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dominance hierarchy

1. a system of stable linear variations in prestige, status, and authority among group members. It is the pecking order of the group, which describes who is influential and who submits to that influence. See also status relations.

2. any ordering of motives, needs, or other psychological or physical responses based on priority or importance. An example is Maslow’s motivational hierarchy.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

holism

holism

n. any approach or theory holding that a system or organism is a coherent, unified whole that cannot be fully explained in terms of individual parts or characteristics. The system or organism may have properties as a complete entity or phenomenon in addition to those of its parts. Thus, an analysis or understanding of the parts does not provide an understanding of the whole. —holistic adj.