Literally,’close distant’. Usually refers to the process of maturation in humans and animals where the sequence of physical development proceeds from the centre of the body towards the periphery. See CEPHALOCAUDAL.

The use of play in PSYCHOTHERAPY with children to aid in diagnosis and in treatment: the child is encouraged to experience a CATHARSIS of blocked EMOTIONS.

A term associated with the Canadian sociologist Erving Goffinan. See IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT.

PSYCHOGALVANIC REFLEX is the American equivalent of the British GALVANIC SKIN RESPONSE.

The reaction to a PLACEBO as though it were an active substance, e.g. patients feeling better after being given a sugar pill. The term is sometimes used in a wider sense to refer to a positive response from people when they feel that attention is being paid to them. At this point it sounds very like the HAWTHORNE EFFECT

In GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY, the tendency of any GESTALT towards simplicity, harmony, meaningfulness and a ‘goodness of fit’. For example, a battered old coin seen in a dim light will still be perceived as a circular object.

In STATISTICS, the total number of cases or individuals from which a SAMPLE is drawn for study and about which inferences are to be made.

An inactive substance disguised as an active one. e.g. a sugar pill given to a CONTROL GROUP in a drugEXPERIMENT or to a patient in hospital who would not benefit from an active drug but needs to feel that he is receiving treatment. See also PLACEBO EFFECT.

Treating an abstract idea as though it had a real OBJECTIVE existence.

A social situation in which each individual believes himself to be the only exception to the accepted beliefs or BEHAVIOUR of his group.