Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: A List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and Phrases
The goal of this article is to promote clear thinking and clear writing among students and teachers of psychological science by curbing terminological misinformation and confusion. To this end, we present a provisional list of 50 commonly used terms in psychology, psychiatry, and allied fields that...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2015-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01100/full |
| _version_ | 1811201797269749760 |
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| author | Scott O Lilienfeld Katheryn eSauvigne Steven Jay Lynn Robert D Latzman Robin eCautin Irwin D. Waldman |
| author_facet | Scott O Lilienfeld Katheryn eSauvigne Steven Jay Lynn Robert D Latzman Robin eCautin Irwin D. Waldman |
| author_sort | Scott O Lilienfeld |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The goal of this article is to promote clear thinking and clear writing among students and teachers of psychological science by curbing terminological misinformation and confusion. To this end, we present a provisional list of 50 commonly used terms in psychology, psychiatry, and allied fields that should be avoided, or at most used sparingly and with explicit caveats. We provide corrective information for students, instructors, and researchers regarding these terms, which we organize for expository purposes into five categories: inaccurate or misleading terms, frequently misused terms, ambiguous terms, oxymorons, and pleonasms. For each term, we (a) explain why it is problematic, (b) delineate one or more examples of its misuse, and (c) when pertinent, offer recommendations for preferable terms. By being more judicious in their use of terminology, psychologists and psychiatrists can foster clearer thinking in their students and the field at large regarding mental phenomena. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:27:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-86ffc4facf2449a1a1228ccfae18eafd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T02:27:56Z |
| publishDate | 2015-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-86ffc4facf2449a1a1228ccfae18eafd2022-12-22T03:51:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782015-08-01610.3389/fpsyg.2015.01100147581Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: A List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and PhrasesScott O Lilienfeld0Katheryn eSauvigne1Steven Jay Lynn2Robert D Latzman3Robin eCautin4Irwin D. Waldman5Emory UniversityGeorgia State UniversityBinghamton University, State University of New YorkGeorgia State UniversitySacred Heart UniversityEmory UniversityThe goal of this article is to promote clear thinking and clear writing among students and teachers of psychological science by curbing terminological misinformation and confusion. To this end, we present a provisional list of 50 commonly used terms in psychology, psychiatry, and allied fields that should be avoided, or at most used sparingly and with explicit caveats. We provide corrective information for students, instructors, and researchers regarding these terms, which we organize for expository purposes into five categories: inaccurate or misleading terms, frequently misused terms, ambiguous terms, oxymorons, and pleonasms. For each term, we (a) explain why it is problematic, (b) delineate one or more examples of its misuse, and (c) when pertinent, offer recommendations for preferable terms. By being more judicious in their use of terminology, psychologists and psychiatrists can foster clearer thinking in their students and the field at large regarding mental phenomena.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01100/fullmisconceptionsMisunderstandingsscientific thinking.terminology;jingle and jangle fallacies |
| spellingShingle | Scott O Lilienfeld Katheryn eSauvigne Steven Jay Lynn Robert D Latzman Robin eCautin Irwin D. Waldman Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: A List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and Phrases Frontiers in Psychology misconceptions Misunderstandings scientific thinking. terminology; jingle and jangle fallacies |
| title | Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: A List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and Phrases |
| title_full | Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: A List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and Phrases |
| title_fullStr | Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: A List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and Phrases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: A List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and Phrases |
| title_short | Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: A List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and Phrases |
| title_sort | fifty psychological and psychiatric terms to avoid a list of inaccurate misleading misused ambiguous and logically confused words and phrases |
| topic | misconceptions Misunderstandings scientific thinking. terminology; jingle and jangle fallacies |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01100/full |
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