ATTENTIVENESS
n. 1. the state of being awake, alert and actively paying attention to a stimulus. 2. the quality of actively…
ATTITUDE-STRENGTH-RELATED BELIEF
a belief about an attitude or attitude object that is associated with the strength of the same attitude.
ATTRIBUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF PERSUASION
an approach to understanding the topic of persuasion. Individuals provide reasons as to why communicators of persuasive messages adopt particular…
ATYPICAL PSYCHOSEXUAL DYSFUNCTION
a sexual difficulty that does not meet diagnostic criteria for sexual dysfunction or any type of sexual deviancy. In the…
AUDIOGYRAL ILLUSION
the apparent movement of a stationary source of sound when the listener is rotated in some unnatural direction.
AUDITORY CORTEX
the sensory area for hearing, which is located in the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex. Also known as the…
AUDITORY PATHWAYS
the auditory-specific neural structures that convey auditory information from the cochlear hair cells to the auditory cortex (the ascending pathway)…
AUGMENTATION PRINCIPLE
in attribution theory, the principle that if someone performs an action when there are known constraints, his or her motive…
AUTHORITARIAN PARENTING
refers to a restrictive parenting style, which is characterized by the parent demanding obedience, deemphasizing collaboration and dialogue, and employing…
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
n. in therapy, a technique in which a life history, as written by the client, is used to obtain information…
AUTOHYPNOTIC AMNESIA
This is a Jungian term for repression. It was initially based on the observation that hypnotic amnesia may be induced…
AUTOMATIC DECISIONS
decisions made quickly, impulsively or with little thought. This may be based on habit or the use of mental shortcuts.…
AUTOMOTIVE TELEMATICS
a technology developed for delivering information to moving automobiles and other road vehicles. The information can include traffic conditions on…
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS)
the portions of the central and peripheral nervous systems involved primarily in involuntary bodily functions, for example, circulatory, digestive, and…
AVERAGE ABSOLUTE DEVIATION
refers to a measure of the dispersion of scores obtained by finding the average absolute difference (see absolute value) between…
AVOIDANCE CONDITIONING
refers to the establishment of a pattern of behavior that prevents, postpones, or reduces the frequency of aversive stimulation. In…
AXIAL GRADIENT
refers to the difference in rates of development or metabolic rates of tissue along a longitudinal body axis. See also…
AZOOSPERMIA
n. refers to the absence of viable sperm in the semen, usually as a result of failed spermatogenesis.