Hello, my name is Ophelia Joly and I have been studying Social Sciences at Momorency College for a year. Social Sciences are a program that targets different fields like psychology, education, politics, economy and many more. Since I am mostly interested in psychology I choose to study Social Science : The Individu. Since I want to pursue in psychology, it will be the main topic of my blog. Psychology isn't limited to those who want to become a psychologist, it is something that we should all be able to understand. Mental health is very important and being able to understand how our brain work and how to explain what happen to us.This glossary will help anyone who wants to understand themselves and understand other people better. This glossary has 30 terms and each term has a definition, an audio pronunciation, a translation in French, an example on how to use the word and a picture. To find the words for this glossary I went through my psychology book from my first psychology class, and I found the definition using Google. Use this glossary when unsure of the meaning of a word. You may read this glossary before reading the rest of my blog.
acute stress
noun
Acute stress is a short-term reaction to an immediate threat or pressure, characterized by the "fight-or-flight" response where the body releases stress hormones like adrenaline.
Example: An acute stress reaction typically occurs after an unexpected life crisis; a serious accident, sudden bereavement, or other traumatic events.
en: stress aigu
alzheimer's disease
noun
Alzheimer's disease is the biological process that begins with the appearance of a buildup of proteins in the form of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. This causes brain cells to die over time and the brain to shrink.
Example: Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia.
en: maladie d'alzeihmer
behaviorist perspective
noun
The behaviorist perspective is a school of psychology focused on observable behavior and argues that behavior is learned through environmental stimuli and responses, not internal mental processes. Key concepts include classical conditioning and operant conditioning.
Example: The behavioral perspective suggests that we must only reference what is observable when trying to understand human behavior.
en: psychologie béhavioriste
bipolar disorder
noun
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition causing extreme mood swings, energy shifts, and activity levels, characterized by periods of elevated mood (mania or hypomania) and periods of depression.
Example: For people with bipolar disorder, these normal emotions can become a roller coaster ride of wild highs and devastating lows.
en: trouble bipolaire
child development
noun
Child development is the process of growth from birth through adolescence, encompassing biological, psychological, and social changes that allow children to learn, adapt, and interact with the world.
Example: Your child’s development, which includes motor, language, and socialization skills, begins in the first months of life and you play an important role in helping your child move through the various stages of development.
en: développement de l'enfant
chronic stress
noun
Chronic stress is a prolonged, overwhelming feeling of pressure lasting weeks or months, leading to wear and tear on the body and mind due to constant activation of the stress response system and elevated cortisol.
Example: Learn how to recognize, manage, and cope with chronic stress and its impact on your body and mind.
en: stress chronique
clinical psychologist
noun
A clinical psychologist is an expert or specialist in the branch of psychology concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental illness and psychological problems. Clinical psychology is the mental health specialty focused on assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in individuals, couples, and families.
Example: Clinical psychologists use various methods, such as assessment, therapy, research, and advocacy, to help clients improve their well-being and quality of life
en: psychologie clinique
cognitive perspective
The cognitive perspective in psychology is a theoretical approach that focuses on how individuals perceive, process, learn, remember, and think about information. It emphasizes the role of mental processes in shaping behavior and experience. views behavior as a result of internal mental processes, focusing on how people acquire, process, and use information to understand the world.
Example: Cognitive psychology explores aspects like memory, attention, perception, learning, problem-solving, and language.
en: psychologie cognitive
continuous reinforcement
noun
Continuous reinforcement is the repeated reinforcement of a behavior every time it happens. This can involve positive (adding a stimulus) or negative (removing a stimulus) reinforcement, with the goal of encouraging certain actions.
Example: Continuous reinforcement is a concept rooted in behavioral science.
en: renforcement continu
depressive disorder
noun
A depressive disorder, or clinical depression, is a mood disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness, a loss of interest or pleasure, and changes in how you feel, think, and behave.
Example: Depression is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression.
en: dépression
discrimination
noun
Discrimination is an action, behaviour, decision, or omission that treats a person or a group of people unfairly and badly for reasons linked to personal traits, such as their race, age or disability. It involves unfair distinctions or preferences that negatively impacts someone because of their identity, leading to exclusion or restriction from things available to others.
Example: Even rules, practices and procedures that seem harmless can cause discrimination if they have the effect of putting certain groups of people at a disadvantage.
en: discrimination
eating disorder
noun
Eating disorders are serious illnesses marked by severe disturbances in a person's eating behaviors. Although many people may be concerned about their health, weight, or appearance on occasion, some become fixated or obsessed with weight loss, body weight or shape, and controlling their food intake.
Example: Anemia and bulimia are types of eating disorder.
en: trouble alimentaire
ecological psychology
Ecological psychology is the scientific study of the relationship between perception and action, grounded in a direct realist approach. In ecological psychology, perceptions are shaped by an individual's ability to engage with their emotional experiences in relation to the environment. This emotional engagement influences action, fostering collective processing, building social capital, and promoting pro-environmental behavior.
Example: Ecological psychology studies the interdependence of humans and their environments.
en: psychologie environnementaliste
empathy
noun
Empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel and see things from their point of view. It involves recognizing others' emotional states and perspective and responding with appropriate emotion or action.
Example: Learn how empathy differs from sympathy and compassion.
en: empathie
generalized anxiety disorder
noun
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is mental disorder characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about multiple events or activities. Excessive, uncontrollable, and usually unjustified worry about certain things is a sign of the mental and behavioral disease known as generalized anxiety disorder.
Example: Generalized anxiety is part of the large group of anxiety disorders.
en: trouble d'anxiété généralisé
humanistic perspective
noun
Humanistic psychology is an approach that focuses on individual potential and personal growth. It emphasizes free will, self-actualization, and the importance of a supportive environment for psychological well-being.
Example: The humanistic perspective in psychology tends to focus on empathy and the importance of goodness within the conduct of human beings.
en: approche humaniste
irrational fears
noun
Irrational fears (phobias) result in extreme dread toward a specific object or situation, even without risk of danger.
Example: Those experiencing irrational fears may avoid thoughts, images, or discussions about these triggers.
en: peur irrationnelle
Neurodevelopmental disorders
noun
Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of mental conditions negatively affecting the development of the nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. Neurodevelopmental disorders influence how the brain functions and alter neurological development, causing difficulties in social, cognitive, and emotional functioning.
Example: Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
en: trouble neurodéveloppemental
obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd)
noun
OCD is a disorder that causes unwanted thoughts and fears (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) that interfere with daily life.
en: trouble obsessionnel compulsif
operant conditioning
Operant conditioning, developed by B.F. Skinner, is a learning process where behaviors are influenced by consequences. Operant conditioning modifies behavior through reinforcement and punishment. Positive reinforcement encourages a behavior by adding a reward, while negative reinforcement strengthens it by removing an unpleasant stimulus. Punishment, on the other hand, decreases a behavior by introducing a negative consequence or removing a positive one.
Example: Critics note that operant conditioning can overlook cognitive factors and ethical concerns, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach.
en: conditionnement opérant
personality
noun
Personality is any person's collection of interrelated behavioral, cognitive, and emotional patterns that comprise a person’s unique adjustment to life.
Example: Due to the fact that personality is a complex idea, the dimensions of personality and scales of such tests vary and often are poorly defined.
en: personnalité
psychiatrist
noun
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can diagnose and treat mental health conditions. They can prescribe medications and other medical treatments.
Example: Psychiatrists utilize a variety of means in helping their patients, including talk or psychotherapy, prescription medications, light therapy, and other forms of medical and psychological assistance.
en: psychiatre
psychoanalysis
noun
Psychoanalysis is a therapeutic approach and theory, founded by Sigmund Freud, that seeks to explore the unconscious mind to uncover repressed feelings and interpret deep-rooted emotional patterns, often using techniques like dream analysis and free association.
Example: His creation of psychoanalysis was at once a theory of the human psyche, a therapy for the relief of its ills, and an optic for the interpretation of culture and society.
en: psychoanalyse
psychological disorder
noun
A psychological disorder is a condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that causes distress or impairment. Psychological disorders are also called mental illnesses or mental health conditions.
Example: Psychologists define a psychological disorder broadly as psychological dysfunction in an individual that is associated with distress or impairment and a reaction that is not culturally expected.
en: trouble psychologique
psychology
noun
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, behavior, and human experience, encompassing mental processes like thoughts and feelings, as well as actions, emotions, and consciousness.
Example: Psychology is a scientific discipline that studies mental states and processes and behavior in humans and other animals.
en: psychologie
psychosis
noun
Psychosis occurs when a person loses contact with reality. Psychosis is a loss of contact with reality that affects thoughts and perceptions. It can be a symptom of many conditions, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Example: Psychosis can be caused by different mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar.
en: psychose
psychotic disorder
noun
Psychotic disorders are severe mental disorders that cause abnormal thinking and perceptions. People with psychoses lose touch with reality. Two of the main symptoms are delusions and hallucinations.
Example: Psychotic disorders are a group of serious mental illnesses that have a cluster of symptoms called psychosis.
en: trouble psychotique
social anxiety disorder
noun
Social anxiety disorder (formerly known as social phobia) is a medical condition that causes fear and anxiety when you’re around people in social situations where you experience intense and ongoing fear of being judged negatively and/or watched by others.
Example: People with social anxiety fear being judged or watched by others.
en: anxiété sociale
stimulus
noun
In psychology, a stimulus is any object or event that elicits a sensory or behavioral response in an organism. Any phenomenon that causes a reaction or a response in an organism.
Example: An unconditioned stimulus is something that naturally triggers a reflexive response without prior learning or conditioning.
en: stimulus
unconscious
noun
The unconscious is the vast sum of operations of the mind that take place below the level of conscious awareness. The conscious mind contains all the thoughts, feelings, cognitions, and memories we acknowledge, while the unconscious consists of deeper mental processes not readily available to the conscious mind.
Example: Freud's iceberg theory metaphorically represents the mind's three levels: the conscious (visible tip of the iceberg), the preconscious (just below the surface), and the unconscious (vast submerged portion).
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