Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


female choice

the selectivity displayed by females in choosing a mate. Because females often expend much more energy than males in the production and care of the young, females are thought to be more careful than males in choosing their mates. See also cryptic female choice; mate selection; multiple mating.

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

March 13th 2025

Life Events Rating Scale

Life Events Rating Scale

an instrument used to measure the relative impact of diverse stress-producing life experiences, changes, and crises. The derived score is expressed in life-change units. The scale is more formally known as the Social Readjustment Rating Scale. [developed in 1967 by U.S. psychiatrists Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe]