The main division of the BRAIN in all vertebrates but much more highly developed in humans than in any other. It is thought to be crucially involved in processing sensory information and in all forms of cognitive activity. See COGNITION.

The knowledge that you are experiencing something. Apart from strict BEHAVIOURISTS, most psychologists would call this CONSCIOUSNESS.

A form of GROUP POLARISATION where people make more cautious decisions under the influence of a group than by themselves. The opposite of RISKY SHIFT.

American term for GROUP POLARISATION.

The tendency for objects to be perceived as the same colour even when the light illuminating them changes colour.

Any act of an animal or human.

See BEHAVIOURISM and PSYCHOLOGY.

The term normally used for those areas of PSYCHOLOGY which attempt to apply psychological theories and findings to particular issues of everyday life, such as counselling, education, industrial relations, etc.

Can also be used to describe the contributions of psychologists to a wide variety of more unusual areas, such as designing instrument panels for aircraft and assisting police in dealing with hostage takers.

The picture a person has of how his body appears to other people. This image develops early in life and, because of bodily changes, it may in later life be markedly inaccurate. Body image is at the root of one’s SELF-IMAGE.

According to the American psychologist Gordon Allport. a TRAIT that is characteristic of an individual’s PERSONALITY and associated with many other traits. For example, the descriptions ‘warm’ or ‘cold’ are thought to be key terms.

A visual ILLUSION in which the brain perceives movement when there is none.

See PHI PHENOMENON.