Psychology Terms A–Z

Self-mastery is the ability to regulate and govern your own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It is the process of building inner strength so you can live as the author of your own life.

A self-schema is a systematic framework of beliefs and thoughts you hold about yourself. It acts like a mental map of 'who I am,' shaping how you interpret experiences and guide your own behavior.

Self-empowerment is the process of building the belief and ability to take control of and transform your own life. It's a journey of discovering the strength that already exists within you, rather than depending on outside forces.

Self-compassion means treating yourself with warmth and kindness during difficult times. Just like you would comfort a good friend, you can offer that same gentleness to yourself.

Self-advocacy is the ability to actively express and protect your own needs, rights, and feelings. It's a healthy skill that means speaking up for yourself without harming others.

Self-forgiveness is the process of understanding and releasing yourself instead of endlessly criticizing yourself for mistakes or wrongdoings. It serves as a warm starting point for personal growth.

Self-doubt is a state of mind where you constantly question your own abilities, judgment, and worth, unable to feel confident in yourself.

Self-coherence is the state in which your thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and values are harmoniously connected with one another. When your inner world is consistent, you can experience psychological stability and a sense of authenticity.

Self-Authorship is the ability to write the story of your own life based on your personal values and beliefs, rather than relying on external expectations or authority. It represents a truly self-directed way of living.

Self-discipline is the ability to manage immediate temptations and impulses while consistently working toward long-term goals. The key lies not in sheer willpower, but in building wise habits and designing your environment thoughtfully.

Assertiveness is the ability to express one's opinions, feelings, and needs honestly and directly without being aggressive toward others or passively suppressing oneself.

Self-Perception Theory suggests that when we are unsure of our own attitudes or feelings, we observe our own behavior to infer our inner states. It's like thinking, 'I acted this way, so I must be that kind of person.'

Self-soothing is the ability to calm and stabilize yourself when you're feeling anxious or overwhelmed. It involves caring for yourself through the five senses or comforting activities.

The Self-Reference Effect is the phenomenon where we remember information better when we connect it to ourselves. Experiences and stories linked to who we are stay in memory longer and more vividly.

Self-transcendence is a state of mind where one seeks greater meaning and connection beyond personal limitations. It is a profound experience of becoming one with the world beyond the self.

Self-Kindness means offering yourself warm understanding and care instead of criticism during difficult moments. It's about treating yourself as gently as you would treat a close friend.

Self-integration is the process of bringing together the many aspects of who you are — your light and shadow sides, your past and present — into one harmonious whole. When you can accept every part of yourself, you experience true wholeness.

Self-concept is your own thoughts and beliefs about 'who you are' as a person.

It's the feeling that you can choose and decide your own life for yourself. Autonomy, competence, and relatedness are the three core elements.

Self-Determination Theory proposes that motivation and well-being increase when three basic psychological needs — autonomy, competence, and relatedness — are fulfilled.

Learning to quiet that harsh inner voice and treat yourself with the same kindness you would offer a good friend.

It means living in a way that fully expresses your potential. It sits at the very top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

A self-fulfilling prophecy is when your expectation or belief that something will happen actually causes it to happen. The prediction itself influences behavior in a way that makes the outcome come true.

A theory created by Heinz Kohut that emphasizes the development of a healthy self, forming the foundation of his therapeutic approach.

A personality pattern marked by a grandiose self-image of being special and a strong need for admiration from others.

It's an intense anger reaction that occurs when self-esteem is wounded. The vulnerable self feels threatened and responds with extreme fury.

It's the belief in your own ability to say 'I can do this.' It's a slightly different concept from self-esteem.

The state in which a skill or cognitive process, once learned through repeated practice, is performed fluidly without conscious effort or deliberate attention.

A rapid, involuntary evaluative thought that arises in response to a situation — often so fast it goes unnoticed, yet powerfully shapes emotions and behavior.

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to evaluate other cultures using your own culture as the standard, and to believe that your own culture is superior.

A meditation practice that intentionally cultivates feelings of love, compassion, and kindness toward yourself and others. It is effective at reducing self-criticism and enhancing empathy.

A therapy that helps people respond to themselves with more warmth, especially when shame or self-criticism runs deep.

A way of speaking and listening that stays honest while also respecting feelings and needs.

Suicide risk assessment is the process of systematically evaluating a person's current level of risk for suicidal thoughts or behavior and planning appropriate interventions. It is a critically important procedure aimed at protecting and preserving life.

Suicidal behavior refers to thoughts or actions related to attempting to end one's own life. It represents a serious mental health crisis, and professional help is always necessary.

Ego strength is the inner capacity to think clearly and maintain a stable sense of self even during stress or emotional hardship. The stronger your ego strength, the better equipped you are to weather life's challenges.

Ego-syntonic refers to a state where a person feels that their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are consistent with and natural to their sense of self. Even when others see a problem, the person themselves considers it simply 'who they are.'

Ego-dystonic refers to thoughts, impulses, or behaviors that feel inconsistent with your own values and sense of self. It's the experience of thinking, 'This isn't really me — I don't recognize myself in this.'

A stable sense of who you truly are. It's made up of the qualities and values that make you uniquely you.

Self-esteem is the degree to which you see yourself as a worthwhile person. It's a measure of how much you like and respect yourself.

Self-esteem development is the process of growing an awareness of your own worth and learning to value yourself deeply.

This is the developmental task of looking back on one's life in old age and finding meaning in it.

Free association is a psychoanalytic technique where you speak freely about any thoughts, images, or feelings that come to mind without censoring or judging them. It is a method for bringing unconscious content into conscious awareness.

The psychological need and capacity to direct one's own life according to personal values and choices — rather than external pressure or control.

The system that automatically controls things like heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.

A relaxation technique developed by psychiatrist Johannes Schultz that uses self-directed phrases to induce sensations of warmth and heaviness, helping the body shift into a calm, parasympathetic state.

The Zeigarnik Effect is the phenomenon where incomplete or interrupted tasks are remembered better and longer than tasks we have finished.

Memory for the personal events and experiences of one's own life — the mental record that forms the basis of a continuous sense of self and identity.

Self-help groups bring together people facing similar difficulties to share experiences, support one another, and recover together. Rather than being led by a professional, these are warm communities driven by the participants themselves.

Feeling low self-esteem means your overall view of yourself has tilted in a negative direction. Self-esteem is a capacity that can be developed and strengthened.