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INTELLECTUALIZATION

The unconscious defense mechanism of concealing feelings through intellectual activity.Intellectualization takes many forms. One individual may protect himself from guilt

ILLUMINATION CONDITIONS

Our ability to perform tasks that require visual discrimination is greatly influenced by lighting conditions. But in determining the optimum

IMAGELESS THOUGHT

Thinking that occurs without the aid of visual imagesDuring the 1880s and 90s most psychologists believed that thinking always involved

IMAGINARY COMPANION

A fictitious person, animal or object created by a child, usually between the ages of two and a half and

IMITATION

Copying the behavior of another person, animal, or object.Imitation does not receive as much attention in current psychology as it

IMMATURE PERSONALITY

A personality trait disturbance characterized by childish emotional and behavior patterns.Immature personalities are found at every age. Typically these individuals

IMPOTENCE

A male sexual disorder consisting of inability to achieve full gratification. In psychiatry impotence is classified as a psychophysiologic reaction

INADEQUATE PERSONALITY

Apersonality pattern disturbance characterized by failure to adapt to the occupational, social, emotional, and intellectual demands of life.Although most inadequate

INCEST

Sexual activity between persons of closer blood relationship than the culture allows.The degree of relationship varies considerably from society to

INCIDENTAL LEARNING

The tendency to note and remember things not directly relevant to the activity at hand. It is often described as

INCORPORATION

An unconscious process, sometimes termed a defense mechanism, in which the qualities of another person are taken in, or “in

INDIVIDUAL TEST

A psychological test that is given to one subject at a time. The Wechsler Intelligence Scales, the Thematic Apperception Test,

INFECTIOUS DISORDERS

A number of diseases have been found to produce acute, temporary brain disorders as a result of systemic infections that

INFERIORITY COMPLEX

A term used by Alfred Adler to denote strong feelings of inadequacy and insecurity stemming from real or fancied deficiencies

INFERTTLITY

Inability to have children, to reproduce; sterility. The term infertile is usually applied to individuals who are relatively unable to

IATROGENIC ILLNESS

A disorder that is induced or aggravated by the physician.Suggestion plays a part in many psychological conditions, and a therapist

INHIBITION

The process of restraining one’s impulses or desires.Inhibition may take place on either a conscious or unconscious level, or on

IDIOT SAVANT (“wise idiot”)

A retarded individual who shows unusual ability in one or more specialized activitiesThe term is a misnomer. Idiot savants are

INSULIN SHOCK THERAPY

treatment for serious mental disorders in which prolonged periods of coma are induced by heavy doses of insulin.The technique was

Collectivist and Individualist Cultures

Collectivist cultures tend to use an authoritarian parenting style to instill cultural values or beliefs in the children. On the