Sunk Cost Definition Sunk cost refers to money, time, or effort that has already been spent on a particular endeavor and that cannot be recovered. Economic principles dictate that sunk costs should not be considered when making decisions about whether to continue one’s present course of action or to divert resources elsewhere. Such decisions rationally
Zeal Definition The term zeal came into common usage in reference to a sect of 1st-century-c.E. religious fanatics who were uncompromising in their opposition to Roman rule. Some of them carried daggers under their cloaks and killed anyone who did not fully support their views. Such extremism brought reprisals that ultimately crushed their sect. Accordingly
The term “ego” is today in common usage. People use the term “ego” in a variety of ways. Because the word is in everyday usage, people assume they know what it means. However, a word such as ego varies in the ways in which it can be used. As Wittgenstein sought to explain, we can
Date Rape Definition Date rape refers to forced sexual intercourse without consent that is perpetrated by someone familiar to the victim, usually an acquaintance or date. Although date rape can be perpetrated by women, the typical date rape occurs when a man uses physical or psychological intimidation to force a woman to have intercourse against
Rape occurs when one individual forces another into sexual intercourse against his or her will. Other instances in which one of the individuals participates in sexual acts without fully consenting to them (e.g., unwanted kissing) are encompassed within the more general term sexual coercion. Males are much more frequently than females the perpetrators of rape
Babies learn to speak by listening to their caretakers. People help them by modulating the sounds of speech in fundamentally the same way. A topic of much speculation among researchers who study language acquisition is the observation that caretakers consistently address their infants in this unique tone and manner of voice, a form that has
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy approach used to process distressing memories that are the basis of a wide range of clinical complaints. Comprehensive treatment includes attention to past, present, and future not only to address overt symptoms but also to increase attributes associated with a positive quality of life. Eye movement
A motor phenomenon affecting golfers, the yips consist of involuntary movements during the performance of shots requiring fine motor control, such as chipping and putting. Although the yips are mainly reported by golfers, the psychological characteristics of a small group of cricket bowlers who experience yips-like symptoms have also been reported, suggesting the condition is
Job loss is a stressful life event in which employees involuntarily lose their current job, marking the start of a state called unemployment. Historically, job loss has gained research attention from several academic disciplines including economics, sociology, and psychology. From the psychological perspective, job loss research can be categorized into two major streams. The first