symbolic thinking

the ability to think about objects and events that are not within the immediate environment. It involves the use of signs, symbols, concepts, and abstract relations, as evidenced by language, numeracy, and artistic or ritual expression. Archaeological finds suggest that symbolic thinking may have evolved in humans much earlier than previously thought, possibly toward the end of the Lower Paleolithic period (i.e., more than 70,000 years ago). See also symbolic process.

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Psychology term of the day

February 23rd 2025

chromosome

n. a strand or filament composed of nucleic acid (mainly DNA in humans) and proteins (see chromatin) that carries the genetic, or hereditary, traits of an individual. Located in the cell nucleus, chromosomes are visible, through a microscope, only during cell division. The normal human complement of chromosomes totals 46, or 23 pairs (44 autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes), which are believed to contain a total of 20,000 to 25,000 genes (see genome). Each parent contributes one chromosome to each pair, so a child receives half its chromosomes from its mother and half from its father. —chromosomal adj.