
abaissement du niveau mental n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
In *analytical psychology, a reduced state of concentration and attention, accompanied by a loosening of inhibitions and relaxation

abasia n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
Inability to walk. Compare

abbreviated reaction time n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
Another name for *central reaction time.

ABC abbrev. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
1. A model used in *rational emotive behaviour therapy (REBT) for analysing a client's problems systematically into:

abderite n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
A simpleton. [Named after Abdera, a town in the ancient country of Thrace whose inhabitants were reputed to be stupid]

abducens nerve n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
Either of the sixth pair of *cranial nerves controlling the lateral *rectus muscles of the eyes, turning the

aberration n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
1. A deviation from what is normal, usual, or right. See also
2. A temporary lapse of

ability n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
Developed skill, competence, or power to do something, especially (in psychology) existing capacity to perform some function, whether physical, mental,

ability test n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
A test that measures a person's current level of performance or that estimates future performance. The term sometimes denotes an

abiogenesis n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
The generation of living from non-living matter. Compare

abiosis n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
Absence of life. abiotic adj. Lifeless or inanimate. [From Greek a- without + bios life + -osis indicating a process

ablation n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
Surgical removal of a structure or part of the brain or other organ of the body. ablate vb. [From Latin

ablation experiment n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
A basic research method of physiological psychology based on *ablation, especially during the first three-quarters of the 20th

ableism n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
Discrimination against people who are not able-bodied, or an assumption that it is necessary to cater only for able-bodied people.

Abney effect n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
1. The slight change in the *hue of *monochromatic light when its *lightness changes as a result

Abney's law n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
The principle according to which the total luminance of light composed of several wavelengths is equal to the sum of

abnormal adj. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
Departing from what is usual or what is the rule or *norm (1, 2). [From

abnormality n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
Anything that is *abnormal. A psychological abnormality is a manifestation of *cognition, *emotion, or

abnormal psychology n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
A branch of psychology devoted to the study of the classification, aetiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of *mental disorders

abortion n. Quick reference
A Dictionary of Psychology (4 ed.)
An operation to terminate a pregnancy prematurely (also called an induced abortion), or a premature expulsion of an embryo