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pygmyism

n. a constitutional hereditary anomaly consisting of a dwarfed but well-proportioned body, roughly equivalent to the primordial nanosomia body type. This body build is typical for certain groups of people, particularly in central Africa. Communities of similar small people have been described in myths and the literature of ancient Europe.

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Psychology term of the day

September 8th 2024

drift

drift

n.

1. a reduction in variation in genetic traits that can occur when sampling from continually smaller groups, such that some traits ultimately become excluded from possibility.

2. a reduction in the reliability of technical instruments orin the accuracy of observers over time. See instrument drift; observer drift.