vicarious

Vicarious is an adjective meaning experienced in the imagination through the actions or experiences of another person. It derives from Latin vicarius, meaning substitute or deputy, and its sense has broadened to describe experiences, emotions, or responsibilities that are caused by, or attributed to, someone else rather than to direct participation.

In psychology, vicarious experience and vicarious reinforcement describe learning that occurs by observing others rather than through direct trial. Observing a model receive rewards or punishments can influence an observer’s choices and behavior. The concept is central to Bandura’s social learning theory.

In law, vicarious liability imposes responsibility on one party for the actions of another, typically an employer for an employee performed within the scope of employment. The doctrine extends to agencies, partnerships, and other relationships where control or authority links the parties.

In everyday language, people speak of living vicariously through others, such as enjoying adventures, achievements, or emotions secondhand. The term also appears in medical and professional contexts as vicarious trauma or vicarious exposure, referring to distress experienced after hearing about or witnessing others’ traumatic experiences.

Usage notes: vicarious implies indirect involvement and is often contrasted with direct or firsthand experience. It can also carry connotations of substitution or delegation in certain legal or relational contexts.