Psychology Terms

Retrograde amnesia

Loss of access to memories that were formed BEFORE the onset of amnesia.

Retrograde: Cannot recall old things.

Forgetting personal history, such as childhood memories or events leading up to an accident.

Anterograde amnesia

Inability to create new long-term memories or retain information AFTER a trauma or injury.

• Anterograde: Cannot learn new things.

Daily events, new acquaintances, and learning new skills are forgotten quickly.

Visual Agnosia

Visual agnosia is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize objects, faces, or places despite having intact vision and the ability to see them clearly.

Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Development

Oral Stage (Birth to 1 year): Focus is on the mouth (sucking, biting, feeding). Conflict involves weaning. Fixation may lead to dependency, smoking, or nail-biting.

Anal Stage (1 to 3 years): Focus is on bowel/bladder control (defecation). Conflict involves potty training. Fixation may result in anal-retentive (orderly, rigid) or anal-expulsive (messy, disorganized) personalities

Phallic Stage (3 to 6 years): Focus shifts to the genitals. Children experience the Oedipus/Electra complex, leading to identification with the same-sex parent.

Latency Stage (6 years to puberty): Sexual urges are repressed or dormant. Energy is instead focused on social skills, friendships, school, and hobbies.

Genital Stage (Puberty to death): Sexual interest matures and is directed toward peers. The focus is on balance between work and love, signifying a healthy adult personality.