Psychology Glossary
Plain definitions of 89 key terms in psychology, from fluid intelligence to neuroticism, grouped by topic.
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Intelligence
- Fluid Intelligence (Gf)Your capacity to solve novel problems without relying on memorized knowledge.
- Crystallized Intelligence (Gc)Accumulated knowledge, vocabulary, and skills built through learning and experience.
- g FactorA statistical factor capturing shared variance across many cognitive tasks.
- Working MemoryThe mental workspace that holds and manipulates information in real time.
- Processing SpeedHow quickly you can perceive, encode, and respond to information accurately.
- MetacognitionAwareness and regulation of your own thinking and learning processes.
- Dunning-Kruger EffectThe cognitive bias where people with low ability overestimate their competence, while experts often underestimate theirs.
- Cognitive LoadThe total amount of mental effort being used in working memory at any given time.
- Spatial ReasoningThe ability to mentally visualize, manipulate, and transform objects in two or three-dimensional space.
- Verbal ReasoningThe ability to understand, analyze, and draw logical conclusions from written or spoken language.
- Inductive ReasoningThe ability to identify patterns, rules, and generalizations from specific observations or examples.
- Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to reach logically certain conclusions about specific cases.
- Mental ModelsInternal representations of how things work that guide reasoning, prediction, and decision-making.
- Cognitive FlexibilityThe ability to switch between different tasks, strategies, or perspectives efficiently.
- Attention SpanThe duration of time a person can concentrate on a task without becoming distracted.
- Abstract ThinkingThe capacity to think about concepts, ideas, and principles that are not tied to concrete objects or specific instances.
Discipline
- Executive FunctionThe control system that regulates attention, impulses, planning, and goal pursuit.
- Habit LoopA behavior pattern driven by cue → routine → reward (and often a craving).
- Delayed GratificationChoosing a larger, later reward over a smaller, immediate one.
- Ego DepletionThe theory that self-control draws from a limited mental resource that can be exhausted.
- Flow StateA mental state of complete absorption in an activity where challenge matches skill.
- GritPerseverance and passion for long-term goals, combining sustained effort with consistent interest over years.
Personality
- ConscientiousnessA Big Five trait describing self-discipline, organization, and goal-directed behavior.
- Openness to ExperienceA Big Five trait describing curiosity, imagination, and preference for novelty and complexity.
- ExtraversionA Big Five trait describing social energy, assertiveness, and positive emotionality.
- Trait TheoryA framework that describes personality as a set of stable, measurable characteristics that predict behavior across situations.
- TemperamentInnate behavioral tendencies present from infancy that form the biological foundation for personality development.
- Self-MonitoringThe degree to which you observe and adjust your behavior to fit social situations.
- Need for CognitionAn individual difference in the tendency to engage in and enjoy effortful thinking.
- Sensation SeekingThe tendency to pursue novel, varied, complex, and intense sensations and experiences.
Emotional Health
- NeuroticismA Big Five trait describing sensitivity to stress, threat, and negative emotion.
- RuminationRepetitive, sticky thinking focused on problems, threats, or past mistakes.
- Cognitive ReappraisalReframing the meaning of an event to change the emotional response it triggers.
- BurnoutChronic stress response characterized by exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced effectiveness.
- Cognitive DistortionA biased thought pattern that reliably amplifies negative emotion (e.g., catastrophizing, mind-reading).
- Learned HelplessnessA state where past failure leads to passivity, even when control is possible.
- Imposter SyndromePersistent feelings of inadequacy despite evident success, accompanied by fear of being exposed as a fraud.
- Emotional RegulationThe processes by which we influence which emotions we have, when we have them, and how we experience and express them.
- ResilienceThe capacity to recover quickly from difficulties, adapt to adversity, and maintain functioning during stress.
- HardinessA personality pattern characterized by commitment, control, and challenge that buffers against stress.
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ)The ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotions effectively in yourself and others.
- AffectThe experience of feeling or emotion, ranging from positive to negative and from high to low arousal.
- AnhedoniaThe inability to feel pleasure from activities that normally bring enjoyment.
- AlexithymiaDifficulty identifying, describing, and distinguishing between emotions and bodily sensations.
- MindfulnessNon-judgmental, present-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, sensations, and environment.
- IntrospectionThe examination of one's own mental and emotional processes.
- Emotional GranularityThe ability to make fine-grained distinctions between similar emotions, using precise emotion vocabulary.
- Distress ToleranceThe capacity to experience and withstand negative emotional states without impulsive escape behaviors.
- Window of ToleranceThe optimal zone of arousal where you can process information, regulate emotions, and function effectively.
- Nervous System RegulationThe ability to shift between sympathetic (activation) and parasympathetic (rest) nervous system states appropriately.
Relationships
- AgreeablenessA Big Five trait describing empathy, cooperation, and concern for social harmony.
- Attachment StylePatterns of closeness, trust, and threat response in relationships shaped by early experiences.
- Conflict ResolutionThe methods and processes used to facilitate the peaceful ending of disagreement between parties.
- BoundariesPersonal limits that define acceptable behavior from others and protect your physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
- CodependencyA dysfunctional pattern where self-worth depends on caretaking, controlling, or gaining approval from others.
Self Improvement
- Locus of ControlA belief about whether outcomes are driven mainly by your actions (internal) or external forces (external).
- Self-EfficacyYour belief that you can execute the actions needed to produce a desired outcome.
- Growth MindsetThe belief that abilities can be developed through effort, strategies, and feedback.
- Deliberate PracticeStructured, purposeful practice designed to improve specific aspects of performance through feedback and repetition at the edge of ability.
- Spaced RepetitionA learning technique that reviews information at increasing intervals to exploit the spacing effect for long-term memory.
- InterleavingA learning strategy that mixes different topics or problem types during practice rather than focusing on one at a time.
- Retrieval PracticeThe strategy of actively recalling information from memory rather than passively reviewing it.
Decision Making
- Signal vs NoiseSeparating meaningful information (signal) from randomness, distraction, or irrelevant detail (noise).
- Confirmation BiasThe tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms existing beliefs.
- AnchoringThe tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information encountered when making decisions.
- Loss AversionThe psychological pain of losing something is roughly twice as powerful as the pleasure of gaining something equivalent.
- HeuristicsMental shortcuts that reduce cognitive effort by simplifying complex judgments into manageable rules.
- Availability HeuristicJudging probability based on how easily examples come to mind, rather than actual frequency.
- Representativeness HeuristicJudging probability by how well something matches a mental prototype, ignoring base rates.
- Sunk Cost FallacyContinuing a behavior or endeavor based on previously invested resources rather than future value.
- Present BiasThe tendency to overvalue immediate rewards relative to future rewards, even when waiting is objectively better.
- Framing EffectDifferent conclusions drawn from the same information presented in different ways.
- Status Quo BiasThe preference to keep things as they are, treating the current state as a reference point.
- Choice OverloadThe paradoxical finding that too many options can lead to decision paralysis and reduced satisfaction.
Career
- Job FitThe degree of compatibility between a person's characteristics and the requirements of a specific job or organization.
- Career CapitalThe accumulation of rare and valuable skills, connections, and credentials that can be leveraged for better work opportunities.
- Impostor PhenomenonA pattern where capable individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of competence.
Cognitive
- Intrinsic MotivationThe drive to engage in an activity because it is inherently satisfying, interesting, or enjoyable rather than for an external reward. Intrinsic motivation arises from internal psychological needs such as curiosity, mastery, and autonomy. It produces deeper engagement and more sustained effort than extrinsic incentives alone.
- Dopamine & The Reward SystemThe brain's mesolimbic pathway that uses the neurotransmitter dopamine to signal anticipated rewards, motivate goal-directed behavior, and reinforce learning. Dopamine does not simply produce pleasure; it primarily encodes the prediction of reward and the surprise when outcomes differ from expectations. This system underlies motivation, habit formation, and the experience of craving.
Self
- Self-ActualizationThe realization of one's full potential, talents, and creative capacities—described by Abraham Maslow as the highest level of psychological development. Self-actualized individuals tend to be autonomous, accepting of themselves and others, spontaneous, and deeply engaged with problems outside themselves. It is not a fixed destination but an ongoing process of becoming more fully who you are capable of being.
- Impostor SyndromeA persistent internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be, despite objective evidence of accomplishment and skill. People experiencing impostor syndrome attribute their success to luck, timing, or the ability to deceive others rather than to genuine ability. It often intensifies during transitions, promotions, or entry into new environments where the person feels scrutinized.
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