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standards of practice

a set of guidelines that delineate the expected techniques and procedures, and the order in which to use them, for interventions with individuals experiencing a range of psychological, medical, or educational conditions. Standards of practice have been developed by the American Psychological Association and other professional associations to ensure that practitioners use the most well researched and validated treatment plans available in their fields.

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Psychology term of the day

February 23rd 2025

vacuum activity

vacuum activity

in classical ethology, the occurrence of a fixed action pattern in the absence of the usual external stimulus (the releaser, or sign stimulus) that triggers the pattern. This is believed to be caused by a build-up of action-specific or motivational energy that overrides the innate releasing mechanism. Also called vacuum response. [proposed by Konrad Lorenz]