Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


directive discipline

a field of study, particularly within the social sciences or humanities, that provides explicit or implicit answers to prescriptive questions regarding society and the conduct of individual lives. For example, philosophy is a directive discipline when it suggests that some ethical system is to be recommended over another. Psychology is a directive discipline to the extent that it describes a healthy or fully functioning life and may attempt to modify behaviors that fall short of this ideal.

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 5th 2025

head-of-the-table effect

head-of-the-table effect

the propensity for group members to associate the leadership role and its responsibilities with the seat located at the head of the table. As a result, individuals who occupy such positions tend to emerge as leaders in groups without designated leaders. See also Steinzor effect.