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:

1. Abnormal Psychology
2. Affect
3. Aggression
4. Anxiety
5. Behaviorism
6. Cognition
7. Conditioning
8. Cognitive Dissonance
9. Defense Mechanism
10. Developmental Psychology
11. Empathy
12. Freudian Slip
13. Humanistic Psychology
14. Id, Ego, Superego
15. Intelligence
16. Motivation
17. Neurotransmitters
18. Operant Conditioning
19. Personality
20. Phobia
21. Psychoanalysis
22. Psychotherapy
23. Resilience
24. Self-Actualization
25. Social Psychology
26. Stress
27. Unconscious
28. Validity
29. Attachment Theory
30. Attribution Theory
31. Behavioral Neuroscience
32. Biofeedback
33. Bystander Effect
34. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
35. Collective Unconscious
36. Conditioned Response
37. Conformity
38. Dissociation
39. Ego Defense Mechanisms
40. Emotional Intelligence
41. Forensic Psychology
42. Groupthink
43. Habituation
44. Heuristics
45. Implicit Memory
46. Learned Helplessness
47. Locus of Control
48. Mindfulness
49. Neuroplasticity
50. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
51. Positive Reinforcement
52. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
53. Projection
54. Psychosomatic
55. Reciprocal Determinism
56. Schema
57. Self-Efficacy
58. Social Facilitation
59. Social Learning Theory
60. 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.

Infographics of Common Psychology Terms

Insatiable Meaning

Spontaneity Meaning

Grateful Meaning

Discernment Meaning

Weary Meaning

Cathartic Meaning

Hopeless Romantic Meaning

Clever Meaning

ADHD Meaning

Adversity Meaning

Leniency Meaning

Forbearance Meaning

Virtue Meaning

Mourning Meaning

PTSD Meaning

OCD Meaning

CBT Meaning

DBT Meaning

MBT Meaning

Prejudice Meaning

Humanity Meaning

Pity Meaning

Kindness Meaning

Mercy Meaning

Tenderness Meaning

Bliss Meaning

Sorrow Meaning

Grief Meaning

Affection Meaning

Sympathy Meaning

Commonly Confused Psychology Terms

Sensing vs. Intuition

Psychologist vs. Therapist

Left vs. Right Brain

Interpersonal vs. Intrapersonal

Psychology vs. Psychiatry

Pink Noise vs. White Noise

OCD vs. OCPD

Compassion vs. Empathy

Lust vs. Love