Glossary A

- Alexander Bain (1818-1903) : Alexander Bain is the the first to attempt to relate known physiological facts to psychological phenomena. He also wrote the first psychology texts, and he founded psychology's first journal (1876). Bain explained voluntary behavior in much the same way that modern learning theorists later explained trial-and-error behavior. Finally, Bain added the Law of compound association and the Law of constructive association to the older and traditional Laws of association.

Alexander Luria (1902 - 1977) refers to Russian Neuropsychologist who was responsible for the most profound changes in the scientific understanding of the brain and mind.

Alexia refers to an Aphasia characterized by the inability to comprehend written or printed words.

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Alexithymia refers to the inability to identify and articulate feelings or needs, or to experience and express emotion except through physical symptoms; a common feature found in Post-traumatic stress disorder and Somatoform disorders

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Alfred Adler) (1870-1937
Major Works: Problems of Neurosis (1929), The Practice and Theory of Individual Psychology (1927)
Adler modified and expanded many of Freud's theories.

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An Algorithm is a systematic, step-by-step procedure, such as a mathematical formula, that guarantees a solution to a problem of a certain type if the algorithm is appropriate and executed properly.

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ALI rule refers to the legal principle stating that a person is not responsible for criminal conduct if he or she lacks the capacity to appreciate the criminality (wrongfulness) of the act or to conform his or her conduct to the requirements of the law as a result of mental disease

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ALI standard refers to the most liberal standard for determining the insanity of a defendant. This standard attests that the defendant is not responsible for an unlawful act if it resulted from a mental disease or defect such that he or she lacked substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of the act (a cognitive deficit) or to conform to the law (a volitional deficit).