Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


executive

n. a theoretical superordinate mechanism in some models of cognition—particularly those in cognitive science, cognitive neuropsychology, and artificial intelligence—that organizes, initiates, monitors, and otherwise controls information-processing activities and other mental operations. A similar concept specific to working memory is that of the central executive.

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

September 17th 2024

buffering

buffering

n.

1. the protection against stressful experiences that is afforded by an individual’s social support.

2. in industrial and organizational theory, any practice by which an organization protects its operations from environmental uncertainty, for example, by accruing excess inventory to provide a safety margin. —buffer vb.