PRIMAL SADISM
The theory that the death instinct has an aspect that mirrors masochism and remains in the individual as part of…
PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS
Statistically, a technique that completely reproduces an interrelationship amongst many correlated variables with a smaller number of "principle components" that…
PROCEDURAL JUSTICE
Procedural justice is the recognized legal proceedings in court. The procedures must be followed to assure a fair and impartial…
PROJECTIVE PLAY
A form of play therapy utilizing dolls and other types of toys. Children are allowed to use the toys to…
PROXIMAL STIMULUS
Physical energy from a stimulus that then directly stimulates the sense organ or receptor in the organ.
PSYCHOANALYSIS
Psychoanalysis, as formulated by its developer, Dr. Sigmund Freud, is a treatment of psychological disorder and treatments. It is based…
PSYCHOLOGICAL REFRACTORY PERIOD (PRP)
The period of time following a response to a given second stimulus, when it is presented only a short period…
PSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH
The emphasis on social and cultural influences in psychological theory, research and practices.
QUANTITATIVE APPROACH
Freud's theory that when it comes to mental processes, there is a qualitative and quantitative quality when it comes to…
REACTIVE MEASURE
Any measure with the action of altering a response under examination. For instance, if a subject is aware of clinical…
RECENCY EFFECT
A phenomena in memory showing that data presented most recently is remembered more efficiently than other information the subject was…
RECONSTRUCTIVE MEMORY
Achieving remembrance by analytically reconstructing past events which are incomplete within the subject's memory. Derives from common knowledge and schemas,…
REFRACTION
Light or sound wavelengths passing from one medium to another are bent, affecting the way they are perceived.
RELAXATION
State of being relaxed. Refreshment of mind and body. Reduction in intensity of tension or vigor. Musculature returning to an…
REPETITION EFFECT
Material which is presented in a repetitive way tends to be better understood, leading to improved memory of the material.…
RESOLUTION
Capability of any optical device (including the eye) to distinguish two objects when they are in close proximity to one…
RESURGENCE
A renewal of a response which has been reinforced and then stifled in an interval of extinction for another, secondarily…
REVERSE TOLERANCE
Generally in psychoactive drugs (especially central nervous system stimulants), the tendency of increased sensitivity in the body wherein repeated doses…
ROLE AMBIGUITY
Type of role strain which occurs when shared specifications set for an expected role are incomplete to tell the involved…