Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


restitution

n. the act of restoring or compensating for something lost through prior damaging actions or events. Acts of restitution exist on a behavioral spectrum: They may be a healthy, even necessary, part of acknowledging and dealing with harm committed intentionally or unintentionally, but they may also, more pathologically, take such forms as a compulsive drive to “do for others” or a persistent pattern of martyrdom.

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

October 15th 2024

cerebellum

cerebellum

n. (pl. cerebella) a portion of the hindbrain dorsal to the rest of the brainstem, to which it is connected by the cerebellar peduncles. The cerebellum modulates muscular contractions to produce smooth, accurately timed ballistic movements; it helps maintain equilibrium by predicting body positions ahead of actual body movements, and it is required for some kinds of motor conditioning. [Latin, literally: “little brain,” diminutive of cerebrum]