Totutus

Totutus is a Finnish noun that refers to the act or process of accustoming or habituating someone or something to a new condition, task, environment, or routine. It is derived from the verb totuttaa, meaning to accustom. The term is used in both everyday language and more formal contexts to describe deliberate exposure and practice intended to reduce unfamiliarity, fear, or resistance and to increase competence.

The concept appears in various domains. In education and work, totutus can describe onboarding or task familiarization, where a person learns procedures and norms through guided practice. In rehabilitation or medical care, totutus may involve gradually introducing a patient to new equipment or procedures. In animal care and training, totutus (or totuttaminen) denotes the gradual exposure of an animal to handling, grooming, or environmental stimuli to ease interactions and improve compliance.

Process and characteristics. Totutus typically involves staged steps, repetition, and positive reinforcement, with progress assessed by improved tolerance, performance, and smoothness of operation. The duration and intensity depend on the individual and the task, making totutus a flexible concept rather than a fixed method.

Related terms include totuttaa (to accustom), totuttaminen (the process of habituation), and tottuminen (getting used to). Totutus is a Finnish term and is most commonly used within Finnish-language contexts; its closest English equivalents are habituation, acclimatization, or familiarization.