ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
a sub discipline of computer science that aims to produce programs and articles that simulate human intelligence. AI researchers often…
ASCH CONFORMITY EFFECT
the tendency for individuals to conform to a greater extent when in groups - particularly in situations like those studied…
ASPHYXOPHILIA
n. sexual arousal and enjoyment obtained from being unable to breathe during sexual activity. As a paraphilia, this may involve…
ASSISTED DEATH
one person assisting the other to commit suicide, by mutual agreement. This action can take the form of assisted suicide,…
ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS
the process by which simple perceptions and ideas are combined into a total idea, which may vary in complexity and…
ASSOCIATIVE-CHAIN THEORY
in learning theory some types of behavioral psychology (see behaviorism), a theory of how complex behaviors, including some linguistic behaviors,…
ASTIGMATOSCOPE
an instrument used to diagnose and measure the level of corneal curvature abnormality astigmatism) in the eye.
ASYNCHRONOUS BROOD
offspring (usually birds) that are hatched successively, one at a time, (rather than simultaneously, as in a synchronous brood). In…
ATAXIC WRITING
uncoordinated or irregular handwriting, characterized by shakiness, that may be caused by brain damage.
ATTENTIONAL NARROWING
the restricting of attention in high-stress situations to a small set of critical displays. If critical information occurs outside this…
ATTITUDE OBJECT
any targets of judgment, including people, places, and things, that have an attitude or opinion associated with it.
ATTRIBUTE 1
n. refers to a particular quality, property of a person, sensation, or object. For example, the tonal attribute of a…
ATYPICAL EATING DISORDER
in the DSM-lll, this represented a category of eating disorders. In the DSM-IV-TR these are labeled eating disorder not otherwise…
AUDIENCE EFFECT
the influence of the presence of other people on an individual's behavior. Also refers to the belief that other people…
AUDITORY ACUITY
the ability to detect and discriminate between different, sometimes similar-sounding sounds. For example, auditory frequency acuity is the ability to…
AUDITORY HALLUCINATION
the perception of sound in the absence of any kind of auditory stimulus. Hallucinations may, for example, be accusatory or…
AUDITORY SYSTEM
the entirety of the biological structures and processes responsible for hearing. Overall, the peripheral auditory system, or auditory periphery, includes…