lie scale

a set of items within a psychological instrument (particularly a personality assessment) used to indicate whether a respondent has been truthful in answering. For example, an honest participant would respond similarly to the items “I never regret the life decisions I have made” and “I’ve never done anything I later wished I could take back,” which are different ways of presenting the same concept. Conversely, a respondent trying to present himself or herself as positively as possible might answer such related questions inconsistently.

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Psychology term of the day

January 3rd 2025

syphilis

n. a contagious disease caused by infection with the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is usually a sexually transmitted disease, but it can be transmitted through a break or cut in the skin or mucous membrane; it can also be transmitted by an infected pregnant woman to an unborn child. Untreated, syphilis progressively destroys body tissues, particularly those of the heart and nervous system. See also cerebral syphilis; general paresis.