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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.

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Psychology term of the day

March 17th 2025

dominance–subordination

dominance–subordination

a form of social relationship within groups with a leader or dominant member who has priority of access to resources over other, subordinate members of the community. Among nonhuman animals, dominance–subordination relationships are highly organized in troops of baboons, in which dominant males have more access to food resources and mates than do subordinate males and all males often appear to have dominance over females. In hyena groups, the relationship is reversed, with males subordinate to females.