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Psychological Terms – Anankastic Neurosis
A traditional term referring to what is now commonly classified as obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).
It involves intrusive thoughts, compulsive rituals, rigid internal standards, and distressing urges.
The emphasis is on the inner necessity (from ananke, “compulsion”) that drives individuals to perform repetitive acts to control anxiety.
A traditional term referring to what is now commonly classified as obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD).
It involves intrusive thoughts, compulsive rituals, rigid internal standards, and distressing urges.
The emphasis is on the inner necessity (from ananke, “compulsion”) that drives individuals to perform repetitive acts to control anxiety.
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Psychological Terms – Anandamide
A naturally occurring neurotransmitter-like chemical in the brain that activates the same receptors influenced by cannabis-derived compounds.
It is involved in regulating mood, memory, appetite, and pain perception.
The term draws on Sanskrit roots meaning “bliss,” suggesting its association with rewarding and pleasurable subjective states.
A naturally occurring neurotransmitter-like chemical in the brain that activates the same receptors influenced by cannabis-derived compounds.
It is involved in regulating mood, memory, appetite, and pain perception.
The term draws on Sanskrit roots meaning “bliss,” suggesting its association with rewarding and pleasurable subjective states.
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Psychological Terms – Anamorphic
Describes an image that is intentionally distorted so that it appears normal only when viewed from a particular angle or via a specialized reflective surface (such as a cylindrical mirror).
Although the distorted figure may be difficult or impossible to decipher in its original orientation, the proper vantage point restores accurate proportions.
A notable example is the skull hidden in Holbein’s The Ambassadors (1533), which is visible only when viewed at a sharp angle.
This phenomenon illustrates perceptual transformation and visual reconstruction.
Describes an image that is intentionally distorted so that it appears normal only when viewed from a particular angle or via a specialized reflective surface (such as a cylindrical mirror).
Although the distorted figure may be difficult or impossible to decipher in its original orientation, the proper vantage point restores accurate proportions.
A notable example is the skull hidden in Holbein’s The Ambassadors (1533), which is visible only when viewed at a sharp angle.
This phenomenon illustrates perceptual transformation and visual reconstruction.
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Psychological Terms – Anamnesis
Refers to recollection, especially the revival of past experiences or personal history.
The term can also describe an individual’s narrative account of the origin and development of a disorder, often gathered during evaluation or intake to support diagnosis.
In clinical practice, anamnesis helps chart symptom progression and contextual influences.
The adjective anamnestic refers to ease of recall or to memory traces that readily emerge.
Refers to recollection, especially the revival of past experiences or personal history.
The term can also describe an individual’s narrative account of the origin and development of a disorder, often gathered during evaluation or intake to support diagnosis.
In clinical practice, anamnesis helps chart symptom progression and contextual influences.
The adjective anamnestic refers to ease of recall or to memory traces that readily emerge.
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Psychological Terms – Analytic Statement
A propositional form in which the truth is established by the logical relationship among its terms rather than by reference to external facts.
Because the predicate concept is already embedded within the subject concept, these statements are true by definition and are known a priori.
Examples include:
• “All triangles have three sides.”
• “All bachelors are unmarried.”
The denial of an analytic statement results in self-contradiction.
They are contrasted with synthetic statements, whose truth depends on observation.
A propositional form in which the truth is established by the logical relationship among its terms rather than by reference to external facts.
Because the predicate concept is already embedded within the subject concept, these statements are true by definition and are known a priori.
Examples include:
• “All triangles have three sides.”
• “All bachelors are unmarried.”
The denial of an analytic statement results in self-contradiction.
They are contrasted with synthetic statements, whose truth depends on observation.
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Psychological Terms – Anal Triad
A set of three adult personality tendencies--
A set of three adult personality tendencies--
- orderliness,
- parsimony, and
- obstinacy--
associated with incomplete resolution of anal-stage conflicts.
First described by Freud in “Character and Anal Erotism” (1908), they are sometimes summarized as the “three Ps”:
– pedantry
– parsimony
– petulance
These tendencies reflect the lingering influence of early struggles involving control, retention, and expression, and are linked conceptually to features of obsessive-compulsive personality organization.
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Psychological Terms – Anal Stage
In Freud’s psychosexual theory, the second stage of libidinal development, generally occurring between ages 2 and 3.
The child’s instinctual energy becomes centered on the anal region, making excretion and bodily control a primary source of psychological meaning.
This phase is associated with the strengthening of sadomasochistic impulses and the elaboration of symbolic relationships—faeces may come to represent gifts, money, or emotional value.
Freud first outlined this stage in 1913 (“The Disposition to Obsessional Neurosis”) and formally placed it between the oral and phallic stages in his 1915 revision of Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality.
In his 1917 paper, he famously described the logic of withholding and giving: faeces → gifts → money.
Also termed the anal-sadistic stage.
In Freud’s psychosexual theory, the second stage of libidinal development, generally occurring between ages 2 and 3.
The child’s instinctual energy becomes centered on the anal region, making excretion and bodily control a primary source of psychological meaning.
This phase is associated with the strengthening of sadomasochistic impulses and the elaboration of symbolic relationships—faeces may come to represent gifts, money, or emotional value.
Freud first outlined this stage in 1913 (“The Disposition to Obsessional Neurosis”) and formally placed it between the oral and phallic stages in his 1915 revision of Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality.
In his 1917 paper, he famously described the logic of withholding and giving: faeces → gifts → money.
Also termed the anal-sadistic stage.
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Psychological Terms – Anal Sadistic Stage
A synonymous label for the anal stage, emphasizing the aggressive and libidinal forces expressed through bowel control and bodily autonomy during early development.
A synonymous label for the anal stage, emphasizing the aggressive and libidinal forces expressed through bowel control and bodily autonomy during early development.
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Psychological Terms – Anal-Retentive Phase
The second major periodwithin the anal stage, first proposed by psychoanalyst Karl Abraham (1877–1925) in A Study of the Developmental History of the Libido (1924).
In the prior anal-expulsive phase, pleasure arises from defecation and the release of faeces, where aggressive drives are expressed through expulsion and destruction.
During this later anal-retentive phase, the child begins to find satisfaction in holding in stools, linking pleasure to retention and control.
Sadistic impulses shift toward possessive mastery, shaping early psychological organization.
This developmental sequence is theorized to contribute to traits such as stubbornness, meticulousness, and frugality in adulthood.
Also referred to as the anal-retentive stage.
The second major periodwithin the anal stage, first proposed by psychoanalyst Karl Abraham (1877–1925) in A Study of the Developmental History of the Libido (1924).
In the prior anal-expulsive phase, pleasure arises from defecation and the release of faeces, where aggressive drives are expressed through expulsion and destruction.
During this later anal-retentive phase, the child begins to find satisfaction in holding in stools, linking pleasure to retention and control.
Sadistic impulses shift toward possessive mastery, shaping early psychological organization.
This developmental sequence is theorized to contribute to traits such as stubbornness, meticulousness, and frugality in adulthood.
Also referred to as the anal-retentive stage.
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Psychological Terms - Analogies Test
An analogies test is a type of cognitive assessment designed to measure reasoning ability by evaluating how well a person can recognize relationships between pairs of concepts. These items typically follow a structured format such as:A is to B as C is to ___
In this format, the test-taker must first understand the relationship between the first pair of words or symbols (A and B) and then identify which of the provided options completes the second pair (C and ___) using an equivalent relationship.
For example, consider the analogy:
Bird is to air as fish is to ___
Here, the correct answer is water, because both “bird → air” and “fish → water” represent natural environments for each creature.
More difficult analogies require deeper abstraction or knowledge. For instance:
C is to X as F is to… (M, U, L, V, or H)
The correct choice is U, because C and X are each three letters from opposite ends of the alphabet, and F and U are each six letters from opposite ends. This reflects the important feature of analogies: although more than one response may seem justifiable, only one correctly reproduces the specific logical rule linking the first pair.
Analogies tests are used widely in intelligence testing because they assess multiple cognitive skills simultaneously, including verbal comprehension, abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and the ability to apply relationships to new stimuli. Because they rely on recognizing structure rather than recalling memorized facts, they are considered good indicators of higher-order reasoning.
These tasks also provide insight into how individuals categorize information, draw inferences, and transfer relationships across different domains—abilities that are central to problem-solving in both academic and real-world contexts.
An analogies test is a type of cognitive assessment designed to measure reasoning ability by evaluating how well a person can recognize relationships between pairs of concepts. These items typically follow a structured format such as:A is to B as C is to ___
In this format, the test-taker must first understand the relationship between the first pair of words or symbols (A and B) and then identify which of the provided options completes the second pair (C and ___) using an equivalent relationship.
For example, consider the analogy:
Bird is to air as fish is to ___
Here, the correct answer is water, because both “bird → air” and “fish → water” represent natural environments for each creature.
More difficult analogies require deeper abstraction or knowledge. For instance:
C is to X as F is to… (M, U, L, V, or H)
The correct choice is U, because C and X are each three letters from opposite ends of the alphabet, and F and U are each six letters from opposite ends. This reflects the important feature of analogies: although more than one response may seem justifiable, only one correctly reproduces the specific logical rule linking the first pair.
Analogies tests are used widely in intelligence testing because they assess multiple cognitive skills simultaneously, including verbal comprehension, abstract reasoning, pattern recognition, and the ability to apply relationships to new stimuli. Because they rely on recognizing structure rather than recalling memorized facts, they are considered good indicators of higher-order reasoning.
These tasks also provide insight into how individuals categorize information, draw inferences, and transfer relationships across different domains—abilities that are central to problem-solving in both academic and real-world contexts.