Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


constancy scaling

the mental readjustment of a stimulus attribute (most commonly size) so that the stimulus is perceived as unaffected by the viewing conditions. For example, the small retinal angle subtended by a person seen in the distance is mentally scaled to a larger size so that the person is perceived to be of normal size rather than tiny.

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

May 10th 2024

active therapy

active therapy

any form of psychotherapy in which the therapist assumes an active, directive role. An active therapist may express opinions, offer interpretations, make suggestions and recommendations, give advice about the client’s actions and decisions, issue injunctions and prohibitions, or urge the client to take a particular action, such as facing an anxiety-provoking situation directly.