transformation

1. any change in appearance, form, function, or structure. See also metamorphosis.

2. the conversion of data to a different form through a rule-based and usually mathematical process, such as changing Fahrenheit to Celsius. In statistics, a raw score is often transformed into a standardized score for purposes of comparison. See also linear transformation; nonlinear transformation.

3. in psychoanalytic theory, the process by which unconscious wishes or impulses are disguised in order to gain admittance to consciousness. —transform vb. —transformational adj.

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

November 16th 2024

prosopagnosia

n. a form of visual agnosia in which the ability to perceive and recognize faces is impaired, whereas the ability to recognize other objects may be relatively unaffected. The term was originally limited to impairment following acute brain damage, but a congenital form of the disorder has since been recognized. Prosopagnosia can be distinguished from prosopamnesia, which is an abnormal difficulty in remembering faces, even though they are perceived normally: The condition may be congenital or acquired.