Talking about Psychology: English Vocabulary List

a natural reaction or behavior that occurs automatically, without conscious thought or reasoning

"Birds migrate by pure natural instinct."

"A mother's instinct to protect her child is incredibly powerful and natural."

a strong and irresistible urge to do something

"He felt a compulsion."

"She experienced a strong compulsion to check the locks repeatedly before leaving."

a perceptual experience in which an individual perceives something that is not present in the external environment

"The drug caused a strange hallucination."

"The patient reported a vivid hallucination during the fever, seeing colors that weren't there."

an unreasonable and persistent fear that others want to harm you

"His paranoia made him very afraid."

"His paranoia grew so intense that he began checking every lock in his house three times each night."

a state of heightened focus and concentration in which a person becomes more responsive to suggestions

"Hypnosis helps relax."

"Through hypnosis, the therapist helped the patient access deeply buried memories."

(psychology) the part of the mind that is only partly conscious, representing social norms learned from the parents

"The superego acts as a person's moral conscience."

"The superego is the moral part of the mind that internalizes parental and social values and creates feelings of guilt or pride based on whether the person follows their internal moral rules."

an emotional disorder in which there is a strange fear of being fat and an obsessive desire to lose weight which results in refusing to eat

"She suffers from anorexia."

"Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of gaining weight and distorted body image."

a severe medical condition that leads to partial or complete loss of memory

"The accident caused amnesia."

"Following the head injury, the patient developed retrograde amnesia, forgetting events that occurred before the accident."

a strong and uncontrollable interest or attachment to something or someone, causing constant thoughts, intense emotions, and repetitive behaviors

"Her obsession with cleanliness made her wash her hands constantly."

"His obsession with collecting vintage watches eventually consumed all of his savings and free time."

the conscious knowledge and recognition of one's own thoughts, feelings, sensations, and actions, leading to a reflective understanding of oneself as a distinct individual with unique characteristics and experiences

"Self-awareness is essential for emotional intelligence."

"A moment of self-awareness can strike like a lightning bolt"