visual search

the process of detecting a target visual stimulus among distractor stimuli. In experimental studies, the characteristics of the target and distractors are manipulated to explore the mental operations that underlie visual attention. See also feature-integration theory.

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Psychology term of the day

November 17th 2024

mother figure

1. a person who occupies the mothering role in relation to a child: a mother surrogate.

2. in psychoanalytic theory, a person onto whom the patient transfers feelings and attitudes that he or she had toward the real mother or the primary caregiver. Also called mother substitute.