An interesting branch of science, psychology portrays a whole new world of the human mind. Psychology is a systematic study of different phenomena such as cognition, perception, attention, motivation, emotion, personality, behavior, etc. Psychology Terms and Meanings - Glossary of Psychology Terms and Definitions The science of psychology incorporates a multitude of disciplines and concepts, which explain and further study the mind in detail. The mind is studied from different angles, aspects, and facets in a systematic manner in this branch of science. The mental behavior is understood from different perspectives, analyzed, and interpreted in order to create a knowledge pool encoded in the form of different psychology words related to the study of mind. The mind is studied not just for the sake of theoretical analysis of the complexities, but also to understand the practical application of the knowledge obtained through these studies. The field of psychology has witnessed the rise of various branches and sub-branches, which would further enrich it. This Buzzle article deals with the different psychology terms and meanings, which are helpful in learning about this vast field that studies the human mind. Psychology Terms and Definitions - Glossary of Psychology Terminology, Words and Phrases A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X |Y | Z

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Abductive Reasoning It is a process through which a person tries to show the connection between unrelated facts and uses his intuitive thinking power for the same. Induction and deduction are the states which succeed the process of abductive reasoning. Abnormal Psychology It is the branch of psychology that deals with the disorders/deviations or the abnormal behavior of the mind. It is a broad subject and covers the study of depression, obsession, compulsion, sexual deviation, etc. The experts, who are associated with the study of this field are the psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, and counselors. Abnormality It is a behavioral attribute that reflects the deviation of mind from its normal state or typical behavior. Abnormality being a subjective concept, it could be reflected in different forms. Abreaction In psychoanalytical terminology, the activity of reliving an experience to clear or purge the emotional baggage associated with it is called abreaction. Abstraction The activity of retaining the relevant information required for a particular purpose by generalizing it, is known as abstraction. In the process of abstraction, the original information is extracted or summarized to form a reduced, resultant content. Aboulia In this state, the subject is unable to make decisions or take an initiative. Earlier, aboulia was known as the Blocq's disease. Abuse The activity of using or treating oneself with something that is harmful is known as abuse. The various things subjected to abuse could be a person, substance, idea, item, vocabulary, etc. Child abuse, elder abuse, animal abuse, and drug abuse are some of the categories of abuse. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy The acceptance and commitment therapy is aimed at increasing the psychological flexibility of a person. It is a branch of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and is a kind of psychological intervention based on observational, experimental, and experiential information collection methods. Accommodation The acceptance of new information, ideas, and experiences results to the alteration of the existing schemas or thoughts. The process is termed as accommodation. Accreditation A process, which is used for the presentation of certification of authority, competency, or credibility is termed as accreditation. ACT-R A cognitive architecture developed at the Carnegie Mellon University, ACT-R stands for Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational, and defines the perceptual and irreducible operations performed by the human mind to complete a task. Acting Out It is the term used for an action that is performed, going by the impulsive behavior, rather than constructively responding to a particular situation. Such actions are generally anti-social in nature, and the person might end up causing harm to himself or others. Action Research The process called action research is aimed at improving the manner, in which, problems are solved. For an action research to be fruitful, combined efforts of people striving towards a common goal are required. It is kind of an introspective process, which gives emphasis on improving the practices, strategies, and knowledge of the environment, in which, the group of people or system operates. Action Science It is a collaborative work developed by Chris Argyris, (New Jersey, USA) which focuses on providing practical solutions to problems through the generation of knowledge. It was created by Chris Argyris in collaboration with Robert Putnam, Donald Schon, and Diana McLain Smith. Active Intellect The formal aspect of the mind or intellect is referred to using the term active intellect. It is the term used in philosophical studies, and falls in line with the theory of hylomorphism. The idea of active intellect was, at first cited in the book 'De Anima', written by Aristotle. Active Learning The different models of instructions, which emphasize on encouraging the learners to take responsibility of learning, come under the common terminology called active learning. The concept of active learning originated and developed from the concept of discovery learning. Activity Theory As per the activity theory, engagement and interaction of individuals with the environment results into the creation of tools, which are the real world manifestation of their mental processes. The creation or production of these tools makes the mental processes to be communicable and accessible to people easily. This psychological meta-theory originated in Russia, and was founded by Alexei N. Leont'ev and Sergei Rubinshtein. Actualization The term actualization, which is used in reference with self-actualization is defined as the process of realizing one's potential. The term is used to explain various theories of psychology, and was introduced by Kurt Goldstein, an organismic theorist. According to Abraham Maslow, actualization is the final stage of psychological development that is reached, after all the basic and mental needs of an individual are fulfilled. Adaptive Behavior The behavior used for adjusting to a different or new situation is known as adaptive behavior. Such kind of behavior is often used for substituting disruptive behavior with constructive or positive behavior. Addiction In terms of psychology, addiction is described as excessive psychological dependence on a particular thing. A person could be addicted to drugs, money, work, gambling, eating, nicotine, pornography, computer, video games, etc. Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder It is a psychiatric disorder commonly diagnosed in children, and is characterized by hyperactivity and attention problems. ADHD is the abbreviated form of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and around 3-5% children are affected by this problem globally. Adjustment It is the activity of balancing the needs that conflict with each other. Adjustment is a behavioral attribute found in both, human beings and animals. It also means - to overcome the obstacles presented by the environment in order to fulfill the needs. Adjustment Disorder It is a disorder, in which, an individual is unable to make the necessary adjustments required to fulfill the needs and to overcome the stress related problems. Adolescent Psychology The interests and issues pertaining to adolescents are addressed in the discipline of adolescent psychology. The emotional issues faced in the phase of adolescence i.e., during the transitional stage between childhood and adulthood are studied under this science. Affect The feeling or experience that is associated with an emotion is termed affect. In other context, the act of displaying or exhibiting the emotions through gestures or facial expressions can also be described as affect. Affectional Bond It is the term used for the attachment between two individuals, and which is displayed through their behavior. Attachment between a mother and child is the best example of affectional bond. The term was coined by John Bowlby, and it underwent development during the period between 1940s and 1970s. Affectional Orientation The term affectional orientation is used to define a feeling or emotion that directs an individual to fall in love with another person. It is a broad term, which includes many other emotions including sexual orientation. Affective Disorder The disturbances that occur in a person's mood are grouped under a common term, affective disorders. The term was replaced by mood disorder since, the former explains about the external reflection of expressions caused by the underlying emotional disturbances. Mood disorder, however, reflects the mental or emotional state of a person in an exact manner. Affective Flattening It is the state or condition, in which, a person doesn't exhibit emotional reactivity. Affective flattening, which is also known as blunted affect, is characterized by hypervigilance, recurring nightmares, avoidance of stress, etc. Affective Forecasting The activity of forecasting one's own emotional state of future is termed as affective forecasting. Systematic errors in the thought process, also known as cognitive biases, are the causes behind a person suffering from affective forecasting. Affect Display The exhibition of 'affect' or the emotions through gestures, facial expressions, or vocalizations (laughing, crying, etc.,) is termed as affect display. It holds importance from the point of view of interpersonal communication. Affective Science The scientific study of emotions or affect is known as affective science. The different subjects or components studied in this discipline are, the recognition of emotion, emotional experience, and emotion elicitation. The neurological and physiological aspects of mood, decision making, emotionally driven behavior, self regulation, and attention are studied in this field of affective science. Afterburn It is the effect of past events, which influences the mental state and daily schedule of activities of an individual. The word was coined by Eric Berne, who is known as the father of transactional analysis. Afterimage It is a kind of optical illusion, which results into an individual seeing the image of an object even after it has been removed from his sight. The afterimage of a light bulb is a common example observed in day-to-day life. The phenomenon of persistence of vision is related to afterimage since, a rapid portrayal of pictures in a series causes an illusion of a continuous motion picture. Age Regression The age regression technique is a part of many different therapies including hypnotherapy. Using this technique, an individual tries to access his memory which would take him to an earlier phase of life. The whole activity is aimed at finding information about those aspects of the personality which are difficult to access. Aggression The behavior of an individual which incorporates the intention of causing harm or pain to another individual is known as aggression. Aggression could be reflected in different forms such as mental, verbal and physical. The term assertiveness is often confused with aggression. Aging It is the process of accumulation of changes in an individual. The changes that take place are psychological, physiological as well as social. In psychological terms, aging results in the expansion of knowledge and wisdom of a person. Agitated Depression It is a state of mind which exhibits the symptoms of depression and mania simultaneously. In this state, a person might display impulsiveness, irritability, guilt, anxiety, fatigue, agitation, paranoia, panic, etc. Agitation The state of restlessness or excitement of emotions is referred to as agitation. The extreme form of this agitation is termed as psychomotor agitation. Agnosia The state in which an individual is unable to identify or recognize persons, objects, shapes, sounds or smells is called agnosia. The condition is however, not associated with memory loss or any kind of impairment of sensory organs. It is a neurological disorder which results from damage to the occipitotemporal border, a part of the ventral stream. Akathasia It is a state or condition in which an individual is unable to remain still or motionless. The syndrome which is also known as 'acathasia', is actually a manifestation of side effects to medicines such as phenothiazines, butryophenones, thioxanthenes, etc. The Parkinson's disease could be one of the reasons behind the cause of akathasia. Alcohol Amnestic Disorder The alcohol amnestic disorder is caused by the deficiency of thiamine (vitamine B₁) and the symptoms of this disorder include retrograde amnesia, anterogade amnesia, confabulation, apathy and lack of insight. Also known as Korsakoff's syndrome. Alcoholism The disorder in which a person resorts to compulsive alcohol consumption and loses the ability to recognize its adverse effects is termed as alcoholism. It is a kind of addiction and is known as dipsomania. There are many side-effects of alcoholism including stress, degeneration of emotional health, etc. Alexia The term alexia is used to denote the acquired form called dyslexia. The person suffering from this problem loses his ability to read. Alexithymia The state in which a person face problems in dealing with emotions is known as alexithymia. The person suffering from this disorder loses his capability of understanding and conveying the emotions. Alienation The process of disintegration of the perceptual and cognitive powers of the mind is termed as alienation. Alienist It is another term used for psychiatrist. An alienist is a person who is certified to treat mental disorders and has received proper training for diagnostic evaluation and psychotherapy. Allophilia Liking or love felt for people despite being from different race, religion, nationality, class, gender, etc. is termed as allophilia. The word ft, which also means 'positive attitudes', is used as an antonym to 'negative prejudices' and various terms such as racism, classicism, speciesism, ageism, phallocentricism, etc. Alogia The term alogia is used for the condition in which a person is unable to speak fluently. Alogia is also known as 'poverty of speech' and it is one of the symptoms observed in people suffering from schizophrenia. Inability to speak fluently makes it difficult to treat alogia. Altered State of Consciousness The term was coined by Charles Tart in 1969 and is used to describe the state of the mind which has undergone temporary change. The beta wave that is used to designate the activity of brain is altered during this phase of the mind. Alzheimer's Disease The Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease in which the patient suffers from a long term decline in the cognitive functions. Memory loss associated with difficulty to remember the facts that have been learned recently are the common symptoms of the Alzheimer's disease. In the further or advanced stages of the disease, the patient becomes irritable, aggressive and faces mood swings. Ambivalence It is the state of mind in which a person has mixed emotions or conflicting feelings towards a particular thing or person. The emotions or thoughts of positive as well as negative valence are experienced by a person in this mental state. The expressions such as 'sitting on the fence' and 'cold feet' are used to describe the condition or state of ambivalence. Amnesia It is the term used for memory loss or the disturbance in the memory. The causes of memory loss could range from trauma and brain injury to the use of sedative drugs. The psychological factors like the defense mechanisms are the functional cause of amnesia. One of the examples of such kind of amnesia is hysterical post-traumatic amnesia. The transient global amnesia which is commonly observed in middle-aged people is spontaneous in nature. Amok The term amok is derived from the Filipino word amuk, which means 'mad with rage'. The term is commonly used in context of 'running amok' or to simply to describe a violent or wild behavior. A person who runs amok, or goes out of control, tends to injure or kill others. Anal-retentive The term anal-retentive is used to describe a type of personality or behavior in which a person is obsessed with or gives extra importance to the details. Anal Stage The anal stage is the phase in the life of a child between 1 to 2 years of age. This phase of the child's life is associated with toilet training. The successful completion of this stage depends on the interaction of parents with the children. During this phase, the child faces conflicts pertaining to ego, id and super ego. Analogy A cognitive process employed to transfer information from the source or analog subject to the target subject is termed as analogy. A linguistic expression that corresponds to process of information transference is the result of this cognitive process. The role of analogy is considered to be important in the areas like problem solving, perception, decision making, memory, explanation, emotion and communication. Analysand The activity of studying the psychological behavior and functioning of human beings is carried out under the term, analysand. Analysand, which is also known as psychoanalysis, could be used in the investigation of the mind, as a method of treatment for emotional or psychological illnesses and in the form of set of systematized theories of human behavior. Analytical Psychology It is a branch of psychology, proposed by a psychiatrist from Switzerland, Carl Jung. Analytical psychology is thus, also known as Jungian psychology. Apprehension and integration of the underlying motivations and deep forces of human behavior is the prime objective of practicing analytical psychology. The study of accumulative phenomenology in relation to the significance of folklore, dreams and mythology helps in achieving the objective. Analytical Psychodrama It is a kind of psychotherapy which makes use of three activities or concepts i.e. role playing, observation of mental activities and using of transfer for the purpose of treatment. Anchoring The tendency of the human mind to make use of just one piece of information or trait in order to make decisions is termed as anchoring. Anhedonia A state in which a person is unable to derive pleasure from day-to-day activities like exercise, eating, social interaction, etc. is called anhedonia. Anorexia Nervosa It is a disorder in which the person suffers from the fear of gaining weight. Anorexia nervosa is a psychiatric illness, in which the person doesn't gain weight and his body image too, is distorted. Anterograde Amnesia In this disorder, the person loses his ability to create or form memories with the occurrence of the event that caused amnesia. Anti-social Behavior It is a type of behavior which shows no consideration for others and lack of judgment. Anti-social behavior of an individual might cause damage to the property of others. Such kind of behavior is the manifestation of the anti-social personality disorder. Anticathexis The energy derived by an individual from the superego in order to run the ego is termed as anticathexis. Anticipation An emotion that involves the feeling of pleasure or anxiety with regards to an unexpected event is called anticipation. Depending on the event, emotions could either be positive or those associated with irritation. As per the psycho-evolutionary theory of Robert Plutchik, anticipation is considered to be one of the eight emotions that are basic in nature. Antilocution The term antilocution is used to define the verbal remarks that are used against a person or community without addressing them directly to the target. The term can be understood perfectly with the help of the phrase, 'talking behind someone's back'. The term which was defined by Gordon Allport a psychologist, in his book 'Nature of Prejudice' has far reaching effects causing the behavior to become prejudiced. Antipathy The term antipathy could be simply explained as the opposite of sympathy. The cause or reason behind a person exhibiting antipathy could be an experience of the past. At times, an individual might exhibit antipathy without any reason that fits in the cause-and-effect explanation theory. Anxiety A feeling that is unpleasant and which is associated with fear, uneasiness or worry is termed as anxiety. It is a psychological state characterized by emotional, cognitive, behavioral and somatic components. Anxiety Disorder It is an umbrella term used to cover the different types of anxieties and fears that were included in psychiatry at the end of the 19th century. Advanced Placement Psychology (A P Psychology) It is a course that is prepared for those who are interested in studying psychology. This course is offered under the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board, an examination board in the USA. Apathy The state in which a person suppresses his emotions like motivation, excitement, concern, passion, etc. is known as apathy. An apathetic individual exhibits sluggishness and doesn't show interest in the social, emotional or physical life. Aphanisis It is the state in which a person loses his sexual desire. Aphasia It is a disorder in which any of the language modality of a person gets impaired. In this acquired language disorder, the person is not able to understand or produce written or spoken language. Apperception The process through which an individual assimilates and transforms a new experience with the help of the residuum of the experience of past is termed as apperception. Thus, it is the process of understanding the new experience with the help of or in relation to the older experiences. Applied Behavior Analysis The application of behavioral principles that are derived from experiments for bringing about an improvement in the socially significant behavior is termed as application behavior analysis. Approach-Avoidance Conflicts The approach-avoidance conflicts are the situations or scenarios that a person faces while choosing between something that is positive but, has negative valence. Such conflicts result from an emotional state of the mind called ambivalence and they cause stress. Aptitude Test It is a test conducted in order to measure the aptitude, knowledge and skills of a person. The measurement of the above mentioned attributes is done by obtaining responses of the examinee towards a certain set of questions. The test is used in the fields like education, psychology, counseling and military. Read more on psychometric testing. Artificial Creativity The objective of artificial or computational creativity is to simulate, model or replicate the creativity through the use of a computer. The purpose that is served by the above endeavor is the creation of a computer that is capable of human-level creativity, formulation of an algorithmic perspective on the creative behavior of human beings, and creation of tools which help to enhance human creativity. Asian Psychology The psychological concepts which relate themselves to the Asian setting are studied in the ethnic psychology called Asian psychology. Asperger Syndrome The people suffering from the Asperger syndrome face difficulties in social interaction. Repetitive and restricted behavior patterns are the other symptoms of this syndrome. Assertiveness It is a personality trait characterized by the behavior of communicating without being afraid to speak one's mind. Assertive people are known to defend their personal boundaries without being aggressive or passive. Atkinson-Shiffrin Model It is a psychological model that proposes the structure of memory. As per the Atkinson-Shiffrin model, there are three sequential stages of human memory called the short-term memory, long-term memory and sensory memory. Attachment The behavior of person which shows or displays his proximity to another individual and which is the result of the activity of a number of behavioral systems is termed as attachment. Attachment Theory The theory that is concerned with the study of relationships between human beings from the psychological, ethological and evolutionary perspectives is termed as attachment theory. Attachment Disorder The disorder which crops up from a person's inability to develop a bond or attachment with the 'primary care giving figures' in his stages of childhood is termed as attachment disorder. This mood related disorder results into problematic expectations and behavior in the social life. Read more on reactive attachment disorder. Attention A cognitive process in which one tries to focus his mind on a single aspect while ignoring the others is termed as attention. Attention Span It is the amount of time for which an individual focuses his attention on a particular thing without getting distracted is termed as attention span. Attitude A hypothetical concept that is used to denote the degree of like or dislike an individual exhibits for a particular thing is termed as attitude. Attitude is associated with positive or negative views that a person has about places, events or other people altogether. Attribution A term used in social psychology, attribution refers to the manner in which an individual describes or explains the cause of events, his own behavior and also the behavior of others associated with the events. Attribution Theory It is a social psychology theory which deals with the study of different ways in which people try to explain their own behavior and also of those around them. Read more on attribution theory of social psychology. Attributional Bias The cognitive bias that affects the process of decision making as to what or who is responsible for a particular cause of events is termed as attributional bias. Atypical Depression It is a disorder which is characterized by mood reactivity. A person with this disorder experiences improved mood in response to positive events. Audience Effect The impact or effect that a passive audience has on the performance of the task taken up by a person is termed as audience effect. Authenticity It is the term used in the study of psychology and philosophy to denote the degree of truth that one holds towards his own spirit, personality, character, etc. Authoritarian Personality The type of personality which is characterized by the traits such as authoritarian submission, conventionalism, anti-intraception, authoritarian aggression, superstition, power, stereotypy, destructiveness, toughness, projectivity, cynicism and exaggerated concerns over sexuality is called authoritarian personality. Autism The disorder which is characterized by impaired communication and social interaction is termed as autism. Repetitive and restricted behavior are some of the other symptoms found in people with this disorder. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule It is the standardized protocol used for the assessment of communicative and social behavior associated with autism. Autassassinophilia It is the type of paraphilia in which a person puts himself in life-threatening situations in order to gets aroused sexually. Autodidacticism The term autodidacticism is used as a substitute for the self-directed learning or self-education. Autoeroticism The activity of sexually stimulating oneself in the absence of any external stimulus is termed as autoeroticism. Automatic Behavior The production of motor or verbal behavior spontaneously without the person being conscious about it, is termed as automatic behavior. Such kind of behavior is exhibited by individuals suffering from schizophrenia, epilepsy, psychogenic fugue, narcolepsy, etc. Read on famous people with narcolepsy. Automatic Thought The model or forms constructed by the mind in order to deal with the world and achieve the objectives and goals are known as thoughts or 'automatic thoughts'. Read more on automatic writing. Availability Heuristic The phenomenon in which an individual tries to predict the frequency of a particular event or the proportion that is found in a population is termed as availability heuristic. Aversion Therapy It is a therapy in which a stimulus is provided to the patient while simultaneously being exposed to a form of discomfort. The aversion therapy conditions the mind of the patient in such a manner that the stimulus is associated with the discomfort caused. The treatment is used to stop certain undesirable behavior. Aversives The unpleasant stimuli that are used to induce behavioral changes through punishment are known as aversives. The use of aversives help in curbing the undesirable behavior. Avoidance Learning In avoidance learning the consequences are used to modify the form and occurrence of a particular behavior. Avoidant Personality Disorder It is a disorder in which a person exhibits characteristics like social inhibition, sensitivity to negative evaluation and feeling of inadequacy. People suffering from this disorder tend to avoid social interaction. Avolition A psychological state in which a person lacks the desire, motivation or drive that is required to pursue a meaningful goal is termed as avolition. The patients with schizophrenia commonly exhibit this symptom and it is one of the four important symptoms of the disorder. Awareness The ability or state in which a person can feel, perceive or is conscious about the sensory patterns, objects or events around him is termed as awareness. Backward Conditioning The process in which a conditioned stimulus follows the unconditioned stimulus is termed as backward conditioning. Barnes Akathisia Scale The 'Barnes Akathisia' is a rating scale used in the assessment of the severity of drug-induced akathisia. Barnes Maze It is a tool used for the measurement of memory and spatial learning in psychological laboratory experiments. Beck's Cognitive Triad The triad which involves negative thoughts about the self, world and the future is termed as Beck's cognitive triad. People suffering from depression exhibit such negative emotions or feelings. Behavior The actions and reactions of an individual that he displays or exhibits in relation to the surroundings or environment is termed as the behavior of that person. Behavior Change The transformation or modification that takes place in a person's behavior is known as behavior change. Behavior Modification The improvement in behavior which is brought about by the implementation of behavior change techniques that are demonstrated empirically is termed as behavior modification. Read more on behavior modification. Behavior Therapy A form of psychotherapy which is used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, depression, and phobias is known as behavior therapy. Behavioral Communication The subject or discipline which studies various day-to-day behavior in communication is termed as behavioral communication. Behavioral Imprinting A kind of phase-sensitive learning during which an individual learns rapidly and which is independent of behavioral consequences is termed as behavioral imprinting or just imprinting. Behavioral imprinting occurs at a certain phase or stage of life during which the person learns the characteristics of some stimuli. Behavioral Psychology It is a branch of psychology which is based on the proposition that thinking, feeling and all the other actions performed by an individual are different forms of his behavior. Behavioral Science The science which deals with the exploration of different activities of living organisms and the interactions that takes place between them is termed as behavioral science. Belief It is a psychological state in which a premise or proposition is held to be true by an individual. Belongingness It is one of the needs of human beings through which they feel connected to or accepted by social groups, family, peers, etc. Bereavement The feeling or response that a person exhibits upon losing something or someone is termed as bereavement or grief. Bestiality The practice of sex between animals and human beings is termed as bestiality. Bias Disorder The disorder in which an individual is inclined towards violence and believes that war is the ultimate solution to problems is defined as bias disorder. Bibliomania In this disorder, an individual has the habit of collecting books excessively. The problem might result into the person damaging his health and social relations. Bicameralism It is a hypothesis which presents the argument that the human brain is in a state called bicameral mind. The bicameral mind operates in such a manner that one part of the brain gives orders while the other one listens to it. Binge Eating It is a disorder in which an individual consumes excessive amount of food rapidly. The person suffering from binge eating feels ashamed about the habit of over-eating and might suffer from depression. Biological Psychology The branch of science in which the knowledge of biology is applied in studying the behavior and mental processes is termed as biological psychology. Bipolar Disorder In this disorder, a person suffers from episodes of elevated mood and depression. Since an individual is subject to extreme conditions such as mania (elevated mood) and depression, the problem is termed as bipolar disorder.Cabin Fever A claustrophobic reaction that results from an individual being isolated for a considerably long period of time in a situation where he has nothing to do is termed as cabin fever. Calculation The process in which one or more inputs are converted into more than one results is termed as calculation. Cannon-Bard Theory The Cannon-Bard theory states that any particular action is preceded by the person feeling its related emotions at first. The actions could be perspiration, muscular tension, etc. Cassandra Phenomenon A state of mind (also known as Cassandra metaphor) in which valid concerns or warnings are disbelieved is termed as Cassandra phenomenon. Catalepsy It is a nervous condition which causes the muscles to go rigid and the posture fixed. This condition or state is characterized by loss of sensitivity to pain. Cataplexy It is a rare disease found in 5 out 10,000 people which results into the affected person losing muscle tone. People with narcolepsy are prone to this problem which is often triggered by emotions and associated with Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS). Categorization The process of recognizing, differentiating and understanding objects and ideas is termed as categorization. Catatonia It is a syndrome that is associated with motoric and psychic disturbances such as post-traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, etc. It could also be related to autoimmune disorders and infections such as encephalitis. Catatonic stupor and Catatonic schizophrenia are the variations of this syndrome while catatonic excitement is another term used to refer to catatonia. Cathexis The process in which an individual invests or spends his emotional or mental energy in an idea, object or another person is referred to as cathexis. Centration The tendency or habit which causes a person to concentrate or focus on a single aspect or facet of a particular thing and neglect the other ones is termed as centration. Classical Adlerian Psychology In this therapy, the aim or objective is to help the clients overcome their insecurities by developing a deep connectedness. The psychotherapist indulges in a dialog with the client and corrects his mistaken attitudes, feelings and behavior regarding himself and the world. Clinical Psychology The scientific study of psychology and its application in order to understand, prevent and relieve dysfunction or distress that is psychologically-based is termed as clinical psychology. Personal development and subjective well-being are promoted through this therapy. Cognition It is defined as the processing of thoughts and in psychological terms it is referred to as processing of information. Daydream Daydream is roughly defined as a visionary fantasy (pleasant thoughts, ambitions, hopes, etc.) which is experienced by people while being awake. They may be related to an experience from the past or a future plan. The concept of daydream or daydreaming is hard to define because, there are many variations or types of this psychological phenomenon. Delirium The state in which a person loses his focus and perception followed by cognition in a sudden manner is referred to as delirium. It is an acute syndrome which might develop quickly within hours or even few days. Delusion A belief that is fixed in the mind of a person and which could either be fanciful, false or derived from a deception is known as delusion. Depression It is a disorder characterized by low self-esteem, low mood and lack of interest in the activities to be performed in daily life. Developmental Psychology It is the branch of psychology in which a scientific study is carried out regarding the psychological changes that occur in an individual during the lifetime. Differential Psychology It is the branch of psychology in which the measurable differences between individuals are studied. Discursive Psychology It is the branch of psychology which deals with the analysis of patterns or discourses of meanings in order to study the functioning of the language. Disorganized Schizophrenia It is the type of schizophrenia in which the patient displays disorganized speech and behavior along with schizophasia. Disorientation It is the state in which a person is confused about place, time, direction and identity. The problem of disorientation arises as a result of intoxication or delirium. Déjà vu It is the experience about which a person feels sure that it has happened in the past and the circumstances of the two experiences could be different. Also known as paramnesia. Read more on Deja Vu. Early Intervention in Psychosis The clinical approach employed in dealing with the early symptoms of psychosis is termed as early intervention in psychosis. A psychotic condition if detected early, helps in providing treatment at the right time. Echolalia The state in which a person when repeats the vocalizations made by someone else is referred to as echolalia. People suffering from disorders like Tourette syndrome, autism, Rubenstein-tayabi syndrome, aphasia, schizophrenia, developmental disability, Alzheimer's disease, Asperger syndrome, etc. may exhibit echolalia. Echopraxia The state or condition in which a person involuntarily imitates or repeats the movements of others is termed as echopraxia. Echopraxia is a behavioral phenomenon and thus, it is different from what is considered to be 'tic'. The sudden, non-rhythmic, repetitive vocalization or motor movements (throat clearing, eye blinking, toe crunching, etc.) are known as tics. Ecological Psychology It is the term used for the study of interactions and interrelationships between an individual and his surroundings in terms of information exchange, learning, problem solving, etc. Economic Psychology It is the branch of psychology which studies the cognitive, emotional, social and human factors involved in the process of decision making by consumers, investors, borrowers, etc. The effects of the decisions being made on returns, market prices, allocation of resources, etc. too, is studied. Educational Psychology It is the scientific study of the learning process, the psychology of teaching, effectiveness of educational interventions and the social psychology of institutions like schools which impart education. Ego Psychology It is the psychoanalysis model derived from Sigmond Freud's concept of 'id-ego-superego'. The objective of studying ego psychology is to understand the development of ego, its management and adaptation to reality. Egocentrism The state in which an individual is incapable of differentiating between the self and the world completely, is defined as egocentrism. An egocentric person understands, analyzes and interprets the world in his own terms. Emotional Intelligence It is the term used to describe the capacity or ability of individuals to manage the emotions of one's self and people in general. Emotional Reasoning A cognitive error in which a person, when makes decision in the state of nervousness or anxiousness, relies on the emotional reactions in determining a course of action. Experimental Psychology The objective or prime aim of experimental psychology is to discover the processes that lie beneath the cognition and behavior of individuals. The above mentioned objective is attained through different means such as studying the emotions, motivating individuals and understanding the social psychology. F-scale It is basically a personality test which is used in the measurement of authoritarian personality. The letter 'F', included in the term stands for the word 'fascism'. The different components of authoritarianism like authoritarian aggression, conventionalism, authoritarian submission, superstition, anti-intraception, cynicism, destructiveness, toughness, projectivity, etc. are measured with the help of F-scale. Face Perception The process which enables a person (mind and brain) to recognize and interpret a face is referred to as face perception. Facial Expression A form of nonverbal communication used by humans as well as animals (mostly mammals) in conveying social information is known as facial expression. Factitious Disorders A states or condition in which people try to exaggerate or feign the symptoms of a disease are known as factitious disorders. Faculty Psychology According to faculty psychology, the human mind is defined as the collection or congregation of different faculties or modules which perform the different tasks assigned to them. Family Therapy It is a kind of psychotherapy which helps in nurturing the change and development that takes place among family relationships. The interactions that take place between family members have an impact on their psychological health. Fantasy The imaginative thoughts, desires or feelings of an individual that are far from reality or impossible altogether is known as fantasy. The fantasies of different persons differ with their imagination power. The fantasies could also be sexual in nature. Fear It is a basic survival mechanism or emotional response to a threat or specific stimuli. The stimuli or threat may be that of pain or danger of losing one's life. Fear is generally experienced by an individual with respect to a particular worsening situation. Folk Psychology It is the collection of constructs, assumptions and convictions which together make up a language used in daily life for the discussion of human psychology. Foolishness A property that is exhibited by a person, belief or action and which indicates the presence of poor learning abilities or low intelligence in that person or entity is termed as foolishness. Forensic Psychology The study of psychology, taking into account the jargon or language related to the criminal justice forms the core of forensic psychology. The ability to testify in the court and the formulation of the findings from the field of psychology into the legal language are the important aspects of forensic psychology. Read more on Forensic Psychology.Gender Narcissism It is a form of narcissism, in which the over-perception or over-emphasis of gender or the difference between genders during childhood results in either the over-valuation or devaluation of one gender, later in the adulthood. The concept of gender narcissism can be explained on the basis of theories like 'castration complex' and 'penis envy' posited by Sigmond Freud. Generalized Anxiety Disorder A disorder which is characterized by uncontrollable, irrational and excessive worry with respect to daily life activities is termed as generalized anxiety disorder. The magnitude of worry experienced by an individual with this disorder is in excess, if compared with the actual cause or problem. Gestalt Psychology The gestalt psychology is actually a theory which proposes that the working or functioning of the brain is in a manner that is holistic, analog and parallel. The emphasis is placed on the concept or phrase that, 'the whole is greater than the sum of parts'. Gnosology The study of gnosis i.e. the knowledge of infinite, uncreated and divine in terms of cognitive psychology is termed as gnosology. Gratitude The positive emotion which is exhibited in response or acknowledgment of a favor or benefits that one has received is termed as gratitude. Grimace It is a facial expression that is used to display or exhibit the emotions like contempt, complacency, disapprobation, etc. Group Polarization The human tendency of making decisions that are extreme in nature, when in a group is termed as group polarization. An individual makes a different decision when alone. Group Psychological Abuse The methods through which the members of a group are psychologically abused in a systematic manner and on a frequent basis is known as group psychological abuse. Group Psychotherapy It is a kind of psychotherapy in which a group of people is treated by one or more psychotherapists. In this form of psychotherapy, the interrelationships between a group are explored, examined and developed by utilizing group processes or the group context. Group Synergy The concept of group synergy which is also known as collective intelligence is the intelligence that emerges from the shared efforts of competition and collaboration that takes place among a group of people. Guilt It is the emotional or cognitive experience which succeeds the realization that one has violated a moral standard. The concept of remorse and guilt are closely related to each other. Habits A repeated behavior that occurs subconsciously i.e. without thinking directly or consciously. A habit is an activity that is performed without self-analysis and most of the time it goes unnoticed by the person exhibiting it. Hawthorne Effect The hawthorne effect is a type of reaction in which a person tries to improve his behavior in response to the fact that his behavior is being measured. Health Psychology It is the branch of psychology in which the influence of behavior, illness, health and biology is studied. Heuristic It is the term used to refer to the different techniques that are based on experience and used in learning, problem solving and discovery. Hierarchy of Needs The 'hierarchy of needs' is a theory proposed by Abraham Maslow which can be diagrammatically explained in the form of a pyramid having 5 levels. The physiological needs lie at the bottom of the pyramid while the self-actualization needs are placed in the topmost position. Hostility The term hostility is defined as a form of denial or angry internal rejection. The term is generally used as a synonym for aggression or anger. Human Behavior The different types of behaviors exhibited by human beings and which are influenced by attitudes, cultures, values, emotions, authority, ethics, hypnosis, rapport, coercion, persuasion, etc, can be defined as human behavior. Humanistic Psychology The branch of psychology which deals with the human aspect of development of psychotherapy is termed as humanistic psychology. Hypnosis It is the state of mind in which a person goes in a trance-like state which is induced artificially. In this state, the suggestibility is heightened and the memories might be suppressed. Hysteria It is a state in which an individual loses his self-control due to the emotional excesses or unmanageable fear. The fear might be the result of multiple past events involving conflicts or imagined problems (disease) associated with a particular body part. Id Id is defined as the part of human personality that consists of all the inborn biological instincts. All the natural instincts and energies that are the cause of psychic activity are included in id. Id, ego and super-ego are the three parts of psyche as given by Freud. Identification Identification can be defined in two distinct ways. The first is identifying something or someone. This is known as primary identification. The other type of identification is identifying with someone or something. This is known as partial or secondary identification. Ideas of Reference Ideas of reference can be defined as a belief that irrelevant or unrelated objects, people or events are of personal significance. Ideas of reference or delusions of reference are a symptom of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Imitation Imitation is a type of behavior where an individual tries to copy or replicate someone else's behavior. Babies learn through imitation when they imitate their parents. Immediate Memory Immediate memory is a phase of memory where information and images are stored only for a short period of time. Immediate memory is also known as working memory or short-term memory. Imprinting Imprinting is defined as the phase of learning at an early age when a person forms a specific pattern of behavior. Imprinting is also observed in animals. Inductive Reasoning Inductive reasoning involves using specific facts or past experiences to reach a specific conclusion. Inductive reasoning is the reasoning based on facts and principles. Insanity Insanity is defined as abnormal behavior or mental illness. Insanity is a permanent condition and in simplest way it can be defined as craziness or madness. Insanity is a symptom of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders. Intrinsic Motivation Intrinsic motivation is a type of motivation when a person is inwardly motivated to perform any specific work or activity. People are said to be intrinsically motivated if they perform any activity for self satisfaction rather than monetary or other gains. Intuition Intuition is defined as the person's capacity or ability to acquire knowledge without inference or logical reasoning. Intuition is a natural tendency used by some people to make decisions. Jenkins Activity Survey Jenkins Activity Survey is a popular method for evaluating Type A behavior. Jenkins Activity Survey is a questionnaire type survey of behavior. Johari Window Johari window is a type of exercise or tool designed for people to understand their interpersonal relationships in a better way. Judgment Judgment is a cognitive process of assessing a person, situation or an event and using this evidence to make a decision. In psychology, judgment is used to evaluate a person's capabilities of adjudication. Just Noticeable Difference Just noticeable difference, also known as differential threshold, is the smallest noticeable difference between the first and the second level of sensory stimulus.K-line The concept of K-line which was first introduced and described by Marvin Minsky in his essay, 'K-lines: A Theory of Memory', can be defined as a mental agent which is a group or aggregated form of several mental agents which are actively involved in solving a problem or the formulation of a new idea. Kinesics The activity of interpretation of the body language, which includes gestures and facial expressions is termed as kinesics. Kleptomania A state or condition in which an individual is unable to resist the urge to hoard or collect things. Kubler-Ross Model The Kubler-Ross Model which is also known as 'five stages of grief' was introduced by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. The model is used to describe a process through which people deal with tragedy and grief in five discrete stages. The five stages of the process in their sequential form are, 'Denial', 'Anger', 'Bargaining', 'Depression' and 'Acceptance'. Knowledge It can be defined as the process through which an individual tries to learn or understand with the help of complex cognitive processes such as perception, communication, reasoning and association. Knowledge Management The different practices or activities that are carried out in the identification, creation, representation, distribution and adoption of the experiences and insights are termed as knowledge management. Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development The Kolhberg's stages of moral development are based on a psychological theory which proposes that moral reasoning which is the basis of ethical behavior is developed in six stages. Each of the succeeding stage in the sequence is efficient or adequate than the earlier one in dealing with moral dilemmas faced by an individual. Lacunar Lmnesia In this state the subject loses his memory about a certain specific event and which results into the creation of a gap or lacuna. Language In its simplest form language is defined as the system through which information is encoded and decoded. Read more on literary devices. Language Disorders The disorders that are related to the processing of linguistic information and which might involve the problems related to semantics and grammar are termed as language disorders. Lapsus It is defined as a mistake that is involuntary and which is made while writing or speaking. As per the psychoanalytic theory proposed by Sigmond Freud, lapsus is a term used to represent a deed which hides a desire that is present in the unconscious mind. Lapsus Linguae An error which occurs in the memory, speech or physical action because of an unconscious conflict, wish or train of thought that is interfering with their functioning is termed as lapsus linguae. Latah It is a condition in which an individual falls into a trance-like state where he enacts physical and/or verbal automatisms and which altogether results from a startle reflex. Latent Learning It is a form of learning in which the knowledge is not expressed immediately in an overt manner. The things that are learned by an individual stay in the subconscious mind and might be expressed in response to specific experiences or events. Lateral Thinking In this kind of thinking an individual takes a creative or indirect approach towards problem solving, instead of going by the method of following a step-by-step logic. Legal Psychology The psychological research that is carried out in an empirical manner with respect to legal institutions, law and the people who come in contact with law is termed as legal psychology. Read more on glossary of law terms. Logotherapy It is one of the psychotherapies which focuses on finding the meaning in one's life rather than emphasizing on the doctrine of 'will to pleasure' or 'will to power'. Mania The condition in which a person suffers from the problem of elevated mood, unusual thought patterns and psychosis is termed as mania. Masochism It is the feeling of gratification experienced by an individual as a result of infliction of pain or humiliation upon himself. Mass Hysteria It is a sociopsychological phenomenon in which the manifestation of similar symptoms of hysteria by one or more people takes place. The most common form of mass hysteria is the one in which a group of people believes that they are suffering from a disease. Mathematical Psychology It is one of the methods or approaches to the research in psychology which uses the mathematical modeling of cognitive, perceptual and motor processes. Read more on glossary of mathematical terms. Melancholia It is a mood disorder in which the patient suffers from low levels of eagerness and enthusiasm in performing activities of day-to-day life. Mental Block It is a condition in which a person is unable to continue his thought process or the painful thoughts in his mind are repressed. Mental Retardation In this disorder, the cognitive functioning gets impaired and the person suffers from deficits in adaptive behaviors. Mental Health It is the term is used to indicate a condition of emotional and cognitive well-being or the absence of any kind of mental disorder. Mental Management It is the activity in which different mental processes are explored, described and studied in their diversity. Metapsychology It is a branch of psychology which carries out the philosophical study of psychology in a systematic manner. The objective of studying metapsychology is to understand and describe about the concepts and principles that lie beyond the laws of psychology which have been established till date. Mind The mind could be defined as manifestation of the different aspects of consciousness and intellect in the form of various combinations of perception, thoughts, emotions, memory, imagination and will.Napoleon Complex It is a kind of inferiority complex that is experienced by men with short stature. Men with this complex try to overcompensate their efforts in other aspects or areas of life for their short stature. Narcissism It is defined as the attribute or trait of personality which is characterized with self-love and other such characteristics that are associated with ego or self-image. Narrative Therapy It is a type of psychotherapy in which the therapist engages himself in a process which involves the client and is aimed at discovering the richer or positive narratives which originate from disparate descriptions of various experiences. Naturalistic Observation The activity of carrying out the observation of subjects by behavioral scientists and psychologists in their natural habitats is termed as naturalistic observation. Need It is defined as a necessary thing which helps the humans in leading a healthy life. Needs could be physical, objective and subjective. Negativism It is a state of mind in which a person has a negative perception of life and specifically the events that might happen in the future. Neo-Freudian The psychologists who followed the basic principles posited by Sigmond Freud but changed or altered them to some extent are known as Neo-Freudians. Neuropsychology The science which deals with overt behaviors and psychological processes related to the structure and functions of brain is termed as neuropsychology. Nightmare It is a dream that is unpleasant in nature and results into a strong emotional response that is mostly associated with fear or horror. Noetic Psychology It is the field of psychology which deals with finding out the meaning and purpose, integration of cognition (thinking) with effect (emotion) and the resolution of existential angst. Observation It is the activity through which an individual receives knowledge from the outside world by making use of the senses. Observational Learning The process of learning in which a person first observes, retains and then replicates or imitates the behavior that is executed by others is termed as observational learning. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder It is a mental disorder in which an individual suffers from anxiety that results from various intrusive thoughts. Occupational Health Psychology The study of occupational health psychology deals with psychosocial causative agents or factors associated with the workplaces and which are responsible for various health-related problems of working people. Occupational Psychosis It is a condition in which an individual develops a biased attitude which results from the influence of his career or occupation. Occupational Therapy It is a therapy which is aimed at incorporating purposeful and meaningful occupation in order to enable individuals with impairments or other limitations to participate in the activities of day-to-day life. Operant Behavior A network of events and factors that are involved in the behavior of both human beings and animals is termed as operant behavior. Operant Conditioning It is an activity which is used for modifying the form and occurrences of behavior by making use of the consequences. In operant conditioning, the modification of the operant behavior or voluntary behavior of an individual is carried out. Operationalization It is the process of defining a fuzzy concept in order to make it measurable in the form of variables that consist of specific observations. Opponent-process Theory It is a neurological and psychological model which is used to account for a variety of behaviors including color vision. The model was proposed by Leo Hurvich and expanded by Richard Soloman of the University of Pennsylvania. Orientation It is the functionality of the mind which creates awareness of time, person and place. Panic Attacks The periods of intense anxiety, fear, physiological arousal, discomfort, stomach problems, etc. which occur suddenly and are discrete in nature are termed as panic attacks. The panic attacks are associated with a variety of cognitive and somatic symptoms. Paranoia A thought process which is characterized by excessive fear or anxiety is termed as paranoia. The degree or extent of paranoia could be so high that it might sometimes lead to the patient suffering from delusions and his thought process affected by irrationality. Parapsychology It is a field in which efforts are directed at finding out the existence and causes of various psychic abilities and the concept of 'life after death' with the help of scientific methods. Passion An intense emotion or feeling associated with a particular thing or person and which exhibits an eager interest or desire for the same is termed as passion. Performance Psychology The study of various factors which allow individuals and societies in general to flourish is termed as performance psychology. The study of knowledge and psychological skills required for developing the performing guidelines in the field of bu