peripheralism

n. the view of some behaviorists that emphasizes events at the periphery of an organism, such as the skeletal and laryngeal muscles and sex organs, rather than the functions of the central nervous system. For example, John B. Watson believed (falsely) that thinking was not a function taking place in the brain but involved minute movements of the vocal apparatus (subvocal speech) and thus was an objective behavior. Also called peripheralistic psychology. Compare centralism.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

perceptual distortion

skewed perceptual experience. Examples include the distorted images produced by dreams or hallucinogenic drugs, geometric illusions (e.g., the Müller-Lyer illusion), visions occurring in states of sensory deprivation or dehydration, and distortions produced by modifying auditory stimuli. Perceptual distortion may also occur as a consequence of acquired brain injury. See also metamorphopsia.