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Starting with psychology
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Y183_1 Glossary

Y183_1 gloassary: Starting with psychology
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Browse the glossary using this index

Special | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL

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C

Cognitive psychology:

The branch of psychology that studies the mental processes involved in perception, learning, memory, and thinking

Collectivist culture:

A culture where group needs take precedence over individual needs and in turn the group takes responsibility for the wellbeing of the individual

Concept formation:

The process of making a mental representation of a group of objects or events that share similar properties

Conformity:

The tendency for members of a group to behave in a similar way to other members of the group

Corpus callosum:

A bundle of nerve cells which connect one hemisphere with another

Cortex:

The outer layer of the brain

D

Dependent variable:

A variable that changes as a result of the manipulation of the independent variable and is measured by the experimenter

E

Et al:

Translates as ‘and others’ and is often used when a number of people have been involved in a piece of research. You can just give the name of the main researcher and use ‘et al’ to indicate that there were a number of other researchers

G

genetic predisposition

an inherited genetic pattern that makes one susceptible to a certain disease

Group pressure:

The demand by group members that individuals in the group conform to certain group standards/behaviours

H

Hemispherical specialisation:

The specialisation of the left and right hemispheres of the brain so that different functions are associated more with one hemisphere than the other

I

Independent variable:

A variable that the experimenter manipulates

Individualist culture:

A culture where the needs and achievements of individuals are emphasised

In-group:

People who belong to the group which we consider we belong to

M

Matching hypothesis:

A theory that people are more likely to form relationships with people who are roughly equally as physically attractive as themselves

Mnemonic:

A technique for improving the memory

N

Norms:

The beliefs and expectations and standards of behaviour shared by group members

O

Out-group:

People who do not belong to our group

Overgeneralisation:

Extending the use of a word or concept to include objects or events that are similar but do not commonly belong to the concept

P

Perception:

The interpretation and understanding of information received from the senses

Prejudice:

A biased attitude either for or more usually against something formed without knowledge, thought or reason

S

Schema:

A mental framework of knowledge developed as a result of experience

Social Identity Theory:

A theory that describes how membership of social groups forms a significant part of the self concept so that people respond as a group member rather than an individual

Spatial ability:

The ability to mentally manipulate figures in space

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