Latest Terms Added
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Modal-action-pattern
A modal action pattern, formerly known as a fixed action pattern, is an innate, stereotyped sequence of behaviors that is triggered by a specific stimulus known as a sign stimulus or releaser, and once initiated, typically runs to completion regardless of environmental feedback. Originally described by ethologists Konrad Lorenz and Nikolaas Tinbergen, modal action patterns…
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Culture-clash
Culture clash refers to the conflict, tension, or discomfort that arises when individuals or groups from different cultural backgrounds encounter incompatible values, beliefs, customs, or expectations. In psychology, culture clash is studied in the context of acculturation, identity, and intercultural communication. It can occur at the individual level — such as when an immigrant navigates…
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Introversion
Introversion is a personality trait characterized by a preference for solitary activities, quiet reflection, and lower levels of social stimulation. Introverts tend to feel energized by time alone and may find prolonged social interaction draining, in contrast to extraverts who thrive on social engagement. Introduced as a concept by Carl Jung and later incorporated into…
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Replication
Replication in psychology refers to the process of repeating a study using the same methods to determine whether the original findings can be reproduced. It is a cornerstone of scientific integrity and reliability, ensuring that results are not due to chance, error, or bias. Successful replication strengthens confidence in a finding, while failed replication raises…
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Multidimensionality
Multidimensionality in psychology refers to the recognition that psychological constructs, human development, and behavior are complex and cannot be adequately understood through a single dimension or variable. Most psychological phenomena — such as intelligence, personality, well-being, and mental health — are multidimensional, meaning they are composed of several distinct but interrelated components. Adopting a multidimensional…
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Anaphrodisiac
An anaphrodisiac is a substance, condition, or factor that reduces or suppresses sexual desire and arousal. In psychology and sexology, anaphrodisiacs are studied in relation to libido, sexual dysfunction, and the psychophysiological processes underlying sexual motivation. Factors that can act as anaphrodisiacs include certain medications such as antidepressants, high stress levels, hormonal imbalances, fatigue, relationship…
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Avoidance-behavior
Avoidance behavior refers to actions taken to escape or prevent exposure to feared, uncomfortable, or anxiety-provoking situations, thoughts, or feelings. While avoidance provides short-term relief from distress, it tends to reinforce and perpetuate anxiety over time by preventing the individual from learning that feared outcomes are unlikely or manageable. It is a central feature of…
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Mood-congruent-memory
Mood-congruent memory is the tendency to recall information more easily when the emotional tone of the memory matches one’s current mood state. This phenomenon reflects the influence of emotion on cognitive processes, particularly memory encoding and retrieval. When a person is sad, for instance, they are more likely to recall past sad events, while a…
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Rehabilitation-center
A rehabilitation center is a facility designed to support individuals in recovering from mental health disorders, substance use disorders, physical injuries, or other conditions that impair daily functioning. In psychology, rehabilitation centers provide structured therapeutic environments combining individual therapy, group therapy, psychoeducation, skills training, and medical support. The goal is to restore functioning, promote well-being,…
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Stanford-binet-intelligence-scale
The Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale is one of the most widely used standardized tests for measuring human intelligence and cognitive abilities across the lifespan. Originally developed by Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon to identify children needing educational support, it was later revised and standardized at Stanford University by Lewis Terman. The test assesses five cognitive domains:…
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Microaggression
Microaggressions are subtle, often unintentional, verbal or behavioral slights that communicate derogatory or negative messages to individuals from marginalized groups. Coined by psychiatrist Chester Pierce and later expanded by Derald Wing Sue, the concept identifies everyday exchanges that, while seemingly minor, cumulatively cause significant psychological harm. Microaggressions can be environmental, verbal, or nonverbal and often…
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Dependence
In psychology, dependence refers to a state in which an individual relies on a substance, person, or behavior to function, cope, or feel a sense of well-being. Physical dependence involves the body adapting to a substance such that its absence causes withdrawal symptoms. Psychological dependence involves emotional or motivational reliance, where a person feels unable…
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Thinking
Thinking is the cognitive process of mentally manipulating information, concepts, and representations to solve problems, make decisions, form judgments, and generate ideas. It encompasses a broad range of mental activities including reasoning, imagining, remembering, planning, and reflecting. Psychologists distinguish between different types of thinking such as convergent thinking, which narrows toward a single solution, and…
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Permissiveness
Permissiveness in psychology refers to a parenting or social style characterized by high levels of warmth and responsiveness but low levels of structure, boundaries, and behavioral expectations. Permissive parents tend to be nurturing and accepting while avoiding confrontation and rarely enforcing rules. Research in developmental psychology, particularly Diana Baumrind’s work on parenting styles, suggests that…
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Self-monitoring
Self-monitoring refers to the degree to which individuals observe, regulate, and adapt their behavior in response to social cues and situational demands. High self-monitors are highly attuned to how they are perceived and readily adjust their presentation to suit different contexts, while low self-monitors behave more consistently according to their internal attitudes and values. In…
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Holistic-health
Holistic health is an approach to well-being that considers the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — rather than focusing solely on physical symptoms or isolated aspects of functioning. In psychology, holistic health recognizes that mental, emotional, social, and physical dimensions of health are deeply interconnected and mutually influential. This perspective informs integrative therapeutic…
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Prevalence
In psychology and epidemiology, prevalence refers to the proportion of individuals in a population who have a particular condition, disorder, or characteristic at a given point in time or over a specified period. Point prevalence measures how many people are affected at a specific moment, while lifetime prevalence captures how many people have ever experienced…
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Gestalt-psychology
Gestalt psychology is a school of thought that emphasizes the holistic nature of perception, arguing that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Originating in early 20th-century Germany with pioneers such as Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, and Kurt Koffka, Gestalt psychology proposed that the mind organizes perceptual experiences into meaningful wholes rather…
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Cultural-bias
Cultural bias in psychology refers to the tendency to interpret and judge behaviors, attitudes, and mental processes through the lens of one’s own cultural assumptions, often at the expense of other cultural perspectives. It can distort research findings, diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic approaches by failing to account for cultural differences in the expression and meaning…
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Telegraphic-speech
Telegraphic speech refers to a stage of early language development, typically occurring between 18 months and 2 years of age, in which children produce short two- or three-word utterances that convey meaning using only the most essential words. Like a telegram, these utterances omit grammatical function words such as articles, prepositions, and auxiliary verbs, focusing…