Glossary A

Deutsch: Veränderung / Español: Alteración / Português: Alteração / Français: Altération / Italiano: Alterazione /

Alteration in the Psychology Context: Understanding Change and Adaptation

In the field of psychology, alteration refers to the process of change and adaptation that individuals undergo in response to various internal and external factors. It is a fundamental aspect of human development and behavior, influencing how people perceive, interact with, and adjust to their ever-changing environment. This comprehensive exploration will delve into the concept of alteration in psychology, provide numerous examples of how alteration shapes human behavior and experiences, offer recommendations for managing and embracing change, discuss treatment approaches for issues related to maladaptive alterations, and explore related psychological concepts that shed light on the complexities of adaptation and transformation.

Altered state of consciousness refers to the mental state other than ordinary waking consciousness, such as sleep, meditation, hypnosis, or a drug-induced state.

Alternate-forms reliability refers to the extent to which two (2) forms of the same test are similar; a extent to which a measure yields consistent results when presented in different forms. Alternate-forms reliability is also spelled Alternate forms reliability

Alternating attention refers to the ability to switch back and forth between tasks.

Alternating-treatments design refers to a single-subject design in which two (2) or more treatment conditions are randomly alternated from one observation to the next. Alternating-treatments design is also known as a Discrete-trials design.

Alternative birth center refers to a hospital birthing room or other independent facility that provides a homelike atmosphere for childbirth but still makes medical technology available.

Alternative hypothesis refers to an assertion that the independent variable in a study will have a certain predictable effect on the dependent variable; also called an experimental or research hypothesis.

Alternative Medicine refers to a variety of therapeutic or health care practices, such as homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, and herbal medicine, that do not follow generally accepted medical methods and may not have a scientific explanation for their effectiveness.