By Jason Hreha

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The behavioral science glossary

Definitions and explanations across psychology and applied behavioral science.

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16PF
A/A Test
A/B testing
Ability (Fogg Behavior Model)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Accessibility
Acetylcholine
Action bias
Action control
Action Planning
Action Potential
Active Choice
Actor-Observer Bias
Actualization
Adaptive Control of Thought
Adding objects to the environment
ADHD
Adhocracy
ADKAR Model
Administrative Burden
Adrenal Gland
Adverse selection
Affect Heuristic
Affective Commitment
Affective Forecasting
Affinity Bias
Affordance
Allais Paradox
Allostasis
Altruism
Ambiguity aversion
Ambiguity effect
Ambivalent Attachment
Amino Acid
Amygdala
Anchoring bias
Anterior cingulate cortex
Anterior insula
Anthropomorphism
Anticipated regret
Anxiety
Apophenia
Apoptosis
Aspartate
Association Fallacy
Associative learning
Assumed Similarity Bias
Astrocyte
Attachment styles
Attentional Bias
Attentional control
Attribute substitution
Attribution Bias
Attribution Theory
Attributional ambiguity
Auditory Cortex
Authority Bias
Autoenrollment
Autoescalation
Automatic motivation (COM-B)
Automaticity
Automation Bias
Autonomic arousal
Autonomic Nervous System
Availability Cascades
Availability Heuristic
Avoidance/reducing exposure to cues for the behavior
Axon
Axon Terminal
Baader–Meinhof Phenomenon
Backfire Effect
Bandwagon Effect
Barnum Effect
Basal Ganglia
Base Rate Fallacy
Basilar Artery
BATNA
Bayesian updating
BCT Taxonomy
BDNF
Behavior cost
Behavior Matching
Behavior Modification
Behavior Substitution
Behavioral Activation
Behavioral archetypes
Behavioral Audit
Behavioral Barriers
Behavioral contract
Behavioral diagnosis
Behavioral economics
Behavioral experiments
Behavioral Finance
Behavioral friction
Behavioral Game Theory
Behavioral Insights
Behavioral Learning Theory
Behavioral maintenance
Behavioral practice/rehearsal
Behavioral Product Critique
Behavioral Product Design
Behavioral Science
Behavioral segmentation
Behavioral Strategy
Behavioral User Experience
Behaviorism
Behaviour Change Wheel
Behavioural Insights Team
Belief Bias
Belief Perseverance
Belief updating
Belmont Principles
Belmont Report
Ben Franklin Effect
Between Subjects Design
Between Subjects vs Within Subjects
Bias
Bias Blind Spot
Big Five Personality Traits
Bikeshedding
Biofeedback
Biomarker
Bizarreness Effect
Blood Brain Barrier
Bobo Doll Experiment
Body changes (behavior change technique)
Boosts
Boosts and nudges
Bottom Dollar Effect
Boundary Extension
Bounded awareness
Bounded Rationality
Brain Computer Interface
Brain Imaging
Brain Implant
Brain Organoid
Brain Stimulation
Brain Waves
Brainstem
Broca's Area
Bundling Bias
Bye-Now Effect
California Psychological Inventory
Cannon-Bard Theory
Card sorting
Category Size Bias
Causal inference
Central Nervous System
Central Sulcus
Cerebellum
Cerebral cortex
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cerebrum
Certainty and possibility effects
Certainty Effect
Chain of Command
Change blindness
Change Curve
Cheerleader Effect
Childhood Amnesia
Chivas Regal Effect
Choice Architecture
Choice bracketing
Choice diagnostics
Choice Overload
Choice-Supportive Bias
Chunking
Cingulate Gyrus
Circadian Rhythm
Classical Conditioning
Claustrum
Clickable prototype
Clinical Trial
Closed Loop
Coercive Power
Cognition
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive bias
Cognitive control
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive load
Cognitive Mapping
Cognitive Neuroscience
Cognitive reappraisal
Cognitive walkthrough
Cold States
Collective action problem
Collider bias
COM-B components
COM-B Model
Commissural Fibers
Commitment
Commitment device
Comparative imagining of future outcomes
Component library
Computational Neuroscience
Computational psychiatry
Conceptual priming
Concrete Operational Stage
Conditioned Response
Conditioned Stimulus
Confidence interval
Confirmation Bias
Confounding
Conjunction Fallacy
Connectome
Conserving mental resources
Consistency
Construal level theory
Construct operationalization
Construct validity
Content strategy
Content Validity
Context Effect
Contextual inquiry
Continued Influence Effect
Continuous Reinforcement
Contrast Effect
Control Premium
Convergent Thinking
Conversational Receptiveness
Coordination game
Coping Mechanisms
Core Values
Corpus Callosum
Corticotropin-Releasing Factor
Cortisol
Counter Conditioning
Courtesy Bias
Covert Narcissist
Credible source (behavior change technique)
Critical Period
Cryptomnesia
Crystallized Intelligence
Cue signaling reward
Cultural Bias
Cultural cognition
Cultural Norms
Curse Of Knowledge
Customer effort score
Dark patterns and deceptive design
DASS
DASS 21
Debiasing
Decision architecture
Decision Fatigue
Decision Making
Decision Paralysis
Decision Staging
Decision Utility
Decoy Effect
Deep Learning
Deep Processing
Default
Default mode interference
Default mode network
Default settings
Defense Mechanisms
Defensive Attribution Hypothesis
Deindividuation
Demonstration of the behavior
Dendrite
Denomination Effect
Depolarization
Descriptive norms
Design sprint
Design system
Design Thinking
Desired action
Devil's Advocacy
Diary study
Diencephalon
Difference Threshold
Differential Association Theory
Diffusion of innovations
Digital Phenotyping
Diminishing sensitivity
Directed Cognition
Directed Forgetting
DISC Assessment
Discounted Utility
Discoverability
Discrepancy between current behavior and goal
Disinhibition
Dismissive Avoidant Attachment
Disorganized attachment (infant classification)
Disposition Effect
Distraction (behavior change technique)
Divergent Thinking
Diversification Bias
Dopamine
Dorsal Root Ganglion
Dorsal striatum
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
Double diamond
Drive Reduction Theory
DSM
Dual Inheritance Theory
Dual Process Theory
Dual Self Model
Dunning–Kruger Effect
Dynorphin
EAST Framework
Ecological validity
Economic bubble
Effect size
Efficient Market Hypothesis
Effort Justification
Ego Depletion
Ego States
Egocentric Bias
Egocentrism
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Elimination By Aspects
Emotion regulation
Emotional intelligence
Emotional Self-Regulation
Empathy Gap
Empathy Mapping
Empty state
Encoding Failure
Endocrine System
Endorphins
Endowment Effect
ENFP
Enkephalins
Enzyme
Epigenetics
Error proofing (poka-yoke)
Error-related negativity
Error state
Escalation of Commitment
ESFJ
ESFP
ESTJ
Ethical nudging
Ethical Values
Ethnocentrism
Euphoric Recall
Event-related potential
Executive control network
Executive dysfunction
Executive Function
Expectancy Theory
Expectation Bias
Experience map
Experimenter Bias
Expert Power
Explicit bias
Explicit memory (declarative memory)
Exposure (behavior change technique)
Extension Neglect
External Cues
External validity
Exteroception
Extinction Burst
Extraneous Variable
Extrinsic incentives bias
Extrinsic Motivation
Eysenck Personality Questionnaire
Factor Analysis
Fading Affect Bias
Fail-safe defaults
Fairness (behavioral economics)
Fallacy of Composition
False Consensus Effect
False Uniqueness Bias
Familiarity Bias
Fast-and-frugal heuristics
Feedback
Feedback on behavior
Feedback on outcome(s) of behavior
Field experiment
Field study
Findability
First-click testing
Five-second test
Fixed mindset
Flashbulb Memory
Focus on past success
Fogg Behavior Model
Formal Operational Stage
Forte Communication Style Profile
Framing
Framing effect
Framing/reframing
Fresh Start Effect
Friction
Friction costs
Functional connectivity
Functional Fixedness
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Functionalism
Fundamental Attribution Error
Future Orientation
Future punishment
GABA
Gain-framed messaging
Galanin
Gambler’s Fallacy
Gamification
Gamma waves
Gaslighting
Generalization of target behavior
Generation Effect
Glutamate
Glycine
Goal Gradient
Goal Setting
Goal setting (behavior)
Goal setting (outcome)
Goal Setting Theory
Goodhart's Law
Google Effect
Graded tasks
Gray matter
Grit
Group Attribution Error
Group Polarization
Groupshift
Groupthink
Growth Mindset
Gyrus
Habit Disruption
Habit formation
Habit loop
Habit reversal
Habit Strength
Habits
Habituation
Halo Effect
Hard-Easy Effect
HARKing
HBDI
Health Action Process Approach
Health Belief Model
Heatmaps
Hebbian Learning
Hedonic Adaptation
Herd Behavior
Heterogeneous treatment effects
Heuristic
Heuristic evaluation
HEXACO
High-fidelity prototype
Hindsight Bias
Hippocampus
Hogan Assessment
Homeostasis
Homo Economicus
Homophily
Honesty
Hook Model
Horn Effect
Hostile Attribution Bias
Hostile Media Effect
Hot hand fallacy
House money effect
Humanistic Theory
Humor Effect
Hyperbolic Discounting
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
Hypothalamus
Iconic Memory
Id, ego and superego
Identifiable Victim Effect
Identification of self as role model
Identity associated with changed behavior
Identity Economics
Identity Priming
Identity-protective cognition
Identity signaling
IKEA effect
Illusion of Control
Illusion of Explanatory Depth
Illusion of Transparency
Illusion of Validity
Illusory Correlation
Illusory Superiority
Illusory truth effect
Imaginary punishment
Imaginary reward
Impact Bias
Implementation intentions
Implementation prompts
Implicit bias
Implicit Memory
Impulse Control
Impulsivity
Inattentional blindness
Incentive (outcome)
Incentive Theory
Incentives
Incentivization
Inclusive design
Incompatible beliefs
Individual differences
Inequity Aversion
Inertia
Information about antecedents
Information about emotional consequences
Information about health consequences
Information about others' approval
Information about social and environmental consequences
Information architecture
Information Aversion
Information Avoidance
Information Bias
Information Processing
Information scent
Informational Influence
INFP
Ingroup Bias
Inhibitory control
Injunctive norms
Instruction on how to perform the behavior
Instrumental Value
Insula
Integrated Behavioral Model
Intention Action Gap
Intentional Change Theory
Intentionality Bias
Interaction design
Intergroup contact theory
Intergroup threat
Internal validity
Interoception
Intertemporal Choice
Intervention fidelity
Intervention functions
Intervention Mapping
INTJ
INTP
Intrinsic Motivation
Introspection Illusion
Inwald Personality Inventory
Irrational
Irrational Labs
ISTP
James Lange Theory
Jobs to be done
Johari Window
Journey analytics
Just-in-time adaptive interventions
Just World Fallacy
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
Kolbe Test
Kotter's 8-Step Change Model
Labor Illusion
Lag Effect
Lateralization
Law of the Instrument
Lazarus theory of emotion
Leader-Member Exchange Theory
Learnability
Learned helplessness
Less Is Better Effect
Leveling and Sharpening
Levels-of-Processing Effect
Levels of Processing Theory
Lewin's Change Model
Libertarian paternalism
Life Position
Limited Attention
Linguistic Intergroup Bias
List Length Effect
Little Albert Experiment
Locus coeruleus
Locus of control
Long-term depression
Long-term potentiation
Look Elsewhere Effect
Looking Glass Self
Loss aversion
Loss-framed messaging
Lottery incentive
Low-fidelity prototype
Magnetoencephalography
Matched Pairs Design
Material incentive (behavior)
Material reward (behavior)
Materialism
Mathematical Modeling
MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator)
Measurement error
Measurement invariance
Mechanisms of action
Medial prefrontal cortex
Mediation
Mediation analysis
Medulla
Memorability
Memory Inhibition
Meninges
Mental accounting
Mental budgeting
Mental Models
Mental rehearsal of successful performance
Mental Set
Mere Exposure Effect
Mesolimbic Circuit
Messenger Effect
Meta analysis
Metacognition
Micro-incentive
Microcopy
Midbrain
Milgram Experiment
Mindfulness
Mindless eating
Mindset
MINDSPACE
Misinformation Effect
MMPI
Modality Effect
Moderated usability testing
Moderation
Moderation analysis
Monitoring of behavior by others without feedback
Monitoring of emotional consequences
Monitoring of outcome(s) of behavior without feedback
Mood-Congruent Memory Bias
Moral disengagement
Moral Foundations Theory
Moral hazard
Moral licensing
Moral Luck
Moral Suasion
Motivated Forgetting
Motivated reasoning
Motivating Uncertainty Effect
Motivation (Fogg Behavior Model)
Motivation Wave
Motivational crowding out
Motivational Interviewing
Multivariate testing
Mum Effect
Myelination
Myopic Loss Aversion
Myopic procrastination
Myside bias
Naïve Allocation
Naive Realism
Narrative Fallacy
Natural experiment
Naturalistic Observation
Navigation taxonomy
Need for cognition
Negative Reinforcement
Negativity Bias
Net Promoter Score
Network effects
Neural oscillations
Neuroeconomics
Neurogenesis
Neuroinflammation
Neuromodulation
Neuropeptide Y
Neuroplasticity
Newcastle Personality Assessor
Next-in-Line Effect
Noble Edge Effect
Non-specific incentive
Non-specific reward
Nootropics
Norepinephrine
Norm cascades
Norm entrepreneurship
Normalcy Bias
Normative Social Influence
Norms
Nucleus Accumbens
Nudge
Nudge plus
Nudge theory
Nudge Unit
Nudging
Object Constancy
Object Relations Theory
Observer Bias
Occipital Lobe
Omission Bias
Omnivert
Onboarding friction
Only Child Syndrome
OODA Loop
Opioid
Opponent Process Theory
Opportunity Cost Neglect
Opt-in
Opt-Out
Optimal Arousal Theory
Optimism Bias
Orbitofrontal cortex
Ostrich Effect
Out-Group
Outcome Bias
Outgroup Homogeneity Bias
Overconfidence Effect
Overcorrection
Overjustification Effect
Oxytocin
P-hacking
P value
Pain Of Paying
Paradox of Choice
Paradox of Value
Paradoxical instructions
Pareidolia
Parietal Lobe
Part-list Cueing Effect
Partial Reinforcement
Partisan Bias
Partition dependence
Partitioning
Pattern library
Pavlovian
Peak End Rule
Peer Mentoring
Peltzman Effect
Perceptual Set
Peripheral Nervous System
Perky Effect
Person–environment fit
Persona
Personality
Personality Types
Personalization
Persuasive Technology
Perverse Incentives
Pessimism Bias
PET Scan
Pharmacological support
Phonological Loop
Physical capability
Physical opportunity
Picture Superiority Effect
Pineal Gland
Pituitary Gland
Placebo
Placement Bias
Planning Fallacy
Plant blindness
Pluralistic ignorance
Poiesis
Policy categories (Behaviour Change Wheel)
Political Compass
Pons
Positive Psychology
Positive Reinforcement
Positivity Effect
Positron emission tomography
Posterior cingulate cortex
Postsynaptic Cell
Practical significance
Pre-registration
Precommitment
Prediction error
Predictive validity
Preference
Preference Reversal
Prefrontal cortex
Premack Principle
Premotor Cortex
Present Bias
Presuasion
Presynaptic Cell
Prevention bias
Primacy Effect
Primary Reinforcer
Priming
Principal-agent problem
Prisoner's dilemma
Pro-innovation Bias
Proactive Behavior
Proactive Interference
Probability Matching
Probability weighting
Problem solving (behavior change technique)
Problem Statement
Procedural Memory
Process evaluation
Processing Difficulty Effect
Product onboarding
Progressive disclosure
Projection Bias
Prompt hierarchy
Prompts/cues
Proportionality Bias
Propriety
Pros and cons
Proscriptive Norms
Prospect Theory
Protection Motivation Theory
Proto-persona
Prototype
Psychodynamic
Psychological capability
Psychological Dependence
Psychological Sets
Psychology of scarcity
Psychometrics
Public goods game
Publication bias
Punishment
Puritanical Bias
Pygmalion Effect
Quasi-experiment
Quasi-hyperbolic discounting
Randomized controlled trial
Ratio Bias
Rationalism
RE-AIM
Re-attribution
Reactive Devaluation
Readability
Recall Bias
Recency Effect
Receptor
Reciprocal Altruism
Reciprocal Determinism
Reciprocity
Recognition Heuristic
Reduce negative emotions
Reduce prompts/cues
Reduce reward frequency
Reference Dependence
Reference Point
Referent Power
Reflective motivation
Registered reports
Regressive Bias
Regret Aversion
Regulatory Focus Theory
Reinforcement Theory
Reinforcer
Relapse prevention
Relativity (behavioral economics)
Reliability
REM Sleep
Reminiscence Bump
Remove access to the reward
Remove aversive stimulus
Remove punishment
Remove reward
Repeated Measures Design
Repetition Blindness
Replication crisis
Representative Sample
Representativeness Heuristic
Resilience
Response Bias
Resting State
Resting-state fMRI
Restraint Bias
Restructuring the physical environment
Restructuring the social environment
Reticular Formation
Retroactive Interference
Reuptake
Review behavior goal(s)
Review outcome goal(s)
Reward
Reward alternative behavior
Reward approximation
Reward incompatible behavior
Reward (outcome)
Reward Power
Reward prediction error
Reward Substitution
Rewarding completion
RIASEC and Holland Codes
Risk-as-Feelings Theory
Risk aversion and risk tolerance
Risk Compensation
Rorschach Test
Rosy Retrospection
Salience
Salience Bias
Salience network
Salience of consequences
Sampling bias
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Satiation
Satisficing
Saying-is-Believing Effect
Scannability
Scarcity
Scarcity heuristic
Schwann Cells
Secondary Reinforcer
Secure Attachment
Selection Bias
Selective attention
Selective Exposure
Self-Actualization
Self-categorization theory
Self Control
Self-Determination Theory
Self Efficacy
Self-Esteem
Self-incentive
Self Monitoring
Self-monitoring of behavior
Self-monitoring of outcome(s) of behavior
Self-Perception
Self Perception Theory
Self-Reference Effect
Self-Reflection
Self-Regulation
Self-Relevance Effect
Self-Report Bias
Self-reward
Self-Serving Bias
Self-talk
Semantic Barriers
Semantic Encoding
Semantic Noise
Semmelweis Reflex
Sensemaking
Serial Position Effect
Serotonin
Service blueprint
Service Design
Session replay
Shallow Processing
Shared Information Bias
Signal Detection Theory
Signifier
Similar To Me Bias
Simulation Heuristic
Situation-specific reward
Sludge
Sludge audit
Smart Defaults
SMART Goals
Social Benchmarking
Social comparison
Social contagion
Social Desirability Bias
Social diffusion
Social Environment
Social Facilitation
Social Identity Theory
Social incentive
Social Learning Theory
Social Loafing
Social Neuroscience
Social norm
Social norm messaging
Social opportunity
Social Power
Social preferences
Social proof
Social Reward
Social Support
Social support (emotional)
Social support (practical)
Social support (unspecified)
Socioecological Model
Socioemotional Selectivity Theory
Somatosensory
Source Confusion
Spacing Effect
Spotlight Effect
Stages of Change Model
Stakeholder interview
Standard Economic Model
State-Dependent Memory
Statistical power
Status Quo Bias
Stereotype threat
Stimulus Control
Stimulus Generalization
Storyboard
Strength Deployment Inventory
Stress
Stress reactivity
Striatum
Subadditivity Effect
Subgenual Cortex
Substantia Nigra
Suffix Effect
Suggestibility
Sulcus
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Suppression (emotion regulation)
Surrogation
Survey research
Survivorship Bias
Swiss Cheese Model
Syllogism
Synapse
Synaptic Cleft
Synaptic plasticity
Synaptic Pruning
System One
System Usability Scale
Systematic review
Tachypsychia
Take the Best Heuristic
Tall Poppy Syndrome
Task flow
Task success rate
Telescoping Effect
Temperament and Character Inventory
Temporal construal theory
Temporal Lobe
Temptation bundling
Test Norms and Percentiles
Test–retest reliability
Testing Effect
Thalamus
Thematic Apperception Test
Theoretical Domains Framework
Theory of Planned Behavior
Theory of Reasoned Action
Theta waves
Third-person Effect
Thought Experiment
Thought Process
Three Laws of Human Behavior
Time discounting
Time on task
Time Tax
Timely prompts
Tiny Habits
Tip Of The Tongue Phenomenon
Transcranial Electrical Stimulation
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Transtheoretical Model
Tree testing
Trigger-action plan
Trigger (Fogg Behavior Model)
True Colors Test
Trust
Trust game
Truth Bias
Type A Personality
Type B Personality
Type C Personality
Ultimate Attribution Error
Ultimatum game
Unconditional Positive Regard
Unconditioned Response
Unconditioned Stimulus
Unit Bias
Universal Values
Unmoderated usability testing
Usability
Usability benchmark
Usability testing
User Experience (UX)
User flow
User interview
User journey map
Utility
Utility Expectation Model
UX Design
Vagus Nerve
Value Conflict
Value Hierarchy
Value System
Valued self-identity
Values Clarification
Variable rewards
Vasopressin
Ventral striatum
Ventral Tegmental Area
Ventricular System
Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
Verbal persuasion about capability
Verbatim Effect
Vestibular System
Vicarious consequences
Visual Cortex
Visual hierarchy
Voice of customer
Von Restorff Effect
Warm Glow Giving
Wayfinding
WCAG
Weber-Fechner Law
Wernicke's Area
White matter
Winner's Curse
Wireframe
Wise Interventions
Wizard of Oz testing
Woodworth Personal Data Sheet
Working Memory
Working memory load
Worse-Than-Average Effect
Zeigarnik effect
Zero Price Effect
Zero-Risk Bias
Zone of Proximal Development

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