Psychology key terms

An explanation of behaviour or a psychological disorder in terms of physical processes, such as brain structure, brain activity and neurotransmission.

An approach that understands mental health problems primarily as illnesses with biological causes and uses medical treatments such as medication.

A mood disorder involving episodes of abnormally elevated mood, energy and activity, called mania or hypomania, and usually episodes of depression. There can be periods of normal mood between episodes.

Strange or illogical features of mental experiences, classified in this study by where they occurred and the type of strangeness involved.

Viewing outcomes in absolute categories, such as complete success or total failure, without recognising possibilities in between.

A person assessing behaviour without knowing which experimental condition each participant belongs to, reducing the risk that expectations influence their judgement.

Communication through bodily behaviour, including posture and touch.

Abnormal functioning of the brain, which may involve unusually high or low activity, abnormal structure or damage.

The brain’s ability to change its structure and connections in response to learning and experience.

The part of the brain connecting it to the spinal cord, involved in controlling essential automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

The part of the brain connecting with the spinal cord and controlling vital automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

A professional organisation for psychology in Britain that sets ethical and professional standards, including its Code of Ethics and Conduct.

A language area, usually in the left frontal lobe, involved in producing speech.

A person present at an event, such as an emergency, who is not initially directly involved.

Failure by someone witnessing a person in need to offer help.

The tendency for an individual to be less likely to help when other bystanders are present.

Action taken by someone who witnesses an event to help a person in need.

The amount of information a memory store can hold.

Providing treatment and support for people with mental health problems in their local community rather than relying on long-term stays in psychiatric hospitals.

An in-depth investigation of a particular person, group or event, often using several research methods.

In Freud’s theory, an unconscious fear of losing the penis through castration.

Interpreting an event as far worse or more disastrous than it actually is.

A marked disturbance of movement or physical responsiveness, which may involve extreme stillness, unusual postures or agitation.

A cause-and-effect relationship in which a change in one variable produces a change in another.

Cognitive behavioural therapy: a psychotherapy that helps people identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and change unhelpful behaviour.

A group of interconnected neurons whose connections strengthen through repeated activity together, according to Hebb’s theory.

The brain and spinal cord, which process information and coordinate the body's responses.