Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


depressive personality disorder

a diagnosis in the appendix of DSM–IV–TR (i.e., proposed but not given official recognition in the manual) that is characterized by glumness, pessimism, a lack of joy, the inability to experience pleasure, and motor retardation. Feelings of loss, a sense of giving up, and an orientation to pain are notable. There are vegetative signs, despair regarding the future, and a disheartened outlook. Clinicians attempt to differentiate this disorder from dysthymic disorder. Mention of the diagnosis has been removed from DSM–5.

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 8th 2024

reinforcement of alternative behavior

reinforcement of alternative behavior

a procedure that involves eliminating reward or reinforcement for an undesired behavior and instead rewarding a desired behavior. Also called rewarded alternative method.