Latest Terms Added
-
Social-influence
The focus of social influence outlines the ways people change their behavior, attitude or belief because of the actions of others, or their presence around them. It involves processes like conformity, compliance, and obedience. For instance, someone of younger age may dress in a certain way in order to ‘fit in’ with a particular group…
-
False-belief-task
The false-belief task is a well-structured instrument used to assess the development of the ‘theory of mind’ concept; it denotes having the ability to understand that other people may believe something that differs both from the facts and what the individual knows personally. An example would be the Sally-Anne task where a child is said…
-
Suffering
Within the context of psychology, the notion of suffering is posited to encompass the conscious mental phenomena of distress and pain which can take on physical, emotional, or philosophical dimensions of existence. Suffering is not like pain, which is purely a sensation, for suffering entails a qualitatively deeper personal construction of pain infliction. Cognitive and…
-
Theoretical-orientation
Theoretical orientation focuses on the understanding of human behavior and the psychology of the individual and also informs the clinician’s practice. It determines the ease with which therapists are able to identify the nature of the subject under discussion, the procedures to be carried out to solve the issues, and the modality of communication with…
-
Visual-illusion
Visual illusions or optical illusions arise from disconnect between perception and reality often brought about by a misinterpretation of the sensory inflow. While perception functions in a constructive manner, contexts, expectations, and previous experiences are all considered in the interpretation of stimuli. A perfect example is the Müller-Lyer illusion, where marks with arrow fins at…
-
Self
Within the context of psychology, ‘self’ refers to an individual’s sense of self-identity, as well as self-appraisal. It encompasses self-concept (beliefs about oneself), self-esteem (evaluation of worth), and self-awareness (consciousness regarding thoughts and patterns of behaviors). The self is formed and develops through relational interactions, while being influenced by culture, experiences, and personal relationships. The…
-
Individualism
Individualism is defined as the tendency to foster and promote one’s own independence and self-sufficiency, placing one’s own goals above the objectives of any social unit. Societies such as the United States and Western Europe promote and reward the expression of individual preferences in the making of arbitrary decisions, and the attainment of goals is…
-
Elation
In psychology, elation describes an emotional condition wherein an individual experiences an extreme high state of feeling a multiplicity of emotions, including happiness, joy, enthusiasm, and an uplifted mood. Elation is not to be confused with simple states of happiness. The feeling of elation is accompanied with an energized and excited state, for instance, the…
-
Zygote
Within the field of developmental psychology, the zygote is recognized as the earliest possible human life stage, initiating the prenatal period which lasts for two weeks. This singular cell with the genetic makeup of a human is created at conception, which occurs when the sperm and ovum unite. This period is also called the germinal…
-
Discrimination
Discrimination derives from the unjust or inequitable treatment of people based on socially constructed characteristics, such as one’s race, gender, age, or disability, rather than individual credentials or characteristics. Discrimination occurs on individual, larger institutional and societal levels, and results cumulatively in damage to one’s mental health, loss of self-esteem, and the subsequent loss of…
-
Love object
In psychoanalytic discourse, the notion of a “love object” refers to the individual or entity toward which a person channels emotional investment, desire, or affection. Sigmund Freud introduced this concept to illuminate the roots of emotional bonds and the enduring relational patterns first forged in early childhood. Yet, love objects are not limited to caregivers;…
-
Self-efficacy
Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s confidence in their ability to manage tasks and reach specific objectives. First outlined by psychologist Albert Bandura, this concept plays a significant role in motivation, learning processes, and resilience. Individuals with strong self-efficacy are generally more persistent and self-assured when facing challenges, whereas those with lower self-efficacy may experience hesitation,…
-
Causation
Causation in psychology refers to a scenario where one event or factor directly produces a change in another, rather than merely being associated with it. This distinction is crucial: researchers need to determine whether a variable genuinely influences behavior or mental processes, as opposed to just occurring alongside them. Experimental designs are central here; by…
-
Psychic energy
Psychic energy, as conceptualized by Freud, essentially functions as the underlying mental force driving our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Within psychoanalytic theory, this energy is closely linked to the libido, which encompasses the fundamental life instincts and unconscious motivations that shape our actions. The id, ego, and superego core component of Freud’s model of the…
-
Persuasion
Persuasion involves influencing people’s attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors, typically through strategic communication and reasoning. Its significance is evident across various domains marketing, politics, and even daily conversations. Psychologists analyze persuasion to understand what sways people’s decisions or makes them agree to something. The Elaboration Likelihood Model, for instance, suggests individuals process persuasive messages in two…
-
Mourning
Mourning is basically the way humans’ process loss, especially after someone close dies. It’s a psychological and emotional process. It is as if your mind and emotions are scrambling to adjust when there’s a huge gap in your life. The process covers various emotions like intense sadness and crying to moments of numbness and sometimes,…
-
Zeitgeist
The term zeitgeist is translated to the ‘spirit of the time’ which denotes the underlying dominant cultural, social and intellectual tendencies of a specific time period and in psychology how the prevailing social attitudes and contexts impact the behavior, theories, and discoveries of that time. To illustrate, Freud’s theories on sexuality were postulated in a…
-
Intimacy
In psychology, intimacy denotes a level of closeness, affection, trust, and connection that exists between people. Intimacy involves more than just intimate contact; it contains mutual appreciation, exposure, and even real vulnerability. For instance, when one partner discusses their most intimate fears and wildest dreams with the other, the partner is exhibiting emotional intimacy. Developmental…
-
Hardiness
Personal hardiness refers to the capability to plow through any kind of stress with great resilience. This ability was proposed by Kobasa in the late 1970’s and stems from an individual’s ability to remain committed (mentally and emotionally involved in any endeavor), have control, and view adversity as challenge (seeing constraining and restricting opportunities as…
-
Sexual-perversion or Paraphilia
In the past, sexual perversion was described as the deviation from the cultural and moral sexual boundaries. Today, psychology has come to shift it to the term paraphilia, which denotes a sexual interest that is considered atypical and that may or may not be associated with distress or injury. Paraphilia includes sexual interests with no…