Apprehension vs. Comprehension: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 2, 2024
Apprehension refers to fear or anxiety about the future, while comprehension means understanding or grasping the meaning of something.
Key Differences
Apprehension often implies a sense of fear or anxiety about a future event. It's an emotional response, reflecting worry or unease. Comprehension, in contrast, is a cognitive process. It involves the ability to understand or grasp the meaning of information, concepts, or language.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Apprehension is frequently used in contexts where there is uncertainty or fear about what is to come. It can relate to situations, events, or outcomes. Comprehension, however, is used in educational and communicative contexts, emphasizing the mental processing and understanding of information or language.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 02, 2024
Apprehension is closely tied to emotions and feelings. It reflects a person's emotional state regarding future uncertainties. Comprehension, on the other hand, is intellectual. It deals with the capacity to intellectually process and understand information, texts, or concepts.
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Jan 02, 2024
In psychology, apprehension is studied in relation to anxiety and fear responses. In linguistics or education, comprehension is a key concept, focusing on how people understand language and information.
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Jan 02, 2024
Apprehension can lead to cautious or avoidant behavior, as it is driven by fear or anxiety. In contrast, comprehension influences learning and communication, facilitating knowledge acquisition and effective interaction.
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Jan 02, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Context of Use
Future events, uncertain outcomes
Information processing, learning
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Jan 02, 2024
Outcome
Causes worry, affects decision-making
Leads to clarity, enhances learning
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Jan 02, 2024
Behavioral Impact
May lead to avoidance or cautious action
Facilitates engagement and effective communication
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Jan 02, 2024
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Apprehension and Comprehension Definitions
Apprehension
Anxiety or Nervousness
She felt a sense of apprehension before the job interview.
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Dec 25, 2023
Comprehension
Intellectual Assimilation
The student's comprehension of the lecture was reflected in her questions.
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Dec 25, 2023
Apprehension
Arrest or Capture
The criminal's apprehension was a relief to the community.
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Dec 25, 2023
Comprehension
Understanding of Information
His comprehension of the text was evident in his detailed summary.
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Dec 25, 2023
Apprehension
Perception or Understanding
Her quick apprehension of the situation saved them from a mistake.
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Dec 25, 2023
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Comprehension
Grasping Concepts
Her comprehension of abstract concepts is remarkable.
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Dec 25, 2023
Apprehension
Fear of the Future
His apprehension about the upcoming exam left him restless.
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Dec 25, 2023
Comprehension
Understanding Language
His comprehension of Spanish improved after living in Spain.
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Dec 25, 2023
Comprehension
Mental Processing
The child's comprehension of complex stories is advanced for her age.
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Dec 25, 2023
Comprehension
The act or fact of grasping the meaning, nature, or importance of; understanding.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
(rare) The physical act of seizing or taking hold of (something); seizing.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
(legal) The act of seizing or taking by legal process; arrest.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
(Logic) The sum of meanings and corresponding implications inherent in a term.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
Perception; the act of understanding using one's intellect without affirming, denying, or passing any judgment
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
Thorough understanding.
Students will be tested on their comprehension of sentences in the foreign language.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
(logic) The totality of intensions, that is, attributes, characters, marks, properties, or qualities, that the object possesses, or else the totality of intensions that are pertinent to the context of a given discussion.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
The faculty by which ideas are conceived or by which perceptions are grasped; understanding.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
(programming) A compact syntax for generating a list in some functional programming languages.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
Anticipation, especially of unfavorable things such as dread or fear or the prospect of something unpleasant in the future.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
(Christianity) The inclusion of nonconformists within the Church of England.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
The act of seizing or taking hold of; seizure; as, the hand is an organ of apprehension.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
The act of comprehending, containing, or comprising; inclusion.
In the Old Testament there is a close comprehension of the New; in the New, an open discovery of the Old.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
The act of seizing or taking by legal process; arrest; as, the felon, after his apprehension, escaped.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
That which is comprehended or inclosed within narrow limits; a summary; an epitome.
Though not a catalogue of fundamentals, yet . . . a comprehension of them.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
The act of grasping with the intellect; the contemplation of things, without affirming, denying, or passing any judgment; intellection; perception.
Simple apprehension denotes no more than the soul's naked intellection of an object.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
The capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; the power, act, or process of grasping with the intellect; perception; understanding; as, a comprehension of abstract principles.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
Opinion; conception; sentiment; idea.
To false, and to be thought false, is all one in respect of men, who act not according to truth, but apprehension.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
The complement of attributes which make up the notion signified by a general term.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
The faculty by which ideas are conceived; understanding; as, a man of dull apprehension.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
A figure by which the name of a whole is put for a part, or that of a part for a whole, or a definite number for an indefinite.
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
Anticipation, mostly of things unfavorable; distrust or fear at the prospect of future evil.
After the death of his nephew Caligula, Claudius was in no small apprehension for his own life.
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
An ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result);
How you can do that is beyond my comprehension
He was famous for his comprehension of American literature
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
Fearful expectation or anticipation;
The student looked around the examination room with apprehension
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Dec 13, 2023
Comprehension
The relation of comprising something;
He admired the inclusion of so many ideas in such a short work
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
The cognitive condition of someone who understands;
He has virtually no understanding of social cause and effect
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal);
The policeman on the beat got credit for the collar
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Dec 13, 2023
Apprehension
Understanding or Grasping
His apprehension of the complex theory was impressive.
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Dec 25, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is comprehension only related to reading?
No, comprehension can be related to any form of communication, including spoken language and non-verbal cues.
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Jan 02, 2024
What does comprehension mean?
Comprehension refers to the ability to understand and process information or language.
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Jan 02, 2024
How can apprehension affect daily life?
Excessive apprehension can lead to anxiety, affecting decision-making and daily activities.
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Jan 02, 2024
What is apprehension?
Apprehension is a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen in the future.
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Jan 02, 2024
Can apprehension be positive?
Typically, apprehension is associated with negative feelings, although it can lead to cautious behavior that may be beneficial.
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Jan 02, 2024
Can apprehension be overcome?
Yes, through strategies like counseling, relaxation techniques, and facing the feared situations.
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Jan 02, 2024
Is apprehension always related to future events?
Mostly, though it can also relate to current situations with uncertain outcomes.
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Jan 02, 2024
What factors affect comprehension?
Background knowledge, interest in the topic, language proficiency, and cognitive skills.
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Jan 02, 2024
What role does comprehension play in communication?
It's essential for understanding messages and effectively responding in conversations.
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Jan 02, 2024
Can apprehension impact mental health?
Yes, chronic apprehension can lead to stress and anxiety disorders.
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Jan 02, 2024
Why is comprehension important in education?
Comprehension is crucial for learning and understanding new information.
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Jan 02, 2024
How can one improve comprehension skills?
By practicing active reading, listening, and engaging with diverse materials.
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Jan 02, 2024
How does apprehension differ from fear?
Apprehension is often less intense than fear and more related to anxiety about future events.
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Jan 02, 2024
Is comprehension a natural skill or learned?
It's a combination of both innate abilities and learned skills.
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Jan 02, 2024
Can children experience apprehension?
Yes, children can feel apprehensive about unfamiliar or challenging situations.
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Jan 02, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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