A particularly human form of mental ability that seems to be closely associated with the use of language. By abstracting the essential qualities of individual things, humans can classify them by higher order rules or groups.

A modern variant in SOCIOLOGY of the old idea of GROUP MIND. In this version, the effect of a crowd is to assimilate individuals within it, producing an overriding psychological unity, and changing an individual’s usual psychological responses in the process. Compare with COLLECTIVE MIND.

A stimulus that is originally ineffective in eliciting a given response, but becornes effective after a process of CONDITIONING.

See also CLASSICAL CONDITIONING and PAVLOV.

An overwhelming UNCONSCIOUS need to engage in some BEHAVIOUR that is usually contrary to one’s CONSCIOUSwishes. Compare with OBSESSION.

According to the PSYCHOANALYST Margaret Mahler, a form of emotional OBJECT CONSTANCY where the mother is perceived as the constant object of love.

The (probably universal) tendency to pay particular attention to, or search for, information that confirms an existing belief.

Checking one’s PERCEPTION of something with other people as a way of knowing whether what is perceived is real or illusory.

A response resulting solely from the process of CONDITIONING.

See also CLASSICAL CONDITIONING and PAVLOV.

The idea that after something has been learned, physiological changes take place in the brain that help fix it in the memory.

The study of a relatively large and diverse group of people at a single point in time. Compare with LONGITUDINAL EFFECT and see also COHORT EFFECT.