A general term which includes all the mental processes by which people become aware of, and gain knowledge about, the world.

The experience of PERCEIVING an object as maintaining the same level of brightness even though the OBJECTIVE illumination seen by the eye may change.

A form of PSYCHOTHERAPY developed by CARL ROGERS which is based on an unconditional acceptance and regard for the CLIENT. The client (as opposed to patient) is not diagnosed for any prescribed treatment but is encouraged to mobilise his own psychic resources to solve his own problems as he sees them.

See also NON-DIRECTIVE THERAPY.

The ability to see or perceive things without the use of the eyes or other sense organs, i.e. a form of EXTRASENSORY PERCEPTION.

See also PARAPSYCHOLOGY.

The part of the nervous system protected by bone, that is, the brain and the spinal cord. It integrates the information that it receives from, and coordinates the activity of, all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals that is, all multicellular animals except sponges and radially symmetric animals such as jellyfish.

Widely used in PSYCHOLOGY for feeling and EMOTION.

Usually defined as the period of human development between birth (or sometimes infancy) and puberty, at around 12 years of age. i.e. a biological definition. Marking this period off from every other, treating people differently during it and expecting different behaviour from them gives it a particular psychological importance. In this sense childhood is not a universal PHENOMENON. It varies culturally and historically and in some societies does not even appear to exist.

See AGEISM.

Descriptive of PSYCHOTIC state generally considered to be a form of SCHIZOPHRENIA. Characterised by violent changes in BEHAVIOUR from mainly rigid, frozen states (including CATALEPSY) to occasional extremes of excitement and activity.

The surface layers of grey matter that cover most of the brain. This area is thought to be primarily concerned with the higher mental processes like learning. MEMORY, thinking and speech.

The interaction of biological and social factors in the study of society, for example, the social effects of birth rate or bubonic plague.