Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


bioecological theory of intelligence

a theory postulating that intelligence develops as an interaction between biological dispositions and the environment in which these biological dispositions develop. [proposed by U.S. psychologist Stephen J. Ceci (1950–  )]

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

December 26th 2024

false self

false self

in the object relations theory of British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott (1896–1971), the self that develops as a defense against impingements and in adaptation to the environment. This contrasts with the true self, which develops in an environment that adapts to the infant and allows him or her to discover and express true impulses.