DYSAUTONOMIA (Familial Dysauto- nomia)
Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, believed to result from an obscure brain defect. The condition tends to run in…
DREAM INTERPRETATION (Modern)
As the preceding topic indicates, many provocative ideas on dreams were “in the air” at the turn of the twentieth…
DYSSOCIAL REACTION
A “socio- pathic” personality disorder in which the individual adopts a delinquent or criminal way of life as a result…
DREAM INTERPRETATION (Historical)
The belief that dreams have a special significance is practically universal. They have been an object of curiosity in all…
EGO PSYCHOTHERAPY
A therapeutic approach developed by Paul Federn and his disciple Edoardo Weiss, based upon the theory that mental disturbance involves…
EBBINGHAUS, HERMANN (1850- 1909)
In his work on memory, Ebbinghaus suggested many principles and methods that have been incorporated in modern psychology. He invented…
DYNAMISM (Mental Dynamism)
A psychological device used to protect the ego; a defense mechanism, such as compensation or rationalization.Defense mechanism is the more…
DYNAMICS (PSYCHODYNAMICS)
The force or pattern of forces which gives rise to a particular psychological event or condition, such as an act,…
ECOLOGICAL STUDIES
Ecology is the scientific study of the mutual relations between organisms and their environment.Ecological research on animals and plants focuses…
DRUG INTOXICATION
A number of medical drugs have been found to produce mental symptoms when taken in excessive doses over long periods.…
DIX, DOROTHEA LYNDE (1802-87)
Dorothea Dix was the most effective advocate of humanitarian reform in American mental institutions during the nineteenth century. Born in…
DEWEY, JOHN (1859-1952)
Dewey, who was to become pre-eminent in three fields—philosophy,and education—was bom in Vermont, and graduated from the state university at…
DETECTION THEORY
An explanation of the way signals are perceived against a background of noise.The psychological study of signal detection is an…
DISSOCIATIVE REACTION
A psychoneurotic reaction in which a portion of experience is split off, or isolated, from conscious awareness.As a neurotic reaction,…
DOMINANCE RELATIONSHIP
A pattern of social organization in which some individuals assert a higher rank than others.Dominance relationships are frequently observed in…
DIABETIC REACTIONS
The weakness, excessive thirst, loss of weight, and other symptoms characterizing diabetes mellitus are due to low sugar metabolism resulting…
DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS
The basic tasks which must be mastered at each stage of life if the individual is to achieve normal development…
DISCIPLINE (literally, “to learn”)
Discipline is the process of learning to adapt one’s behavior to the requirements of society. It “arises from the need…
DETERIORATION (Mental Deterioration)
In psychiatry, deterioration denotes a progressive impairment or decline of intellectual and personality functions such as memory, reasoning, concentration, communication,…