Feighet

Feighet is a term that has emerged in some online communities and in contemporary fiction to describe a particular social and psychological phenomenon related to fear and courage. In its broad sense, feighet refers to a state or behavior in which fear is present but not openly acknowledged, instead being masked by bravado or decisive action. In other contexts, the word also denotes the deliberate display of courage for social effect, with the underlying fear concealed from observers. The word is formed from the German Feigheit (cowardice), with feighet appearing as a stylized or alternate spelling used in certain communities.

In usage, feighet can function as a narrative device in fiction to illuminate a character’s internal conflict, where outward courage clashes with inner fear. In discourse and critique, it can be applied to describe politicians, celebrities, or social media figures who project confidence despite avoiding or retreating from risks. The concept overlaps with related ideas such as performative masculinity, stoicism, and authenticity in public behavior.

Limitations: Feighet is not a widely standardized term in academic psychology or linguistics. Most references to feighet appear in contemporary blogs, fan fiction, and commentary rather than formal scholarly sources. See also Feigheit, the German noun for cowardice; related discussions include performativity and authenticity in public behavior.