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Definition The parietal lobe is one of the four main regions of the brain, situated at the top and back of your head. It plays an important role in processing sensory information, such as touch, temperature, and pain, allowing you to feel and respond to your e...

Definition Perception (psychology) is the process by which individuals interpret and organize sensory information to understand and interact with their environment. It involves more than just receiving stimuli through our senses; it also includes how we make s...

Definition The persona is the social face or mask an individual presents to the world. In Jungian psychology, it represents the part of the psyche that adapts to societal expectations and mediates between one’s inner self and the external world. The persona is...

Definition Personality refers to the unique set of traits, behaviors, and patterns of thinking that characterize an individual. It shapes how a person interacts with others, responds to situations, and approaches life. Example Two students are working on a pro...

Definition Personality disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by long-term patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that significantly differ from cultural expectations, causing distress or impairment in personal, social, or occupat...

Definition Personality Types refer to a simplified framework used to categorize individuals based on their behavioral tendencies and preferences in social interactions. These types are often used in introductory psychology or self-help contexts to help people ...

Definition Person-centered therapy is a therapeutic approach developed by psychologist Carl Rogers. It emphasizes the client's capacity for self-healing and growth, positioning the client as the expert of their own experiences. The therapist creates a supporti...

Definition Persuasion is the process of influencing someone's attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors through communication. It often involves presenting arguments or information designed to convince others to adopt a particular viewpoint or take a specific action. C...

Definition A phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits of an organism, such as its physical appearance, behavior, or biochemical properties. These traits are influenced by both the organism's genetic makeup (genotype) and environmental facto...

Definition The pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized organ located at the base of the brain. Often called the "master gland," it plays a crucial role in regulating various bodily functions by producing and releasing hormones. These hormones control growth, rep...

Definition Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy that utilizes play, children’s natural medium of communication, to help them express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe and supportive environment. Conducted by trained professionals, play the...

Definition Pluralism in sociology refers to a social system or society characterized by diversity among its members, particularly in terms of culture, ethnicity, religion, language, or other distinct group identities. Unlike assimilation, where minority groups...

Definition A political action committee (PAC) is an organization formed to raise and spend money to support or oppose political candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislative issues during elections. PACs are typically created by businesses, labor unions, inte...

Definition Politics refers to the activities and processes by which people make decisions and allocate resources within a society or group. It involves interactions among individuals, groups, and institutions that seek to influence or achieve power, authority,...

Definition Polygamy refers to a marital practice where an individual has multiple spouses simultaneously. It can take two primary forms: polygyny, where one man is married to multiple women, and polyandry, where one woman is married to multiple men. This pract...

Definition Polytheism is the belief in or worship of multiple deities, often with distinct personalities, roles, and domains. Unlike monotheism, which recognizes a single all-powerful god, polytheism typically involves a pantheon of gods who may interact with ...

Definition The pons is a region in the brainstem, located between the medulla oblongata and the midbrain. It acts as a communication hub, connecting various parts of the brain to facilitate coordination of motor movements, sensory information processing, and r...

Definition The entire group of individuals relevant to a particular research question. Example A researcher is interested in voting behaviors of people in a particular country. The population consists of every citizen of the country. A sample of this popula...

Definition Positive Psychology is the scientific study of human strengths, virtues, and optimal functioning. It focuses on understanding what makes life worth living by exploring topics such as happiness, well-being, resilience, and positive emotions. Unlike t...

Definition Positive punishment in operant conditioning refers to a process where an aversive stimulus or unpleasant consequence is introduced immediately after a behavior, with the goal of decreasing the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the futur...