A

n23

ATTRIBUTIONAL STYLE

a person's characteristic tendencies when inferring the cause of behavior or events, that may be based on three dimensions: the

ATYPICAL PSYCHOSIS

in the DSM-lll, this represented a category of psychotic disorders. In the DSM-IV-TR these are labeled as psychotic disorders not

AUDIOMETER

n. an electronic device used to measure auditory sensitivity, usually in medical or clinical settings. Its primary use is to

AUDITORY DISCRIMINATION

refers to the ability to distinguish between heard sounds. Intensity discrimination, for example, is one branch of auditory discrimination, and

AUDITORY PERCEPTION

the ability to interpret and organize sensory information received through the auditory system.

AUGMENTATION STRATEGIES

refers to mechanisms used to increase the effectiveness of psychotropic drugs- primarily by adding other agents. Augmentation strategies are commonly

AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY

a distinct personality pattern that is characterized by (a) a preoccupation with power and status, (b) strict adherence to simplified

AUTOCENTRIC

completely centered on or within the self. Compare with allocentric.

AUTOIMMUNITY

a condition in which the body's immune system fails to recognize, and therefore rejects its own cells. Autoimmunity increases with

AUTOMATIC DRAWING

the act of drawing images, doodles, or objects while in a hypnotic trance or in a situation in which the

AUTOMUTILATION

n. a specific sexual pleasure derived from mutilating parts of one's body or from fantasizing about mutilated parts of one

AUTONOMIC REACTIVITY

1. the extent or level to which an organism responds physiologically to a stimulus, such as a stressor in the

AUTOPSYCHIC DELUSION

refers to a delusion about one

AUTOSTEREOGRAM

n. refers to a two-dimensional arrangement of repeated elements, or a pattern, that produces a perception of three-dimensional depth when

AVERAGE ERROR

refers to the typical degree a series of observations are inaccurate with respect to an absolute criterion (e.g., a standard

AVOIDANCE GRADIENT

refers to the variation in strength of drive as a function of the organism's proximity to an aversive stimulus. For

AXIOM

in logic and philosophy, a universally accepted proposition that is not testable in that it is neither subject to proof

ABIOTROPHY

noun. The decrease in one's ability to ward off infections and disease. For instance, infections are more likely as human's

ABSCESS

often a blister-like or centralized wound that frequently grows in size as the infection progresses. An abscess in one's brain

ABSOLUTE RATING SCALE

Derived from Immanuel Kant- system that scores individuals and/or things based on separate rules and not taking into account the