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expectation

n.

1. a state of tense, emotional anticipation.

2. in probability and statistics, the long-term average of a random variable. For example, the expectation is that the mean for a specific random variable obtained with an extremely large sample will equal the mean of the population of interest. Also called expectancy. See expected value.

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Psychology term of the day

March 17th 2025

paranoid delusion

paranoid delusion

loosely, any of a variety of false personal beliefs tenaciously sustained even in the face of incontrovertible evidence to the contrary. These include delusions of grandeur, delusional jealousy, or, most frequently, delusions of persecution.