Lesitazione

Lesitazione is a term used in contemporary discourse to denote a process by which information is introduced to an audience in a staged or controlled manner, with the aim of guiding interpretation, engagement, or learning. The term is not widely standardized and is typically described in relation to storytelling, pedagogy, or information design.

The word appears to be a neologism with uncertain origin. Some commentators suggest it derives from Italian terms such as lezione (lesson) and situazione (situation), signaling a blend of instructional and situational framing. Others view it as a portmanteau created in online communities. There is no consensus on its precise etymology or scope.

In education, lesitazione may refer to the technique of progressive disclosure of problem steps to support conceptual understanding. In narrative design, it describes pacing strategies that reveal key plot details gradually to maintain suspense. In user experience design, it can denote progressive disclosure of controls and settings to avoid cognitive overload.

Because lesitazione lacks a formal definition in major disciplinary standards, it is mostly discussed in informal essays and glossaries. Critics caution that the term can be vague or misused to describe any form of gradual information release, and they emphasize the need for clearer criteria to evaluate its effectiveness.

See also: progressive disclosure, suspense, pedagogy, information design.