Psychology is another minor category that can appear on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT). Don’t worry — you’re not expected to open up your own therapy practice in order to pass the MAT, but you should familiarize yourself with some common psychological terms and the people who have made major contributions to the field. The following lists are a selection of important psychology figures and terms.
Psychology terms that appear on the MAT test
Brush up on your knowledge of psychology by studying these terms and their definitions.
Acute stress reaction: Shock; response to a traumatizing event
Alcoholism: Addiction to alcoholic beverages
Alzheimer’s disease: Form of dementia; loss of memory
Anorexia nervosa: Eating disorder in which a person does not eat much and believes, falsely, that he is overweight
Archetype: A universally understood model of a personality or behavior
Attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): Behavioral disorder in which the person is inattentive and hyperactive
Behaviorism: Belief that all actions of an organism are influenced by its environment
Bulimia: Eating disorder in which the person binges and purges
Classical conditioning (AKA Pavlovian conditioning or respondent conditioning): Learning method in which a first stimulus signals a second stimulus
Ego: According to Freud, the part of the mind that seeks to meet the needs of the id in reality
Id: According to Freud, the part of the mind that contains basic instincts
Instinct: Innate inclination toward a behavior
IQ (Intelligence Quotient): A score on a standardized test designed to measure intelligence; 100 is average
Operant Conditioning (AKA instrumental conditioning): Learning method in which the consequences of behavior determine whether that behavior will be repeated
Psychiatrist: Doctor who treats mental illnesses and can prescribe medicine
Psychoanalysis: Therapy in which patient verbalizes thoughts and then confronts defense mechanisms
Psychologist: A trained professional who helps others achieve better well-being and reduce dysfunction
Super-ego: According to Freud, the part of the mind that is our conscience; formed by influences from figures of authority
Important figures in the field of psychology
The following lists important people in the field of psychology you should become familiar with before taking the MAT.
Adler, Alfred: Austrian doctor who studied the inferiority complex
Binet, Alfred: French psychologist who invented the first IQ test with Théodore Simon
Ekman, Paul: American psychologist who studied facial expression and emotion
Erikson, Erik: American psychologist who theorized on human development
Freud, Sigmund: Austrian founder of psychoanalysis who studied dreams
Gibson, James: American psychologist who worked in the field of visual perception
Jung, Carl: Swiss psychiatrist who defined personality types
Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth: Swiss-American psychiatrist who studied near-death, death, and dying
Maslow, Abraham: American psychologist who created a hierarchy of human needs
Pavlov, Ivan: Russian psychologist who explained the conditioned reflex by ringing a bell and then feeding dogs
Rogers, Carl: American psychologist who was known for his humanistic approach, he helped found psychotherapy
Simon, Théodore: French psychologist who invented first IQ test with Alfred Binet
Skinner, B. F.: American psychologist who studied behavior and reinforcement
Watson, John B.: American psychologist who established behaviorism
