Vocabulary and terms relating to psychology

Psychology 4

adjective to describe a complex of attributes that make a person socially attractive

an anxiety disorder that is pathological in nature and characterised by extreme fear of an object, situation or stimuli, for example, of spiders or heights

phenomenon where a person experiences relief from illness or distress, or an improvement in their symptoms, even though they did not receive a true medication

stimulus presented after a desired response, for example, praise after having passed an exam; increases the probability of repeating desired behaviours

a psychotherapeutic treatment method and set of theories founded by the psychologist Sigmund Freud, which aims to investigate the connection between the conscious and unconscious mind

the branch of cognitive psychology that studies the psychological basis of linguistic skills and performance

any branch of psychology concerned with psychological measurements

the branch of psychology concerned with abnormal behaviour

a group of disorders characterised by extreme distortions in perception, rational thinking and/or affect, the symptoms of which may include hallucinations, delusions or disordered thinking

a psychological condition which includes the occurrence of physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach pain

techniques and methods used to treat psychological disorders, primarily based on talking therapy and regular personal interaction with a therapist

the adoption by an adult or adolescent of behaviour more appropriate to a child, which is especially used as a defence mechanism to avoid anxiety

the subconscious rejection of thoughts and impulses that conflict with conventional standards of behaviour or conduct

a psychotic disorder characterised by distortions of reality, which may involve hallucinations, delusions and/or the belief that one is being persecuted

the full realisation of your creative, intellectual, and social potential through your internal drive (see Maslow's hierarchy of needs)

confidence in your own worth, and in how you perceive or value yourself

a neurotransmitter involved in functions such as sleep, mood regulation and memory, which plays a key role in the central nervous system

the ability to hold and/or recall events stored in memory from the recent past

process whereby children are integrated into society and learn acceptable behaviors and beliefs within their society or culture

a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense which may cause physical symptoms such as headaches, often caused by difficult or problematic situations such as working long hours, or life changes such as moving house

concerning the part of the mind of which you are not fully aware but which influences your actions and feelings

the use of a substance (such as drugs or alcohol) in a way that it was not intended with the goal of producing a high or becoming intoxicated

the conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts, desires or behaviours

any combination of signs and symptoms that are indicative of a particular disease or disorder

the part of the mind containing instincts, impulses, images, and ideas that are not available for direct examination, and which can influence the conscious mind and patterns of behaviour