Swiss PSYCHIATRIST and early follower of FREUD. He invented the term SCHIZOPHRENIA.

Must be defined in relation to the term NORMAL. Abnormal implies divergence from what is typical, and is generally used to describe someone’s behaviour when it disturbs the regular course of their everyday life, or that of other people. There is, however, an important school of thought that believes that much, if not all, of the behaviour described as abnormal can be found in normal people from time to time.

Abnormal psychology, or psychopathology, is the field of PSYCHOLOGY that investigates and deals with BEHAVIOUR regarded as abnormal.

See also CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHIATRY, PSYCHOANALYSIS and PSYCHOPATHOLOGY.

See CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.

Usually defined as the process of growing old and the study of old age (i.e. GERONTOLOGY). However, ageing is a lifelong business.

It is generally accepted that HEREDITY plays an important part in determining length of life and perhaps also the quality of health in old age. Other important factors influencing the experience of ageing may be the SELF-IMAGE formed in early life, which helps shape one’s behaviour and attitudes at different ages, and early conceptions of what being old is, or should be, like.

The controversial HYPOTHESIS that specific mental experiences or functions are associated with specific areas of the brain.

Used along with MENTAL AGE in computing an 1Q score.

Describes the shape of the curve obtained by plotting the FREQUENCY of a NORMAL DISTRIBUTION.

The process of dividing the members of a society into groups according to their ages, applying labels to these groups (infants, teenagers, senior citizens, etc.) and expecting the members of each group to behave in certain characteristic (or NORMAL) ways.

This process is perhaps most clearly observed when people do not behave in the manner expected of them. For example, a child in solemn mood may be described as a ‘little old man’, or a middle-aged person whooping it up may be having a ‘second childhood’. Age-grading is found in all societies, though the gradations and the expectations of behaviour that accompany them vary enormously.

Term used in social surveys or any area where a conclusion is to be made about a large POPULATION. The SAMPLE of the population being studied is considered biased if it is unrepresentative of the population as a whole, for example, saying something about national opinion on a certain topic after only interviewing your friends.

Caused by being negatively stimulated by a desirable object  €“ for example, the use of electric shocks on an alcoholic when presented by a bottle of alcohol. Creates negative affiliations with the desired object. Also known as avoidance learning.

See also CONDITIONING.