Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


idiosyncrasy-credit model

an explanation of the leniency that groups sometimes display when high-status members violate group norms. This model assumes that such individuals, by contributing to the group in significant ways and expressing loyalty to it, build up idiosyncrasy credits, which they “spend” whenever they make errors or deviate from the group’s norms. So long as their actions do not completely deplete their supply of credits, their infractions will not undermine their status in the group. [developed by U.S. psychologist Edwin P. Hollander (1927–  )]

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 29th 2025

proximal

proximal

adj.

1. situated near or directed toward the trunk or center of an organism.

2. near or mostly closely related to the point of reference or origin. Compare distal. —proximally adv.