self-terminating search

any search process in which the search is ended as soon as a given target is detected. This may be a search for target items in memory, a visual search, or any problem-solving exercise that involves finding the correct solution among a number of alternatives. Compare exhaustive search.

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Psychology term of the day

November 22nd 2024

shrink

n. slang for a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional who conducts psychotherapy. It is short for headshrinker, an allusion to the practice of headshrinking.