supernormal stimulus

a stimulus that by virtue of being larger or more intense than normally encountered natural stimuli has a greater behavioral effect than the natural stimuli. For example, a gull presented with its own egg and a much larger, artificial egg will attempt to incubate the larger egg. See peak shift; sensory bias.

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Psychology term of the day

December 26th 2024

socionomics

n. the study of nonsocial influences on social groups; that is, the ways in which the physical environment modifies society. This includes the effects of different terrains and climatic conditions on economic and social organization.