Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


partial

n. any frequency component in a complex tone. A partial is not necessarily a harmonic.

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 11th 2025

deficiency motivation

deficiency motivation

in Abraham Maslow’s humanistic psychology, the type of motivation operating on the lower four levels of his hierarchy of needs (see Maslow’s motivational hierarchy). Deficiency motivation is characterized by the striving to correct a deficit that may be physiological or psychological in nature. Compare metamotivation.