Sports

"Strive to underpromise and overdeliver".

The New York Times

"I really strive to be daring.

The New York Times

We all strive to be happy.

The New York Times

We also strive to be impartial.

The New York Times - Magazine

Obama will strive to be above that.

The New York Times

CENTRAL bankers ordinarily strive to be boring.

The Economist

We hope both strive to do better.

The New York Times

Mr Zuma will strive to retain investors' confidence.

The Economist

Most colleges strive to achieve two goals.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "strive to decondition", clearly define what specific conditioning you are trying to overcome to avoid vagueness. For example, "strive to decondition negative self-talk".

Common error

Avoid using "strive to decondition" without specifying the target behavior or thought pattern. Without a clear target, the phrase becomes abstract and lacks impact. Instead of saying "strive to decondition yourself", specify what exactly you are trying to decondition such as “strive to decondition yourself from reacting defensively to criticism”.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "strive to decondition" functions as a call to action, urging the subject to actively work towards reversing a learned behavior or mindset. Ludwig AI indicates that this involves breaking free from ingrained patterns. The examples available suggest the phrase is most effectively used when a specific habit or attitude is being addressed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "strive to decondition" is a call to action emphasizing the effort required to unlearn or reverse ingrained behaviors or mindsets. While grammatically correct, Ludwig indicates that its usage is relatively rare, primarily appearing in News & Media contexts. The phrase encourages personal growth and change by promoting self-awareness and intentionality. Ludwig AI suggests that related alternatives include "attempt to unlearn" or "work to break the habit of". To effectively use this phrase, it's essential to clearly define the target behavior or thought pattern you are trying to overcome.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attempt to unlearn

Focuses on undoing learned behavior or habits, similar to deconditioning.

work to break the habit of

Emphasizes the effort required to discontinue a habitual action or thought pattern.

try to overcome ingrained behaviors

Highlights the challenge of changing deeply rooted behavioral patterns.

seek to change conditioned responses

Specifically targets changing automatic responses to stimuli.

make an effort to reprogram oneself

Implies a conscious attempt to alter one's mindset or reactions.

endeavor to shed old patterns

Suggests a process of removing or discarding outdated habits.

aim to detach from automatic behaviors

Focuses on separating oneself from automatic or unconscious actions.

strive to relinquish ingrained habits

Emphasizes giving up habits that are deeply seated or long-standing.

undertake to modify ingrained responses

Highlights the commitment involved in changing one's reactions.

labor to erase conditioned behaviors

Suggests a demanding effort to eliminate specific types of behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "strive to decondition" in a sentence?

You can use "strive to decondition" to describe efforts to unlearn ingrained behaviors or thought patterns. For example, "To improve our communication, we must "strive to decondition" ourselves from judgmental thinking."

What does it mean to "strive to decondition"?

"Strive to decondition" means to make an effort to unlearn or undo conditioned responses or behaviors. It implies a conscious attempt to break free from patterns that have been ingrained through repeated experiences or societal influences.

Which is a better phrase, "strive to decondition" or "try to unlearn"?

Both phrases are valid, but "try to unlearn" is more commonly used and readily understood. "Strive to decondition" is more specific, suggesting a deliberate and focused effort to reverse a conditioning process.

What's the difference between "decondition" and "unlearn"?

"Unlearn" generally means to forget or discard something learned, while "decondition" specifically refers to reversing a conditioned response. While they can be used interchangeably in some contexts, ""strive to decondition"" suggests a more targeted effort to undo a specific type of learning.