VISUAL DEFECTS
Common visual defects so often affect behavior and adjustment that they are usually included in the field of psychology. Most…
VISIBLE SPECTRUM
The range of electromagnetic waves visible to the human eye.Our sense of vision is activated by radiant energy emitted or…
VISIBILITY CURVE
A graph representing the sensitivity of the eye to different wavelengths of light. Two types of curves are usually constructed,…
VIGOTSKY TEST
A test of conceptual thinking in which the subject classifies blocks according to different characteristicsdeveloped by the Soviet psychologist L.…
VENTILATION CONDITIONS
Atmospheric conditions—primarily temperature, humidity, and air flow—constitute an important problem in industrial psychology and human engineering, since they have considerable…
TRANSVESTISM (or) TRANSVESTI- TISM
A sexual deviation in which the individual dresses in the clothes of the opposite sex, usually for the purpose of…
TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS
A form of group psychotherapy originated by Eric Berne, which focuses attention on characteristic interactions between individuals and the “games”…
TOTAL PUSH THERAPY
A supportive approach originated by Abraham Myerson for the treatment of chronic schizophrenics and other patients confined to mental institutions.To…
THORNDIKE, EDWARD LEE (1874- 1949)
Thorndike, a pioneer in educational psychology, was bom in Massachusetts, and received his B.A. degree at Wesleyan, his M.A. at…
TAY-SACHS DISEASE
A rare metabolic disorder characterized by an accumulation of lipid (fat) in the nerve cells of the brain, resulting in…
TALKING IT OUT
The free verbal expression of feelings and emotions“Talking it out,” in the usual sense of giving vent to what is…
TALION LAW
These terms refer to the idea of punishment or retaliation in kind: the “lex talionis.” This is the primitive and…
SZONDI TEST
A projective test in which the subject examines a set of photographs of people with different types of mental disorder…
SYNESTHESIA (literally, “feeling to- gether”)
An experience in which two senses respond when only one is stimulated; also called crossed perception.About 5 to 10 per…
SYMPATHISM
The defense mechanism of seeking emotional support through arousing sympathy. “Sympathy seeking” is more commonly used than sympathism.The individual dwells…
SUPPORTIVE THERAPY
A general form of psychological treatment aimed at reinforcing existing defenses and alleviating distress through techniques that operate on a…
SULLIVAN, HARRY STACK (1892- 1949)
Sullivan is chiefly noted for his “interpersonal theory,” an approach to personality and psychotherapy based on the crucial importance of…
SUBJECTIVE TONES
Auditory sensations or hallucinations in which certain notes or melodies are heard in the absence of external stimulation.A common type…
SUBITIZING
. Perceiving at a glance how many objects are presented without estimating or counting.It takes considerable time for children to…
STIMULUS-STIMULUS ASSOCIATION (S-S Association, Sensory-Sensory Association)
A learned association between two stimuli.S-S associations are commonly formed when we learn to use one stimulus as a cue…