Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


mixed emotions

two or more emotions, differing in feeling quality and action tendency, elicited by the same event. For example, a father may be happy that his son is getting married but sorrowful if the marriage takes the son away from home; a person may become angry at an insult from a superior and also frightened by the implications for his or her employment. Also called mixed feelings. See ambivalence.

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 30th 2025

electronarcosis

electronarcosis

n. a form of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in which the amount of electricity, the duration of the shock, or both is sufficient to generate the tonic phase of a seizure but either limits or prevents the clonic phase. Electronarcosis is a generally less effective alternative to standard ECT and is more likely to cause side effects. The technique has also been used to induce relaxation and sleep. See electrosleep therapy.