Definition and meaning of biological marker:

biological marker - a measurable and quantifiable biological parameter which serves as an index for health and physiology related assessments, such as disease risk, environmental exposure and its effects, disease diagnosis, metabolic processes, and epidemiologic studies; also called "biomarker"

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of biomarker:

biomarker - a molecular marker associated with a biological function; a physical, functional, or biochemical indicator (eg, the presence of a particular metabolite) of a physiological or disease process; a chemical compound produced by a specific organism that can be used as an indicator for the presence of that organism

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of courtship behavior:

courtship behavior - specialized behavior patterns which contribute to the psychological and physiological synchronization of potential mating partners

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of mammalian dive reflex:

mammalian dive reflex - the physiological responses, including bradycardia and shutdown of the peripheral circulation, which occurs during dives by an air-breathing vertebrate

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of metabolic pathway:

metabolic pathway - a set of oriented reactions interacting under given physiological conditions via simple or apparently simple intermediates. There are relatively few metabolic pathways, but each of these can be broken down into many individual, enzyme-specific, catalysed steps

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of interoreceptor:

interoreceptor - a neurological receptor that is located within the organism's body and detects physiological changes, e.g. pH, temperature, chemicals in blood

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of optimum:

optimum - a state that is the best fit for the current situation. All minor changes make the situation worse; in biology, it is the level of some environmental factor, within a species' or population's tolerance range, at which the species or population can function most efficiently or with the greatest positive effect to its physiological or reproductive fitness

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of race:

race - a distinguishable group of organisms of a particular species that is geographically, ecologically, physiologically, physically, and/or genetically distinct from other members of the species

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of specific action potential:

specific action potential - instinctive behavior, triggered by internal chemico-physiological factors that builds to a certain level, and allows the behavior to take place. This build up is called the specific action potential. It is responsible for an animal performing one behavior in preference to other behaviors

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of zoology:

zoology - the scientific study of animal life. Zoological sciences include the studies of evolution, systematics, cell biology, biochemistry, micro and macro anatomy, development, genetics, physiology, ecology, biogeography, biodiversity, behavior and sociobiology

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Definition and meaning of Self-Esteem

Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, Expectancy - [Psychology]

Self-esteem is the value a person ascribes to himself or herself. It is a psychological need identified by Abraham Maslow in his Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow felt everyone acted to win approval, recognition, and a sense of achievement, but these were difficult to attain if basic human needs like food and clothing were not met. Once people satisfied these physiological and safety needs, they could consider realizing psychological needs of self-esteem and love. Self-efficacy is a person's perception of his or her own effectiveness or confidence in his or her ability to perform a particular test. It is part of the self-actualizing needs, the need to fulfill individual potential, which constitute the peak of Maslow's needs. In striving to attain these goals, people often act in ways which influence other people's perceptions. Attribution theory considers such actions self-serving. Expectancy relates to a person's expectations based on prior experience.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of Associationism

Associationism - [Psychology]

The principals of associationism derived from the writings of two Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle posited that the process of recall involved remembering one thing as well as other things like it, different from it, or accompanied by it in the original experience. Thus, the ability to recall something related to the things associated with it. Three philosophers of the Enlightenment, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and David Hume furthered the inquiry related to ideas, thoughts, and understanding. Locke coined the phrase, "association of ideas." Associationism influenced a wider audience following the publication of David Hartley's Observations on Man, in 1749. In it, Hartley stressed the role of contiguity as an explanation for the passage from sensation to idea and from one idea to another. Associationism formed the basis of physiological psychology.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of Human Motivation

Human Motivation - [Sociology]

Humans are motivated by both physical needs and personal goals. The physical needs are driven by physiological factors and the personal goals are often influenced by society. Biology motivates animals to search for food or water. Society and biology motivate humans. Thus, people are influenced by both animal and human motivation. Social motives are often learned from interactions with people. Students hoping to attend college are more motivated to get good grades than are students who do not consider a college education as a part of their future. People who work hard are motivated by desires to excel, earn money, or gain praise.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of Self-Esteem

Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, Expectancy - [Psychology]

Self-esteem is the value a person ascribes to himself or herself. It is a psychological need identified by Abraham Maslow in his Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow felt everyone acted to win approval, recognition, and a sense of achievement, but these were difficult to attain if basic human needs like food and clothing were not met. Once people satisfied these physiological and safety needs, they could consider realizing psychological needs of self-esteem and love. Self-efficacy is a person's perception of his or her own effectiveness or confidence in his or her ability to perform a particular test. It is part of the self-actualizing needs, the need to fulfill individual potential, which constitute the peak of Maslow's needs. In striving to attain these goals, people often act in ways which influence other people's perceptions. Attribution theory considers such actions self-serving. Expectancy relates to a person's expectations based on prior experience.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of Human Motivation

Human Motivation - [Sociology]

Humans are motivated by both physical needs and personal goals. The physical needs are driven by physiological factors and the personal goals are often influenced by society. Biology motivates animals to search for food or water. Society and biology motivate humans. Thus, people are influenced by both animal and human motivation. Social motives are often learned from interactions with people. Students hoping to attend college are more motivated to get good grades than are students who do not consider a college education as a part of their future. People who work hard are motivated by desires to excel, earn money, or gain praise.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Definition and meaning of Associationism

Associationism - [Psychology]

The principals of associationism derived from the writings of two Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle. Aristotle posited that the process of recall involved remembering one thing as well as other things like it, different from it, or accompanied by it in the original experience. Thus, the ability to recall something related to the things associated with it. Three philosophers of the Enlightenment, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and David Hume furthered the inquiry related to ideas, thoughts, and understanding. Locke coined the phrase, "association of ideas." Associationism influenced a wider audience following the publication of David Hartley's Observations on Man, in 1749. In it, Hartley stressed the role of contiguity as an explanation for the passage from sensation to idea and from one idea to another. Associationism formed the basis of physiological psychology.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Lycanthropy (Ancient Greek). Physiologically, a disease or mania, during which a person imagines he is a wolf, and acts as such. Occultly, it means the same as "were-wolf", the psychological faculty of certain sorcerers to appear as wolves. Voltaire states that in the district of Jura, in two years between 1598 and 1600, over 600 lycanthropes were put to death by a too Christian judge.

 This does not mean that Shepherds accused of sorcery, and seen as wolves, had indeed the power of changing themselves physically into such; but simply that they had the hypnotizing power of making people (or those they regarded as enemies), believe they saw a wolf when there was none in fact. The exercise of such power is truly sorcery. "Demoniacal" possession is true at bottom, minus the devils of Christian theology. But this is no place for a long disquisition upon occult mysteries and magic powers.

(See also: Lycanthropy, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Pasa (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root pas to fasten, bind]

A snare, noose, tie, bond, chain, fetter -- both literally and figuratively. Especially used in connection with Yama, the Hindu god of death, represented as carrying a noose. The Jains and Buddhists use the term for anything that binds or fetters the soul, e.g., the outer world of matter and sense. "As an emblem of 'door, gate, mouth, the place of outlet' it signifies the 'strait gate' that leads to the kingdom of heaven, far more than the 'birth-place' in a physiological sense.

"It is a Cross in a Circle and Crux Ansata, truly; but it is a Cross on which all the human passions have to be crucified before the Yogi passes through the 'strait gate,' the narrow circle that widens into an infinite one, as soon as the inner man has passed the threshold" (SD 2:549).

(See also: Pasa, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Ida (-nadi) (Sanskrit) (from ida refreshment + nadi tubular vessel)

One of the three channels forming the spinal column of the body, which are the main avenues for not only the psychovital economy of the body, but likewise for spiritual and intellectual currents between the head and the body proper. In occultism the spinal column plays many physiological roles, but is especially threefold in its functions.

The central channel is called the sushumna-nadi, with a channel on either side: the pingala-nadi on the right, and the ida-nadi on the left, although sometimes these positions are given as reversed. All the chakras are connected with the spinal column and the nadis "by the nervous and sympathetic systems as well as by the blood vessels.

In occultism the spinal column is not only an organ, but it is actually threefold in its functions, being the foundation of the pranic vitality of the body, driven by the kama of pingala and more or less controlled by the higher manasic or directing attributes of ida" (FSO 462).

(See also: Ida, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Incubus (Latin) (from in upon + cub lie)

The nightmare, regarded as an astral goblin which lies upon the sleeper. Modern medicine regards it as a subjective impression produced by physiological disorders, but we must take into account as well the lower strata of the astral light, teeming with soulless elementals as well as astral vampires or elementaries, ready to take advantage of unguarded and disordered conditions.

Also a goblin which, in medieval belief, holds sexual intercourse with human beings, a belief found elsewhere, as in India, where the term used is pisacha. Incubi are sometimes spoken of as of either sex, but properly succuba is used for the female.

They are "Ghools, Vampires, and soulless Elementals; formless centres of Life, devoid of sense; in short, subjective protoplasms when left alone, but called into a definite being and form by the creative and diseased imagination of certain mortals" (TG 154). Thus it is the lustful imagination and vitality of the victim that gives these beings their power upon him; without that, they are powerless and not to be feared.

(See also: Incubus, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Asana (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root as to sit quietly)

One of the postures adopted by Hindu ascetics; five are usually enumerated, although nearly ninety have been noted. However, they are not of deep spiritual value or meaning: "Providing that the position of the body be comfortable so that the mind is least distracted, genuine meditation and spiritual and actual introspection can be readily and successfully attained by any earnest student without the slightest attention being paid to these various postures.

A man may be sitting quietly in his arm-chair, or lying in his bed at night, or sitting or lying on the grass in a forest, and can more readily enter the inner worlds than by adopting and following any one or more of these various Asanas, which at the best are physiological aids of relatively small value" (OG 7).

(See also: Asana, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Abortion The destruction of the fetus in the uterus. The issues involved in the act are more vital and far-reaching than is generally suspected. Blavatsky in classifying feticide as unjustifiable murder, says: "yet it is neither from the standpoint of law, nor from any argument drawn from one or another orthodox ism that the warning voice is sent forth against the immoral and dangerous practice, but rather in occult philosophy both physiology and psychology show the disastrous consequence. . . .

For, indeed, when even successful and the mother does not die just then, it still shortens her life on earth to prolong it with dreary percentage in Kamaloka, the intermediate sphere between the earth and the region of rest, . . . a necessary halting place in the evolution of the degree of life. The crime committed lies precisely in the wilful and sinful destruction of life, and interference with the operations of nature, hence -- with Karma -- that of the mother and the would-be future human being. The sin is not regarded by theosophists as one of a religious character, . . . But foeticide is a crime against nature" (BCW 5:107-8).

(See also: Abortion, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)