Glossary
Searchable terminology from accessibility, web standards, and related fields.
35 results found in psychology.
- Anchoring Effect (Anchoring Bias, Cognitive Anchoring)
- A cognitive bias in which people rely too heavily on an initial piece of information (the "anchor") when making subsequent decisions or judgements. In the context of digital accessibility, the anchori…
- Arousal (Emotional Arousal, Activation)
- In affect and emotion research, arousal is the dimension of emotional experience that describes activation or energy level — how calm or excited a state feels — independent of whether the emotion is p…
- Barrage Test (Cancellation Test, Visual Search Test)
- A standardized neuropsychological assessment that measures selective and sustained visual attention by requiring participants to identify and mark target items among distractors on a page. Barrage tes…
- Camouflaging (Masking, Social Camouflage, Autistic Masking)
- Camouflaging, also known as masking, is the conscious or unconscious suppression of autistic traits and adoption of neurotypical behaviors in order to fit into social situations. This can include forc…
- Circumplex Model of Emotion (Russell Circumplex Model, Valence-Arousal Model, Circumplex Model of Affect)
- A psychological model proposed by James Russell in 1980 that arranges emotional states in a two-dimensional plane defined by valence (pleasant vs unpleasant) and arousal (activated vs calm). The four …
- Cognitive Flexibility (Mental Flexibility, Set Shifting, Task Switching)
- The executive function that allows a person to adapt their thinking and behavior in response to changing demands, switch between tasks, or consider multiple perspectives simultaneously. Cognitive flex…
- Cross-modal (Cross-modal Correspondence, Cross-modal Perception)
- The phenomenon whereby information or stimulation in one sensory modality (such as vision) systematically influences or corresponds with perception in another modality (such as hearing or touch). In a…
- Digital Self-Efficacy (Technology Self-Efficacy, Computer Self-Efficacy)
- An individual's belief in their ability to effectively use digital technologies to accomplish tasks. Digital self-efficacy influences how people approach technology challenges, persist through difficu…
- Dominance (Emotion) (Emotional Dominance, Control Dimension)
- In affective science, dominance is the third dimension sometimes added to the two-dimensional valence/arousal plane to form the Pleasure-Arousal-Dominance (PAD) model proposed by Mehrabian and Russell…
- Ecological Systems Theory (Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model, Bioecological Model)
- A developmental psychology framework created by Urie Bronfenbrenner that describes how individuals are influenced by multiple nested environmental systems: the microsystem (immediate settings like hom…
- Extrinsic Motivation
- Extrinsic motivation refers to engaging in an activity to achieve external rewards, avoid punishment, or meet external expectations rather than for inherent enjoyment. In accessibility and technology …
- Flow (Flow state, Optimal experience, Being in the zone)
- A psychological state of complete absorption in an activity, characterized by focused concentration, loss of self-consciousness, altered sense of time, and intrinsic enjoyment. Coined by psychologist …
- Flow State (Flow, Optimal Experience, Being in the Zone)
- A mental state of complete immersion and focused engagement in an activity, characterized by a balance between challenge level and skill level. In accessible design, achieving flow state is important …
- Generalization (Skill Generalization, Transfer of Learning)
- The ability to apply a skill or concept learned in one setting, with one set of materials, or with one person, to new settings, materials, or people. Generalization is a major focus in autism educatio…
- Goal-Setting Theory
- A motivational theory developed by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham proposing that setting specific, challenging goals leads to higher performance than vague or easy goals. In the context of ADHD support, …
- Grounding (Grounding Techniques, Grounding Exercises, Self-Regulation)
- A set of therapeutic and coping techniques used to help a person reconnect with the present moment and their physical surroundings during periods of emotional distress, anxiety, or trauma response. Gr…
- Inhibitory Control (Response Inhibition, Impulse Control)
- The executive function that enables a person to suppress automatic or impulsive responses in favor of more appropriate, goal-directed behavior. Inhibitory control is essential for tasks requiring sust…
- Intrinsic Motivation
- Intrinsic motivation refers to engaging in an activity for its inherent satisfaction rather than for external rewards or consequences. In accessibility and inclusive design, understanding intrinsic mo…
- Joint Attention (Shared Attention)
- The shared focus of two or more individuals on the same object or event, typically involving one person directing another's attention through gaze, gesture, or verbal cues. Joint attention is a founda…
- Learned Helplessness
- A psychological condition in which a person comes to believe they are unable to perform tasks or control outcomes, often resulting from prolonged over-assistance or lack of opportunity to attempt task…