life-space interview

a form of crisis intervention in which children in day and residential treatment are interviewed by staff members during moments of crisis or stress, for example, immediately after receiving an upsetting letter or after being attacked by another child. Efforts are made to convert these events into therapeutic experiences by such means as restoring the children’s belief in themselves and strengthening their ego. [originated by Austrian-born U.S. psychologist Fritz Redl (1902–1988)]

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Psychology term of the day

November 22nd 2024

constant error

a systematic error in some particular direction. Constant error is computed as the average positive or negative difference between the observed and actual values along a dimension of interest. For example, if a weight of 1 kg is judged on average to be 1.5 kg, and a weight of 2 kg is judged to be 2.5 kg, the constant error is 500 g. See also absolute error; random error.