relative sensitivity

the capacity to discriminate differences in stimuli (e.g., in terms of intensity or quality) when one stimulus is judged in relation to another. When only one stimulus is presented at a time, sensitivity to stimulus differences is reduced.

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

May 8th 2024

distractibility

n. difficulty in maintaining attention or a tendency to be easily diverted from the matter at hand. Excessive distractibility is frequently found in children with learning disorders or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and in people experiencing manic or hypomanic episodes.