mand

n. in linguistics, a category of utterances in which the speaker makes demands on the hearer, as in Listen to me or Pass the salt, please. According to the behaviorist analysis of language, this form of verbal behavior is reinforced by the compliance of the listener. See behaviorism. [coined by B. F. Skinner from command and demand]

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

anthropometry

1. the scientific study of how the size and proportions of the human body are affected by such variables as age, sex, and ethnicity.

2. the taking of measurements of the human body for purposes of comparison and study. —anthropometric adj. —anthropometrist n.