Psychology Glossary
Learn about key psychology concepts and find the right test for you.
Personality
Neuroticism
Tendency to experience negative emotions β anxiety, sadness and irritability. One of the Big Five personality dimensions.
4 related testsExtraversion
Personality dimension describing social energy, sociability and the tendency to seek stimulation.
4 related testsBig Five
Model of five core personality dimensions: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness.
3 related testsSelf-esteem
Overall evaluation of one's own worth β feeling good enough and deserving of respect.
3 related testsPersonality
A relatively stable pattern of thinking, feeling and behaving that distinguishes an individual.
4 related testsDark Triad
Three dark personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy.
3 related testsGrandiosity
Inflated sense of self-importance, uniqueness and entitlement to admiration β a core dimension of narcissism.
3 related testsPerfectionism
Striving for flawlessness and high standards β can be adaptive or dysfunctional.
3 related testsLocus of Control
Belief about source of control β internal (self) or external (fate).
3 related testsType A Personality
Pattern: ambition, impatience, competitiveness and time urgency.
3 related testsOpenness to Experience
Big Five dimension describing intellectual curiosity, imagination and preference for novelty.
5 related testsConscientiousness
Big Five dimension: organization, discipline, goal-orientation. Strongest predictor of job performance.
5 related testsAgreeableness
Big Five dimension: kindness, trust and the tendency to cooperate with others.
4 related testsCuriosity
The drive for knowledge and new experiences. A strong predictor of learning and innovation.
3 related testsCreativity
The ability to generate novel and useful ideas. A blend of personality, skill, and opportunity.
3 related testsNarcissism
Personality trait: grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy. Part of the Dark Triad.
2 related testsWellbeing
Anxiety
Emotion related to perceived threat and uncertainty. Can be adaptive or lead to anxiety disorders.
3 related testsBurnout
Syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced effectiveness from chronic work stress.
3 related testsResilience
The ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity.
3 related testsMindfulness
Consciously directing attention to the present without judgment β reduces stress.
3 related testsFlow State
State of complete engagement when challenge matches skill.
3 related testsEmotion Regulation
The ability to influence which emotions we experience and how we express them.
3 related testsStress
The body's response to demands that exceed available resources. Short-term mobilizes. Chronic harms health.
4 related testsWell-being
Multidimensional concept encompassing life satisfaction, positive emotions, and sense of meaning.
4 related testsFOMO
Fear of Missing Out β anxiety that others are having a better experience than you right now.
3 related testsLoneliness
The painful gap between the relationships you want and the ones you have. Not the count of friends β it's the quality of bonds.
3 related testsSelf-Compassion
Treating yourself kindly in difficult moments. A more stable predictor of well-being than self-esteem.
3 related testsDepression
A mood disorder characterised by sustained sadness, anhedonia (loss of pleasure) and loss of energy. Not the same as temporary sadness.
3 related testsSelf-Efficacy
The belief that you can perform a specific action and achieve the intended outcome. A central concept in Bandura's social-cognitive theory.
3 related testsIntelligence
Emotional Intelligence
The ability to recognize, understand and manage one's own and others' emotions.
3 related testsIntelligence Quotient (IQ)
Measure of cognitive abilities β reasoning, problem-solving and learning.
2 related testsFluid Intelligence
The ability to solve novel problems without relying on prior knowledge. Peaks at age 20-30.
3 related testsCrystallized Intelligence
Knowledge and skills accumulated over a lifetime. Grows with age until 60-70.
3 related testsCareer
Motivation
Driving forces directing behavior β intrinsic (curiosity, passion) and extrinsic (rewards, pressure).
3 related testsProcrastination
Habitual postponement of tasks despite awareness of negative consequences.
3 related testsRIASEC / Holland Model
Six vocational interest types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional.
2 related testsGrowth Mindset
Belief that abilities can be developed through effort and learning.
3 related testsLeadership
The ability to influence others toward a common goal. Not a title β a behavior and an influence.
3 related testsRelationships
Attachment Style
Pattern of forming emotional bonds β secure, anxious-ambivalent, avoidant or disorganized.
2 related testsEmpathy
The ability to understand and share others' emotions.
3 related testsAssertiveness
The ability to express needs and boundaries with respect for self and others.
3 related testsLove Styles
Six love types by Lee: Eros, Ludus, Storge, Pragma, Mania, Agape.
3 related testsCommunication Styles
Patterns of self-expression: passive, aggressive, assertive and passive-aggressive.
3 related testsValues
Methods
Likert Scale
Response format β respondents select degree of agreement (e.g., 1β5).
3 related testsPsychometrics
Science of measuring psychological traits β constructing, validating and interpreting tests.
3 related testsScreening Test
A brief tool used to identify people likely to have a given mental health concern. NOT a diagnosis β a signal that further assessment is worthwhile.
3 related testsPositive Psychology
A branch of psychology focused on studying strengths, wellbeing and what makes life worth living β not only on treating disorders.
4 related testsCognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
The most scientifically researched form of psychotherapy. Works on the link between thoughts, emotions and behaviour β typically 8β20 sessions.
3 related tests