Search Results

Definition Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule that contains the genetic instructions for building, operating, and maintaining all living organisms. It acts as the "blueprint" of life by storing information in a code made up of four chemical bases: adeni...

Definition Deviance refers to behavior, beliefs, or actions that deviate from the accepted social norms, rules, or expectations of a particular society or group. It occurs when an individual’s conduct does not align with what is considered "normal" or appropri...

Definition The Theory of Deviance as Individual Choice is a sociological perspective that suggests people engage in deviant behavior (actions that violate societal norms) because they make rational decisions after weighing the potential costs and benefits. Acc...

Definition In psychology, diagnosis refers to the process of identifying and labeling mental health conditions or disorders based on an individual's symptoms, behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. It involves a thorough evaluation by trained professionals, such a...

Definition The diathesis-stress model is a psychological framework that explains how mental health disorders or other psychological issues develop through the interaction of two factors: an underlying vulnerability (called "diathesis") and external stressors. ...

Definition Diffusion, as a mechanism for cultural change, refers to the process by which cultural traits, ideas, behaviors, or technologies spread from one society to another over time. This mechanism involves the movement of these elements through various cha...

Definition Dissociative disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by disruptions in a person’s memory, identity, emotion, perception, or consciousness. These disruptions are often experienced as a disconnection from oneself, one’s surroun...

Definition Distance zones refer to the invisible boundaries people maintain between themselves and others during social interactions. These zones vary depending on the relationship, context, and cultural norms. Typically, they include: Intimate distance: Very...

Definition Distress refers to a negative emotional state characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, or psychological discomfort. It often arises in response to stressful or threatening situations that challenge an individual's ability to cope effectively. ...

Definition Divergent thinking is a cognitive process characterized by the generation of multiple ideas or solutions to a problem without immediate concern for their correctness. It emphasizes exploring various possibilities and perspectives, fostering creativi...

Definition The division of labor is a concept where tasks or processes are split into smaller, specialized jobs, allowing individuals or groups to focus on specific roles or functions. This approach increases efficiency and productivity by enabling people to d...

Definition The door-in-the-face technique is a psychological strategy where a person makes an unusually large or unreasonable request that is likely to be refused, followed by a smaller, more reasonable request. This approach aims to increase the likelihood of...

Definition Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which is a type of chemical in the brain that helps transmit signals between neurons. It plays a key role in regulating mood, motivation, and pleasure. Dopamine is often associated with the brain’s reward system and i...

Definition Dramaturgy is a sociological concept developed by Erving Goffman, who compared social interaction to a theatrical performance. According to Goffman, individuals present themselves to others through a process of role-playing—acting out “scripts” in e...

Definition In psychology, a dream refers to a series of images, thoughts, emotions, or sensations that occur in a person's mind during sleep. Dreams typically happen during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep and can vary greatly in content, intensity,...

Definition Drive Reduction Theory is a psychological concept that explains motivation as the process of reducing internal drives or needs to maintain homeostasis, which is the body's natural state of balance. According to this theory, when an individual experi...

Definition Effortful processing refers to the active and deliberate mental strategies we use to encode, store, and retrieve information in our memory. Unlike automatic processing, which occurs effortlessly (e.g., recognizing familiar faces or recalling simple ...

Definition In psychology, particularly within Sigmund Freud's psychodynamic theory, the ego refers to one of three components of the human personality structure. The ego operates on the "reality principle," which means it mediates between the primitive desires...

Definition Emotion refers to a complex psychological state that involves subjective feelings, physiological responses, and behaviors. It is a response to a specific event, situation, or stimulus and often serves adaptive functions, such as motivating behavior,...

Definition Empiricism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes knowledge gained through experience, observation, and experimentation rather than relying solely on intuition, reasoning, or theoretical assumptions. It asserts that true knowledge comes from se...