Psychology Terms

Psychologists use terms like “ego,” “anxiety,” and “cognitive processes” to explain various aspects of human thought and behavior. These psychology terms are essential for anyone looking to understand how the mind works and how our mental processes shape actions and interactions.

What Are Psychology Terms?

Psychology terms are specific words and phrases used to describe concepts, phenomena, and conditions related to the mind and behavior. These terms include vocabulary for psychological conditions, processes such as perception and cognition, and therapeutic techniques.

Examples include cognition, which refers to mental processes like thinking and memory, and behavior, which describes actions and reactions of individuals. Familiarity with these terms can aid in discussions and studies in the field of psychology.

List of Psychology Terms

Psychology encompasses an array of terms that can help you better understand the mind and behavior. Here is a list of some essential psychology terms:

Abnormal Psychology
Affect
Aggression
Anxiety
Behaviorism
Cognition
Conditioning
Cognitive Dissonance
Defense Mechanism
Developmental Psychology
Empathy
Freudian Slip
Humanistic Psychology
Id, Ego, Superego
Intelligence
Motivation
Neurotransmitters
Operant Conditioning
Personality
Phobia
Psychoanalysis
Psychotherapy
Resilience
Self-Actualization
Social Psychology
Stress
Unconscious
Validity
Attachment Theory
Attribution Theory
Behavioral Neuroscience
Biofeedback
Bystander Effect
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Collective Unconscious
Conditioned Response
Conformity
Dissociation
Ego Defense Mechanisms
Emotional Intelligence
Forensic Psychology
Groupthink
Habituation
Heuristics
Implicit Memory
Learned Helplessness
Locus of Control
Mindfulness
Neuroplasticity
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Positive Reinforcement
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Projection
Psychosomatic
Reciprocal Determinism
Schema
Self-Efficacy
Social Facilitation
Social Learning Theory
Transference

These terms only scratch the surface of psychological vocabulary, but they are fundamental to the field. Whether you are a student or someone interested in psychology, knowing these terms can deepen your understanding.

Common Psychology Terms with their Meanings

Understanding psychology terms can help you grasp the basics of how the mind works. Here are some common terms you might encounter:

Cognition: The mental processes of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.

Addiction: A psychological and physiological dependence on a substance or behavior. It affects both mental and physical health.

Cognitive Psychology: This field focuses on internal mental processes such as memory, thinking, problem-solving, and language.

Developmental Psychology: This branch studies the social and mental development of individuals throughout their life, especially in childhood.

Behavioral Psychology: Also known as behaviorism, this area examines how people learn and how they behave based on interactions with the environment.

Insomnia: A condition characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep. It can impact daily functioning and overall health.

Perception: The process by which individuals organize and interpret sensory information to understand their environment.

Motivation: The driving force behind actions, desires, and needs. It explains why people initiate, continue, or stop behavior.

Emotion: Complex reactions that involve physical and psychological responses to experiences.

Personality: The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s unique character.

Attention: The cognitive process of focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others.

Experimental Psychology: Uses scientific methods to study psychological issues through controlled experiments.

Absolute Threshold: The minimum level of stimulus intensity needed for a stimulus to be detected 50% of the time.

Action Potential: A brief electrical charge that travels down a neuron, enabling it to communicate with other neurons.

Adaptation: The process through which organisms adjust to new environments or changes in their current environment.