Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


complexity of an attitude

the number of distinct dimensions underlying attitude-relevant knowledge. The greater the number of dimensions (i.e., distinct categories of attitude-relevant information), the greater the complexity of an attitude. Researchers have sometimes distinguished between two components of complex attitudes: differentiation (the number of distinct dimensions) and integration (the extent to which those dimensions are seen as related to one another). All complex attitudes are high in differentiation but may vary in their level of integration.

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

January 31st 2025

automatic speech

automatic speech

1. speech that erupts involuntarily, or without conscious control. It sometimes occurs as a consequence of dementia, Tourette’s syndrome, or highly emotional states. Automatic speech is not to be confused with synthesized or synthetic speech.

2. speech that is uttered with little or no conscious consideration of the spoken material, such as the days of the week, numbers, the alphabet, and other well-learned material.