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isolating mechanism

in evolution, a mechanism that prevents two populations from interbreeding and thus enables the populations to diverge enough to allow separate species to evolve. Isolating mechanisms may also prevent interbreeding between overlapping species. Geographic separation, behavioral differences, differences in physical features, and different seasons for reproduction all serve as isolating mechanisms.

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Psychology term of the day

January 31st 2025

mood congruent

mood congruent

relating to a consistency or agreement between a particular expressed feeling and the general emotional context within which it occurs. Thus, crying at a time of sadness or personal distress is viewed as mood congruent. Similarly, in psychiatric diagnosis, the term relates to a consistency between the expression of a particular symptom or behavior with those characteristics or patterns of ideation or action used to classify a particular mental disorder. In both instances, inconsistencies are described as mood incongruent.