deductive reasoning

the form of logical reasoning in which a conclusion is shown to follow necessarily from a sequence of premises, the first of which stands for a self-evident truth (see axiom) or agreed-upon data. In the empirical sciences, deductive reasoning underlies the process of deriving predictions from general laws or theories. Compare inductive reasoning. See also logic.

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Psychology term of the day

January 28th 2025

mixed receptive-expressive language disorder

in DSM–IV–TR, a developmental communication disorder that combines the symptoms of expressive language disorder with the symptoms of semantic comprehension problems, leading to difficulty with word associations, categorization, and verbal mediation in general.