🔗 Psychological Terms Starting With The Letter

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

Imagine if you were walking on a dark street in a dangerous neighborhood and a man in his forties with deadly intent in his eyes sprung growling from a dark alley with stranglers hands aimed at your throat.


Then he stopped, relaxed, and started talking calmly to you. I just described a two second scene.

Then after 10 minutes, he launched another growling one second lunge at you. And stopped.

I interviewed that man for a social issue completely unrelated to his Tourette's.

He introduced himself and sat down.

“Before we start”, he explained, “I need to tell you that I have Tourette's syndrome. You are perfectly safe but it might seem like I am lunging at you. Do not worry. It only lasts a few seconds and I won't touch you”, he said. Continued Below

Okay, whatever. We started the interview. We were separated by my desk.

After 10–15 minutes, quite suddenly his eyes took on a demented look, he raised his clutching hands, and lunged … he lifted himself perhaps 3–4 inches out of his seat, then stopped.

He would have seen my eyes open wide but I was unmoved. He did it once more. I handled it with aplomb.

We finished up, I noted his file with the substantive facts of his request, and move on. It was interesting but not especially amusing.

I went to lunch with some colleagues and, of course, imitated him. They burst out in laughter.

Here’s a story most people not practicing in the field of psychology are unaware of.

There was a group of second year med students. As an experiment, their Professor had each of them buy a copy of the DSM. They were instructed to read it and write a mid-term paper on which diagnosis they thought they had.

Over 90% wrote that they thought they had Schizophrenia. Obviously, nothing could be further from the truth.
I tell you this story as a way of explaining some things that most lay people do not understand. The language and terminology in the DSM is not intended for those not trained in its interpretation specifically for psych purposes.

So, NO most people are NOT neurodivergent.

NO, not everyone you’ve had a bad break-up with is a narcissist.

NO, not everyone has Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Please stop believing everything you see by non-licensed “therapists” posted on the internet.

Brain chemicals and their functions related to mental disorders:

Anxiety Disorders

1. Serotonin (5-HT) - Regulates mood, appetite, sleep
2. GABA - Calmness, relaxation
3. Dopamine - Reward, motivation
4. Norepinephrine (NE) - Attention, arousal
5. Cortisol - Stress response
6. Adrenaline (Epinephrine) - Stress response
7. Glutamate - Learning, memory

Mood Disorders (Depression, Bipolar)

1. Serotonin (5-HT) - Regulates mood, appetite, sleep
2. Dopamine - Reward, motivation
3. Norepinephrine (NE) - Attention, arousal
4. Endorphins - Pain relief, mood
5. Melatonin - Sleep-wake cycle
6. Cortisol - Stress response

Psychotic Disorders (Schizophrenia)

1. Dopamine - Reward, motivation
2. Serotonin (5-HT) - Regulates mood, appetite, sleep
3. Glutamate - Learning, memory
4. GABA - Calmness, relaxation
5. Norepinephrine (NE) - Attention, arousal

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

1. Dopamine - Reward, motivation
2. Norepinephrine (NE) - Attention, arousal
3. Serotonin (5-HT) - Regulates mood, appetite, sleep
4. GABA - Calmness, relaxation

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

1. Serotonin (5-HT) - Regulates mood, appetite, sleep
2. Dopamine - Reward, motivation
3. Glutamate - Learning, memory
4. GABA - Calmness, relaxation

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

1. Cortisol - Stress response
2. Adrenaline (Epinephrine) - Stress response
3. Serotonin (5-HT) - Regulates mood, appetite, sleep
4. Norepinephrine (NE) - Attention, arousal

Addiction

1. Dopamine - Reward, motivation
2. Endorphins - Pain relief, mood
3. Serotonin (5-HT) - Regulates mood, appetite, sleep
4. GABA - Calmness, relaxation

Other Mental Disorders

1. Orexin - Wakefulness (Narcolepsy)
2. Melatonin - Sleep-wake cycle (Insomnia)
3. Vasopressin - Social behavior (Autism)
4. Oxytocin - Social bonding (Autism)

Imbalanced Chemicals

1. Low Serotonin: Depression, Anxiety
2. Low Dopamine: ADHD, Addiction
3. High Cortisol: Anxiety, PTSD
4. Imbalanced Glutamate: Schizophrenia, OCD
5. Low GABA: Anxiety, Insomnia

At 84, Carl Jung was interviewed by the BBC.

He gave this warning to the world:

“We need more understanding of human nature, because the only real danger that exists is man himself. He is the great danger, and we are pityfully unaware of it. We know nothing of man. Far too little.

He should be studied, because we are the origin of all coming evil”
– C.G. Jung

The Masks We Wear 🎭 The Psychology of Authenticity and Social Masks

Have you ever felt like a different person around different people? We all wear "social masks" to some extent—projecting certain qualities or hiding parts of ourselves depending on who we're with. But why do we do this?

💡The Purpose of Social Masks:

1. Acceptance and Belonging: Humans are wired to seek connection and acceptance. Sometimes, we hide parts of ourselves to fit in or avoid judgment.

2. Self-Protection: Vulnerability can be uncomfortable. Masks act as a shield to protect us from rejection or emotional harm.

3. Role Expectations: In certain roles—like at work, with family, or with friends—we may feel pressured to act a certain way, even if it doesn’t align with our true selves.

But Why It Matters to Be Authentic

When we constantly wear these masks, we risk losing touch with who we really are. Living authentically means embracing our quirks, values, and imperfections, even when it’s uncomfortable.

How to Embrace Authenticity:

Notice Your Masks: Pay attention to when you’re shifting your personality. Reflect on why it feels necessary.

Challenge the Fear: Ask yourself, “What’s the worst that could happen if I showed up as my true self?”

Find Safe Spaces: Surround yourself with people who value you for who you are.

Remember, authenticity can be one of the most freeing things you experience.

Any student who has cleared NET JRF?
DM @thatkafka your strategy and suggestions.
I'll post it here on the channel.

|•• List Of PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS ••|

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)

°°Foundation: Measures intelligence and cognitive ability
°°Key Contributor: David Wechsler

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

°°Foundation: Assesses personality traits and psychopathology
°°Founders: Starke R. Hathaway and J. C. McKinley

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

°°Foundation: Evaluates symptoms of depression
°°Originator: Aaron T. Beck

Rorschach Inkblot Test

°°Foundation: Projective assessment of personality and emotional functioning
°°Creator: Hermann Rorschach

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

°°Foundation: Reveals underlying motives and concerns through storytelling
°°Developers: Henry A. Murray and Christina D. Morgan

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale

°°Foundation: Assesses intelligence and cognitive development
°°Pioneer: Alfred Binet

Cattell 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF)

°°Foundation: Measures personality traits
°°Innovator: Raymond Cattell

NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI)

°°Foundation: Evaluates the Five-Factor Model of personality
°°Creators: Paul Costa and Robert McCrae

State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

°°Foundation: Distinguishes between state and trait anxiety
°°Originator: Charles D. Spielberger

Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)

°°Foundation: Assesses behavioral and emotional problems in children
°°Developer: Thomas M. Achenbach

Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale

°°Foundation: Measures self-esteem levels
°°Designer: Morris Rosenberg

Career Assessment Inventory (CAI)

°°Foundation: Assesses career interests and vocational preferences
°°Pioneer: Donald Super

Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)

°°Foundation: Evaluates daytime sleepinessand potential sleep disorders
°°Researcher: Murray Johns

Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A)

°°Foundation: Measures the severity of anxiety symptoms
°°Developer: Max Hamilton

Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI)

°°Foundation: Assesses trauma-related symptoms and psychological distress
°°Creator: Frank W. Weathers

@wayofpsychology

An excess of light, as Edmund Burke knew, can result in darkness; a surplus of reason can become a species of madness. A form of rationality which detaches itself from the life of the body and the affections will fail to shape this subjective domain from the inside… The ideology of progress, for which the past is so much puerile stuff to be banished to the primeval forests of prehistory, plunders us of our historical legacies, and thus of some of our most precious resources for the future.

Terry Eagleton, Reason, Faith and Revolution (2009)

If psychoanalysis is making manifest the truth of desire, it is the tragic truth of the asymmetrical relation between desire and the object. For Leclaire, psychoanalysis must shift its fascination with the object of desire to desire itself, in order to proceed psychoanalytically. It must give up the phantasmatic object that it believes will satisfy, gratify, or suture desire, as some imaginary end point – the illusion of the object that will make it whole. Following this, there is no truth for us beyond unconscious desire; beyond it is only an unknown, a navel, a floor, which causes desire to be constantly reborn.

It is to this desire that the subject accommodates him or herself, not vice-versa. We accommodate the subject to desire, not desire to the subject.

Jamieson Webster, On the Question of the Future of Psychoanalysis: Some Reflections on Jacques Lacan (2014)

⚙️ "Lost in the Mall" False Memory Experiment

🔍 Experiment's Genesis and Purpose: "Lost in the Mall" experiment, conceived by eminent psychologist Elizabeth Loftus. This groundbreaking study aimed to explore the intriguing phenomenon of false memories and their integration into one's personal history.

📋 Experiment Procedure:
1. Participants Selection: A group of participants, often college students, were carefully chosen for this study. These individuals were asked to bring along a family member who could provide authentic childhood stories.

2. Fictitious Event Introduction: Researchers ingeniously inserted a fabricated childhood memory into the mix. This fictitious memory involved being lost in a shopping mall during the participant's childhood.

3. Storytelling Sessions: Participants and their family members engaged in storytelling sessions, where genuine and fabricated stories were shared. The fabricated "lost in the mall" story was woven seamlessly into the narrative.

4. Memory Construction: Through repeated exposure to the false memory, participants began to internalize and accept the fictional event as an authentic memory of their own.

🧩 Key Findings:
1. Memory Distortion: The "Lost in the Mall" experiment demonstrated the incredible ability of human memory to incorporate fictional events. Participants not only recalled the false memory but embellished it with vivid details, emotions, and even perspectives.

2. Seamless Integration: The fabricated memory seamlessly integrated into participants' existing recollections, making it challenging to discern between authentic and implanted memories.

3. Illusory Truth Effect: The experiment showcased the "illusory truth effect," where repetition and familiarity led participants to consider the false memory as true.

📊 Research Implications:
1. Eyewitness Testimonies: The experiment shed light on the unreliability of eyewitness testimonies, as false memories could potentially influence the accuracy of recalled events in legal proceedings.

2. Therapeutic Contexts: The findings prompted reflection on the potential impact of false memories in therapeutic contexts, urging caution when retrieving and analyzing repressed memories.

🔍 Ethical Considerations:
While the "Lost in the Mall" experiment unveiled valuable insights into memory distortion, it also raised ethical concerns about the potential psychological impact of implanting false memories in participants.

🚀 Continued Influence:
The experiment's influence transcended academia, fostering increased skepticism about memory accuracy in various domains, including legal investigations and therapy.

🌟 Unraveling Human Complexity:
As we reflect on the "Lost in the Mall" experiment, we're reminded of the intricate interplay between perception, suggestion, and memory. Our minds are repositories of narratives, both genuine and constructed.

🎓 Legacy and Conclusion:
The "Lost in the Mall" experiment remains an enduring testament to the dynamic nature of human memory. It urges us to approach our recollections with discernment, recognizing the potential for distortion within the tapestry of our own experiences.

A most important truth, which we are apt to forget, is that a teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself. A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its own flame. The teacher who has come to the end of his subject, who has no living traffic with his knowledge, but merely repeats his lessons to his students, can only load their minds; he cannot quicken them. Truth not only must inform but inspire. If the inspiration dies out, and the information only accumulates, then truth loses its infinity. The greater part of our learning in the schools has been wasted because, for most of our teachers, their subjects are like dead specimens of once living things, with which they have a learned acquaintance, but no communication of life and love.

Rabindranath Tagore, Creative Unity (1922)

Hello everyone,

I am Josie, from India. Right now, I need some guidance from you all. I am a student of psychology at a public university in India. I wish to do my masters from outside India, since as a trans-person, I do not quite fit in anywhere in this increasingly fascist society. In fact, I feel very unsafe here.

I know most western countries are also tending towards fascism but most of my friends and alliances are in US and Europe. I do not have any friends in India despite living here my whole life because of the social fabric here. I have no tangible ties to this place, except for being used to its abuse.

I do not know how exactly to avail opportunities to move out. I want to bank on a scholarship, like one of those full-ride ones. Or alternatively, a partial scholarship and a part-time job, or howsoever it works. Leaving India is the priority for me.

If any of you, in US or Europe, or for that matter in South America or Oceania can guide me on this matter, which scholarships you know of, or know a friend who got them, what is the likelihood of getting one, what universities have provisions for such a scenario, etc, please contact me at @nonergodicjosie.

I am very grateful for the audience and the support.

Brief Overview of Statistics in Psychology.
We'll cover each one in detail later on.

1. Descriptive Statistics 📊

Measures of Central Tendency: Mean, median, and mode; understand how to summarize data.

Measures of Dispersion: Range, variance, and standard deviation; these show how spread out data is around the central point.

Skewness and Kurtosis: These help to determine the symmetry and peakedness of a distribution, which informs whether your data is normal or deviated from a standard distribution.


2. Probability 🎲

Basic Probability Theory: Learn the fundamentals of probability, which is the basis for many statistical tests.

Conditional Probability: Understand the likelihood of an event occurring given another event has already occurred.

Probability Distributions: Binomial, Poisson, and normal distributions are crucial for predicting the behavior of variables in data.


3. Sampling and Sampling Distributions 📈

Random Sampling: Learn methods to obtain a representative sample, crucial for making valid inferences.

Sampling Distributions: Understanding the distribution of sample statistics, particularly the central limit theorem, which is foundational in hypothesis testing.


4. Inferential Statistics 🔍

Point Estimation and Interval Estimation: How to estimate population parameters (like mean or proportion) and calculate confidence intervals around these estimates.

Hypothesis Testing: The process of making and testing assumptions about populations, which includes:

Null and Alternative Hypotheses: Understanding the assumptions you’re testing.

Type I and Type II Errors: Mistakes in hypothesis testing, where you reject or accept the null hypothesis incorrectly.


p-Values and Significance Levels: Learning the threshold for determining statistical significance.


5. Correlation and Regression Analysis 🔗

Correlation: Measures the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables (e.g., Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients).

Simple Linear Regression: Examines the relationship between two variables and allows for predictions.

Multiple Regression: Extends linear regression to include more than one predictor, providing a more nuanced analysis.


6. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) 🔬

One-Way ANOVA: Tests differences among means of three or more independent groups.

Two-Way ANOVA: Evaluates the influence of two independent variables on a dependent variable.

Repeated Measures ANOVA: Analyzes data collected from the same subjects over multiple conditions or time points.

Post-Hoc Tests: Performed after ANOVA to determine exactly which groups differ from each other (e.g., Tukey's test).


7. Chi-Square Tests 📋

Goodness of Fit Test: Determines whether sample data fits a population with a specific distribution.

Test for Independence: Examines if two categorical variables are independent or associated.


8. Non-Parametric Tests 🛠️

Mann-Whitney U Test: A non-parametric equivalent of the independent t-test, used for ordinal or non-normally distributed data.

Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test: Used for paired samples to test differences in medians.

Kruskal-Wallis Test: Similar to ANOVA but for ordinal or non-normally distributed data.

Friedman Test: Non-parametric equivalent of the repeated measures ANOVA.


9. Effect Size 📐

Cohen's d: Measures the strength of a relationship or difference between two groups in terms of standard deviations.

Eta Squared and Omega Squared: Measures the proportion of variance explained in ANOVA tests.

Correlation Coefficients: Pearson's r or Spearman's rho can act as effect sizes, indicating the strength of relationships.


10. Reliability and Validity 🔄

Reliability Analysis: Ensures consistent results over time; includes tests like Cronbach's Alpha for internal consistency.

Validity Testing: Confirms that a test accurately measures what it intends to (e.g., content, construct, criterion validity).


11. Factor Analysis 🔍

Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA): Identifies underlying variables, or "factors," that explain the patterns of correlations in data.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA): Tests whether a data set fits a hypothesized factor structure.


12. Multivariate Analysis 🌐

Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA): Extends ANOVA to include multiple dependent variables.

Canonical Correlation Analysis: Examines relationships between two sets of variables.

Principal Component Analysis (PCA): Reduces data dimensions, useful for dealing with complex, multi-dimensional data.


13. Time Series Analysis ⏰

Autocorrelation: Examines the relationship between observations in a time series separated by different time lags.

Moving Averages: Used to smooth out data and observe trends over time.

ARIMA Models: Advanced techniques for forecasting and analyzing patterns in time-series data.


14. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) 📐

Path Analysis: Visualizes and tests relationships among variables.

Latent Variables: Used in SEM to model abstract constructs that aren’t directly measurable.

Model Fit Indicators: Ensures the SEM model accurately represents the data (e.g., RMSEA, CFI, TLI).


15. Statistical Software Skills 💻

SPSS, R, Python: These programs are essential for data analysis. Knowing how to use them for different statistical tests and data visualizations is key in psychology.