Psychological Terms
20 Psychological Terms with Meanings and Examples
1. Psychology: The scientific study of the human mind and behavior.
- Example: Psychology explores topics such as perception, cognition, emotion, and personality.
2. Behavior: The observable actions of an individual or organism.
- Example: Studying animal behavior can provide insights into human psychology.
3. Cognition: The mental processes involved in acquiring, processing, and storing information.
- Example: Cognition includes thinking, perceiving, remembering, and problem-solving.
4. Perception: The process of interpreting sensory information.
- Example: Perception is influenced by our expectations, beliefs, and experiences.
5. Emotion: A complex pattern of physiological arousal, cognitive appraisal, and behavioral expression.
- Example: Emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and fear play a significant role in human behavior.
6. Motivation: The internal or external forces that drive behavior.
- Example: Motivation can be influenced by intrinsic factors such as personal goals or extrinsic factors such as rewards.
7. Personality: The enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that characterize an individual.
- Example: Personality traits include extroversion, introversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism.
8. Consciousness: The state of being aware of oneself and one’s surroundings.
- Example: Consciousness is a complex phenomenon that has been studied by philosophers and scientists for centuries.
9. Unconscious: The part of the mind that is not accessible to conscious thought.
- Example: The unconscious mind plays a significant role in shaping our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
10. Learning: A relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as a result of experience.
- Example: Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are two types of learning.
11. Memory: The ability to store and retrieve information.
- Example: Memory is essential for learning and problem-solving.
12. Intelligence: The ability to learn, reason, and solve problems.
- Example: Intelligence is a complex trait that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
13. Social Psychology: The study of how people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the presence of others.
- Example: Social psychology explores topics such as conformity, obedience, and group dynamics.
14. Developmental Psychology: The study of how people change over time.
- Example: Developmental psychology focuses on the physical, cognitive, and social changes that occur throughout the lifespan.
15. Clinical Psychology: The study and treatment of mental health disorders.
- Example: Clinical psychologists help people with a variety of psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, and addiction.
16. Cognitive Psychology: The study of mental processes, such as thinking, perception, memory, and language.
- Example: Cognitive psychologists investigate how people process information and make decisions.
17. Personality Psychology: The study of individual differences in personality traits.
- Example: Personality psychologists research the causes and consequences of personality traits.
18. Abnormal Psychology: The study of mental disorders.
- Example: Abnormal psychologists diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
19. Neuropsychology: The study of the relationship between the brain and behavior.
- Example: Neuropsychologists investigate how brain damage affects cognitive functions.
20. Positive Psychology: The study of human strengths and well-being.
- Example: Positive psychology focuses on promoting happiness, optimism, and resilience.
