Psychology Terms A–Z

A respectful term for people whose brains work differently from the majority, including those with ADHD, autism spectrum, or dyslexia. This represents diversity, not deficiency.

Neurodevelopment refers to the entire process by which the brain and nervous system grow and mature from the fetal stage through adulthood. When this process unfolds healthily, cognition, emotion, and social skills develop well.

Neurogenesis is the process by which new nerve cells are created in the brain, offering hope that the brain can continue to grow and change even in adulthood.

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by extreme restriction of food intake, intense fear of weight gain, and a distorted perception of one's own body weight or shape.

An eating disorder marked by binge eating followed by behaviors like vomiting, fasting, or over-exercising to 'undo' it.

Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that carry information between nerve cells in the brain. They have a major influence on mood and behavior.

Neuroticism is the tendency to experience negative emotions — like anxiety, sadness, or anger — more intensely and more often. It can also be thought of as emotional sensitivity.

The nervous system's automatic, subconscious process of scanning the environment for safety, danger, or life threat — happening below conscious awareness and shaping all social and emotional behaviour.

Neurodegenerative diseases are conditions in which nerve cells progressively become damaged and lost over time. Well-known examples include Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and they affect both cognitive and motor functions.

Neuropeptides are small protein fragments produced by nerve cells that act as chemical messengers, regulating emotions, pain, and stress responses. Well-known examples include endorphins and oxytocin.

Neurofeedback is a training method that monitors brainwaves in real time to help regulate brain function.

Holding on to a belief even when evidence says otherwise.

Trust is opening your heart with the belief that the other person won't hurt you. It's the most precious foundation of any healthy relationship.

Trust issues refer to a state in which past wounds or experiences make it difficult to easily trust others, leading to anxiety and unease in relationships.

Dealing with trust issues means understanding why it feels hard to trust others and gradually rebuilding healthy relationships. Trust doesn't recover all at once — it grows back through small, positive experiences over time.

Rebuilding trust is the process of restoring a broken foundation in a relationship. It takes time and consistent effort, but it can make the relationship even deeper and stronger.

The idea that human bodies naturally come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and abilities.

Responding with care when thoughts about your appearance or body leave you feeling ashamed or distressed.

Repeated behaviors like skin picking, hair pulling, or nail biting that can be hard to stop.

A therapeutic approach that releases trauma stored in the body by working through physical sensations and movement. It recognizes that trauma leaves traces not just in the mind, but in the body itself.

The Somatic Marker Hypothesis proposes that bodily sensations — like gut feelings or anxiety — play a crucial role in guiding our decisions.

Somatic complaints occur when psychological distress expresses itself through physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, and fatigue. The body essentially 'speaks' what the mind finds difficult to put into words.

A therapy approach that works with both the mind and the body, not just thoughts or words.

A condition where someone becomes intensely preoccupied with a flaw in their appearance that feels much bigger than others see it.

Physical abuse is the intentional act of causing bodily harm through hitting, pushing, pinching, or similar actions. It leaves deep wounds not only on the body but also on the mind.

Somatization is when psychological distress expresses itself through physical symptoms in the body. It's a real experience, not something imagined.

Signal Detection Theory explains our ability to distinguish meaningful stimuli (signals) from irrelevant background noise under uncertain conditions. It shows that our judgments are influenced not only by sensory ability, but also by expectations, motivation, and past experience.

Making space for sadness or frustration when something you hoped for does not happen.

Fitness to Practice refers to the evaluation of whether a mental health professional's physical, psychological, and ethical condition is suitable for providing safe and effective services to clients.

Aphasia is an acquired language disorder caused by brain damage that impairs the ability to speak, understand, read, or write. It does not affect intelligence — the person's thoughts remain intact, but accessing and expressing language becomes difficult.

Healthy ways to manage the anxiety, self-doubt, and helplessness that can come with job loss or a long job search.

A deep, heavy anxiety arising from confronting the fundamental conditions of human existence — death, meaninglessness, freedom, and isolation — a universal human experience.

Existential anxiety is the unease that arises from fundamental questions about the meaning of life, death, and freedom.

A deep anxiety and confusion experienced when confronting fundamental questions about existence — such as the meaning of life, purpose, freedom, and death.

A form of therapy that addresses fundamental questions about life's meaning, freedom, death, and loneliness. It helps people explore what it truly means to exist and live authentically.

The psychological impact and emotional changes experienced after losing a job, along with healthy recovery strategies. Beyond financial worry, a shaken sense of identity is also a natural reaction.

Fear of Failure refers to an intense dread of situations where failure is possible, leading a person to avoid new challenges or being unable to even begin. It is also known as Atychiphobia.

Handling the pain of an outcome you did not want while finding a way to learn and move forward.

The feeling of failure comes from the gap between expectations and reality. Failure is just one experience — it is not who you are.

Executive dysfunction refers to a state where the brain's management system — responsible for planning, initiating, and regulating actions — doesn't work properly. It's the experience of knowing what you need to do but struggling to start or finish it.

Mind games refer to psychological strategies intentionally used to subtly manipulate another person's emotions or thoughts. They often appear as ordinary conversation or behavior on the surface, but carry a hidden agenda to control the other person's reactions.

Psychological distance refers to how far removed an object or event feels from your direct, immediate experience. You can feel this distance across four dimensions: time, space, social relationships, and probability.

A structured conversation process conducted shortly after experiencing a traumatic event to help people process their emotions and experiences. It is an early psychological support method aimed at preventing trauma.

Reactance is the strong motivational urge to reclaim a freedom when it feels restricted or threatened. It's the reason why being told 'don't do that' often makes you want to do it even more.

A psychological autopsy is a systematic post-mortem investigation into a deceased person's psychological state and the circumstances of their death, used to determine whether a death was a suicide and to understand how it came about.

Psychological well-being refers to wellness at the deeper dimensions of life, including self-actualization, growth, and meaning.

It's the sense of trust within a team that you won't be punished for making mistakes or speaking your mind.

Psychological needs are fundamental inner requirements that must be met for mental health and well-being. Autonomy, competence, and relatedness are the three core psychological needs.

Psychological flexibility is the ability to act according to your values even when uncomfortable thoughts or feelings arise, rather than letting them control your choices.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is an early intervention that provides immediate emotional support and practical help to people experiencing psychological distress right after a disaster or crisis. It's a form of mental first aid that anyone can learn, not just professionals.