Behavioral Psychology Vocabulary

noun a lack of sympathy or concern for others; unfeeling or insensitive behavior

• The defendant's callousness towards the victim's family was evident during the trial.
• I can't believe the callousness of some people towards those in need.
• Her callousness is just plain heartless.
• The icy callousness in his eyes sent shivers down her spine.

noun a person who talks a lot, especially about trivial matters

• The lecturer found it challenging to control the chatterbox in the back row.
• My little sister is such a chatterbox, she never stops talking!
• I can't stand hanging out with that chatterbox, she's so annoying.
• His mind was like a chatterbox, constantly filled with thoughts and ideas.

adjective This describes a person who is difficult to deal with, contrary, or willful.

• The froward child refused to follow the teacher's instructions.
• She's so froward, always doing the opposite of what she's told.
• That guy is froward as heck, never listens to anyone.
• The river took a froward path, flowing against the usual direction.

noun a supply or accumulation that is hidden or carefully guarded for preservation, future use, etc.

• The archaeologist uncovered a hoard of ancient coins buried beneath the ruins.
• I found a hoard of snacks hidden in my room.
• She's always hoarding makeup, even though she never uses most of it.
• He hoarded his emotions, never letting anyone see how he truly felt.

noun A person's concern for the welfare of others or a subject that appeals to a general audience's curiosity or emotions

• The documentary focused on stories of human interest, showcasing the resilience of individuals overcoming adversity.
• I love reading articles that delve into human interest topics, they always tug at my heartstrings.
• That podcast episode was so juicy, full of human interest stories that kept me hooked the entire time.
• The novel was a tapestry of human interest, weaving together the lives of diverse characters in a captivating way.

noun lack of respect; rudeness

adjective impertinent (related to or characterized by impertinence)

• His impertinence towards the royal family was met with swift reprimand.
• I can't believe the impertinence of that guy, asking such personal questions!
• The teacher was not amused by the student's impertinence in class.
• The impertinence of nature's beauty left me in awe.

noun a mutual or reciprocal action or influence

adjective relating to or involving interaction between people or things

• Effective communication skills are essential for successful interaction in a professional setting.
• I always enjoy our interactions during team meetings.
• Their interaction at the party was lit!
• The interaction between the characters in the play was captivating.

adjective having a difficult and contrary disposition

• The ornery old man refused to speak to anyone at the nursing home.
• My ornery cat always hisses at strangers who come near.
• That ornery customer gave the waiter a hard time for no reason.
• The storm clouds looked ornery, as if they were ready to unleash their fury at any moment.

noun a person who specializes in the study of the mind and mental processes

adjective relating to the mind or mental processes

• The psychologist conducted a thorough psychological evaluation of the patient.
• She's been struggling with some psychological issues lately.
• I can't deal with all this psychological stuff right now.
• His psychological barriers prevented him from reaching his full potential.

noun the scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context

• The study of psychology involves analyzing human behavior and mental processes.
• I find psychology fascinating because it helps me understand why people act the way they do.
• Psychology is like getting inside someone's head and figuring out what makes them tick.
• In a way, psychology is like unraveling the mysteries of the human mind.

noun a penalty inflicted for an offense or fault

• The punishment for breaking the law is determined by the judicial system.
• If you don't finish your homework, the punishment will be extra chores.
• If you get caught cheating, the punishment is gonna be rough.
• Living with regret can be a punishment in itself.

noun a state or quality of being unfriendly; lack of friendliness or warmth

• The unfriendliness of the receptionist made the visitors feel unwelcome.
• I can't stand the unfriendliness of some of my coworkers.
• The unfriendliness of that bouncer was next level rude.
• The storm clouds gathered overhead, casting an air of unfriendliness over the once cheerful picnic.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case 'unsuspicious' describes someone or something that is not suspicious.

• The investigator found the suspect's alibi to be unsuspicious.
• She seemed unsuspicious when asked about her whereabouts.
• The situation looked totally unsuspicious to me.
• His demeanor was unsuspicious, but his eyes told a different story.

noun the Hawthorne effect - a term used to describe the phenomenon where individuals modify their behavior or performance in response to being observed

• The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where individuals modify their behavior when they are aware that they are being observed.
• People tend to work harder when they know they are being watched, that's the Hawthorne effect.
• When the boss is around, everyone suddenly becomes more productive - it's like the Hawthorne effect kicking in.
• Just like how a plant grows taller when you pay attention to it, employees often perform better under the influence of the Hawthorne effect.

adjective capable of being learned or acquired

• The new software program is designed to be easily learnable for users of all skill levels.
• Don't worry, this game is totally learnable once you get the hang of it.
• This dance move may seem tricky at first, but it's actually pretty learnable with some practice.
• Life's lessons are often learnable through experience and reflection.

verb A word that expresses an action or a state of being. In this case, 'acted' is the past tense form of the verb 'act', which means to perform a specific role or function.

• The actor acted out the scene flawlessly during the play.
• She acted like she didn't care, but I could tell she was upset.
• He totally acted a fool at the party last night.
• The CEO acted as a mentor to all the new employees.