Psychological Theories

noun a doctrine that human beings are purely physical and not spiritual or immortal

• The philosopher explored the concept of animalism in his latest book.
• I never really understood the idea of animalism until I took that biology class.
• Some people just have a natural animalism about them, you know?
• The artist's painting exuded a sense of raw animalism that captivated viewers.

noun the quality or state of being circular; roundness or the condition of forming a circle

• The concept of circularity in economics refers to the continuous flow of money within an economy.
• I'm starting to see a pattern of circularity in our conversations, we keep coming back to the same topics.
• It's like a never-ending loop, just going around in circles, that's the circularity of it all.
• The circularity of life is evident in how history tends to repeat itself.

noun a conversation or discussion

verb to engage in conversation or discussion

• It is important to be able to converse effectively in a professional setting.
• I love to just sit and converse with my friends for hours.
• Let's grab a coffee and converse about the latest gossip.
• The colors in the painting seem to converse with each other, creating a harmonious balance.

noun the act of promoting or improving growth, development, or refinement

• The cultivation of crops requires careful planning and management of resources.
• My neighbor is really into cultivation, he spends all his free time in his garden.
• I heard he's got a green thumb when it comes to cultivation.
• Cultivation of knowledge is just as important as cultivation of the land.

noun the philosophical doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will

• The concept of determinism suggests that all events, including human actions, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will.
• Determinism basically says that everything happens for a reason, and we don't really have free will.
• Determinism is like saying we're all just puppets on strings, with no real control over our lives.
• In the grand scheme of determinism, it's like we're all just pieces on a giant chessboard being moved by some unseen force.

adjective relating to or characterized by dualism, the division between two contrasting or opposing principles or forces

• The philosopher proposed a dualistic view of the mind and body.
• Some people have a dualistic way of thinking, seeing things in black and white.
• I don't like his dualistic attitude, always seeing things as either good or bad.
• Her artwork often explores the dualistic nature of human emotions.

noun a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced

adjective related to a state of balance or stability

• The chemical reaction reached equilibrium when the rates of the forward and reverse reactions became equal.
• I always feel like I'm in equilibrium when I have a good work-life balance.
• I need to find my equilibrium before I lose my mind.
• Finding the perfect equilibrium between saving money and treating yourself can be challenging.

adverb fundamentally is an adverb that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb, typically indicating the manner in which something is done or the extent to which something is true.

• The success of the project is fundamentally dependent on proper planning and execution.
• I think he's fundamentally a good person, despite his flaws.
• She's fundamentally chill, you'll get along with her just fine.
• The roots of their friendship are fundamentally strong, nothing can break it.

adjective relating to or characteristic of a hierarchy; hierarchical

• The organization has a strict hierarchic structure in place.
• The company follows a hierarchic system for decision-making.
• I don't like how hierarchic this group project is turning out to be.
• In nature, the lion pride operates in a hierarchic manner with the alpha male leading the pack.

noun a system of thought that focuses on human values, potential, and dignity

• Humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance that emphasizes the value and agency of human beings.
• I appreciate the humanism in his approach to solving problems.
• Some people think humanism is just a fancy way of saying 'being nice to others.'
• In the garden of life, humanism is like the sunlight that nurtures all living beings.

noun A person who believes in or advocates for the principles of humanism, which emphasizes the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively.

• The humanist philosophy emphasizes the value and agency of human beings.
• My friend is a humanist and believes in the power of human potential.
• Being a humanist means putting humans first and foremost.
• In a world full of chaos, humanists strive to bring order and compassion.

adjective relating to or based on a hypothesis; not necessarily true or real

• In a hypothetical scenario, if all resources were unlimited, the company could achieve exponential growth.
• Let's just talk hypotheticals for a moment - what would you do if you won the lottery?
• I'm just throwing out a hypothetical here, but what if we ditched class and went to the beach instead?
• The artist's painting was a hypothetical representation of a dreamlike world.

noun a social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control

• Individualism is a key principle in many Western societies, emphasizing personal independence and self-reliance.
• Some people really value individualism and prefer to do things on their own instead of relying on others.
• I'm all about that individualism life - I do me and you do you.
• In a world full of conformity, individualism shines like a beacon of authenticity.

noun a set of rules or guidelines that dictate what is right and wrong, usually based on ethical or philosophical beliefs

• It is important for individuals to adhere to a strict moral code in order to maintain ethical standards in society.
• Some people believe in following their own moral code even if it goes against societal norms.
• You gotta have your own moral code, man. Can't let anyone else dictate what's right or wrong for you.
• In the world of business, having a strong moral code can be the difference between success and failure.

verb to assume as a fact or principle; to put forward as a basis for argument

• It is important to posit a well-reasoned argument in academic writing.
• I posit that we should go out for dinner tonight.
• I'm just gonna posit that we grab some pizza and call it a night.
• She likes to posit herself as a leader among her peers.

noun a group of atoms behaving as a unit in a number of compounds

adjective relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough

• The scientist proposed a radical new theory that challenged existing beliefs.
• She made a radical decision to quit her job and travel the world.
• That new video game is so radical, dude!
• The artist used radical colors and shapes to create a visually striking masterpiece.

noun the quality or fact of representing a person, thing, or situation accurately or in a way that is true to life

adjective relating to the representation of things as they are

• Realism is an artistic movement that emerged in the 19th century.
• I appreciate the realism in that painting, it looks so lifelike.
• The movie had some sick realism to it, felt like I was right there.
• In business, having a sense of realism is important to make practical decisions.

noun a number that, when multiplied by another number, gives a product of 1

adjective describing a relationship in which two parties are equal and mutually beneficial to each other

• The two countries have a reciprocal agreement for trade.
• We have a reciprocal arrangement with our neighbors to share tools.
• Let's make a reciprocal deal to trade snacks at lunch.
• Kindness is often reciprocal, leading to positive relationships.

noun a group of people with shared beliefs or principles on a particular subject

• In the academic world, different schools of thought often clash when it comes to interpreting complex theories.
• Among historians, there are various schools of thought regarding the origins of ancient civilizations.
• I don't really follow that school of thought when it comes to fashion trends.
• His school of thought on leadership is quite unique and has garnered a lot of attention in the business world.

noun A branch of science that deals with human behavior in its social and cultural aspects

• The study of human society and social relationships falls under the umbrella of social science.
• Social science is all about understanding how people interact with each other in society.
• I'm taking a class on social science this semester, it's pretty interesting stuff.
• Exploring the complexities of human behavior is like delving into the depths of social science.

noun a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained

• The scientist proposed a new theory to explain the phenomenon.
• I have a theory about why she always arrives late.
• I heard this crazy theory about aliens living among us.
• In theory, this plan should work perfectly, but in reality, it might not.

noun a form of psychotherapy that analyzes interactions between individuals based on the theory that each person has three ego states: parent, adult, and child

• Transactional analysis is a psychoanalytic theory that examines interactions between individuals.
• I learned about transactional analysis in my psychology class.
• I'm trying to wrap my head around this transactional analysis stuff.
• Understanding transactional analysis is like decoding the language of human interactions.

noun the process by which individuals of a species choose a mate based on certain traits or characteristics

• Sexual selection is a key mechanism in the evolution of certain traits in species.
• Did you know that peacocks' extravagant feathers are a result of sexual selection?
• Those birds be flexing their looks to attract mates, thanks to sexual selection.
• Just like in the animal kingdom, human courtship can also be seen as a form of sexual selection.

noun a philosophical position that assigns a negative value to birth and advocates for the prevention of future births

• Antinatalism is a philosophical position that assigns a negative value to birth and procreation.
• Some people believe in antinatalism, which means they think it's wrong to have children.
• Antinatalism is all about saying no to babies.
• In the garden of life, antinatalism is like pruning the tree of existence to prevent further growth.

adjective describing a statement that is contrary to fact or reality

• The use of contrafactive statements in historical research can help us better understand alternative outcomes.
• I never thought about the contrafactive possibilities of that decision.
• Dude, have you ever considered the contrafactive scenario if we had taken a different route?
• In the world of fiction, contrafactive storytelling allows for endless possibilities and creativity.

noun a group or set of three things that are united as one

adjective describing something as consisting of three in one

• The concept of the triune nature of God is central to Christian theology.
• Many people struggle to understand the idea of a triune God.
• I heard that new band is totally triune - they blend rock, pop, and electronic music.
• The CEO, CFO, and COO formed a triune leadership team to guide the company.

noun a person who believes that events or phenomena occur by chance rather than design

adjective relating to or characteristic of the belief that events or phenomena occur by chance

• The philosopher was known for his accidentalist views on the nature of existence.
• I don't really believe in all that accidentalist stuff, I think things happen for a reason.
• Some people think accidentalist ideas are just a bunch of hooey.
• Her approach to life was very accidentalist, always going with the flow and seeing where things led her.