Psychology Vocabulary  & Quiz  

You can study psychology vocabulary on several pages of EnglishHints. On this page, there's a brief review of the most important concepts. (There are links at the bottom to more information.) 

Then there's a 20-question quiz on some words that are important for understanding psychology .discussions.

What Do Psychologists Study?

A woman holding a drinking glass to a man's head, listening.
Text: Can you understand psychology discussions?

Psychologists study everything related to the human mind and human behavior.

Developmental psychologists observe growth and change over time.

Behavioral psychologists study behavior (the ways people act). For example, they may study people's reactions to stress.

Social psychologists study the interactions between people. They are interested in empathy— our response to the feelings and sufferings of others.

They study submission and domination, how people act in groups, and the different ways people respond to life and to each other.

Neuroscientists study the brain and nervous system. They experiment with

  • perception (how we see, hear, and experience life), 
  • cognitive function (mental abilities like intelligence, memory, reason and judgment), 
  • and emotion.

(These are all important aspects of psychology.) They also study nervous system disorders and dysfunctions.

Picture of a brain as puzzle pieces in different colors, with one piece outside of it.
Text: Perception, empathy, motivation, intelligence, memory, phobias, even psychosis—they all start here…

Clinical psychologists treat people with mental disorders. (So do psychiatrists, who are medical doctors specializing in treating mental illness.)

They treat addictions, autism, depression, phobias, anxiety, obsessions and compulsions.

They also treat psychosis (severe mental illness). Schizophrenia can cause disordered thinking, hallucinations, or paranoia. Bipolar disease has manic and depressive periods. Both can make life very difficult. 

They have various therapies (types of treatments) to help people with these conditions. Therapies include combinations of medications, behavior modification, psychoanalysis, and other talk therapies.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people change their way of thinking so they can change how they act. 

Quiz on Psychology Vocabulary 

Mark the best answer (or answers.) Then click on the right-pointing arrow to go on to the next question.

 

Did you find the quiz helpful? You can make comments or suggestions below.

More Psych Vocabulary Practice 

Photos of a smiling man, a serious lady in sunglasses, and a 'geek.'
Text: 'Learn the words to describe personality and attitudes.'

Use Personality Vocabulary to describe attitudes and personal traits. (It can help you write a better resume or C.V., too!)

A young scientist with goggles surrounded by symbols of the sciences (DNA, the sun, a crab, a test tube, model of an atom, etc.)
'Practice science words with these vocabulary & matching games.'

How much of this science vocabulary do you know? Find out with these category and matching games.

2 illustrations of gloved scientists at work: one making notes on test tubes and another holding two Petri dishes with bacterial cultures.

Scientific Method Vocabulary discusses the method (and key words) used by researchers, from behavioral psychologists to neuroscientists. 

Comprehension Test on a talk on Motivation examines key research findings on what motivates people to do good work.

English Detective newsletters #9, 10, and 28 link to information on neuroscience and brain functioning. #33 examines a few aspects of mental dysfunctions and their treatments. For links to those readings and to practice activities, see back issues.

Check Your Reading Skill and Practice Scanning & Skimming offer advanced-level reading practice about mental health.

Home> English Language Test Prep> Psychology Vocabulary


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