What does the Psychologie et Serenite CBT glossary contain?

The glossary centralizes 100+ essential terms in cognitive behavioral psychology: attachment concepts (Bowlby, Ainsworth, Bartholomew), early maladaptive schemas (Young), cognitive distortions (Beck), 4 horsemen model (Gottman), ACT (Hayes), MBCT (Segal, Williams, Teasdale), popular notions (no contact, ghosting, gaslighting, love bombing). Each term is associated with a short definition, reference authors, and a conceptual founding year when relevant.

How are terms selected and organized?

Terms are selected on three criteria: recurrence in peer-reviewed scientific literature, clinical usefulness for understanding blog articles and psychometric tests, frequent reader requests. They are organized by categories (attachment, schemas, CBT, distortions, couple, ACT/MBCT, popular, pathology) for easy navigation. Each term has a URL anchor allowing a direct link from an article or external share.

Is the glossary accessible to non-specialists?

Yes. Definitions are deliberately short (2 to 4 sentences), written in accessible language, and avoid unexplained jargon. Each term refers to its original authors for deeper exploration, but stand-alone reading is possible without prior training. The glossary is designed to serve curious readers, psychology students, professionals wishing to harmonize their vocabulary with the general public, and journalists or writers looking for a reliable definition.

Is the glossary available as open data?

Yes. The glossary is published under CC-BY 4.0 and accessible via the public API at /api/v1/concepts. It is also integrated into the bilingual Hugging Face/Kaggle dataset. The JSON-LD DefinedTermSet schema is embedded in the page, allowing search engines and AIs to extract each structured definition. Citation required: Gildas Garrec — Psychologie et Serenite (Wikidata Q138729009).

CBT Glossary

94 cognitive behavioral psychology terms and associated clinical concepts (attachment, schemas, cognitive distortions, couples, ACT, MBCT). Short definitions with authors and peer-reviewed sources.

Attachment

Anxious attachment(attachement préoccupé, attachement ambivalent): Attachment style marked by fear of abandonment, a constant need for reassurance, and hypersensitivity to the partner’s signals. ~20-25% of adults.
Disorganized attachment(attachement craintif, attachement disorganized): The most complex attachment style, with unpredictable oscillation between fusion and flight. Often linked to early trauma. ~5-10% of adults.
Avoidant attachment(attachement détaché, attachement dismissive): Attachment style marked by discomfort with intimacy, a valuing of independence, and withdrawal under pressure. ~20-25% of adults.
Secure attachment: Attachment style characterized by a fundamental trust in others and in oneself, the ability to give and receive love without excessive fear of abandonment or engulfment. About 50-60% of the adult population.John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, Kim Bartholomew (1969)
Secure base: A person or setting that enables exploration and emotional risk-taking thanks to a sense of fundamental safety. A key concept of attachment theory (Bowlby).John Bowlby
Attachment figure: A person who serves as a secure base and emotional anchor for the child (usually the mother, sometimes the father).John Bowlby
Internal working model(MIO, IWM, internal working model): Unconscious representations of oneself, others and the relationship, formed in early childhood, which structure adult relationships.John Bowlby
Strange situation: Ainsworth’s experimental protocol (1978) for assessing attachment style in 12-18 month-old children by observing their reactions to separation and reunion.Mary Ainsworth (1978)

Cognition

Confirmation bias: Tendency to seek out, interpret and remember information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs.
Catastrophizing: Disproportionate amplification of the possible negative consequences of a situation.Aaron Beck
Should statements(shoulding, must): Imposing strict rules on oneself or others ("I must be perfect", "he must understand me").Albert Ellis
Disqualifying the positive: Rejecting positive experiences by attributing them to luck or circumstances.Aaron Beck
Cognitive dissonance: Psychological discomfort felt when two beliefs or behaviors are in contradiction. Festinger’s theory (1957).Leon Festinger (1957)
Dunning-Kruger effect: Bias: people with low competence in a field overestimate their competence (Dunning & Kruger, 1999).David Dunning, Justin Kruger (1999)
Zeigarnik effect: Unfinished tasks are remembered better than completed ones. Partly explains why unfinished breakups become obsessive.Bluma Zeigarnik
Fortune telling: Negative anticipation of the future as if it were certain: "I am going to fail", "he is going to leave me".Aaron Beck
Labeling: Applying a global label to oneself or others based on an isolated behavior: "I am a failure".Aaron Beck
Mental filter: Cognitive selection that retains only the negative elements of a situation, ignoring the positive ones.Aaron Beck
Mind reading(mind reading): Concluding what others think or feel without verification: "he didn’t reply, he must be angry".Aaron Beck
All-or-nothing thinking(pensée dichotomique, pensée noir et blanc): Binary cognitive pattern: "everything is perfect" or "everything is a disaster", with no intermediate nuance.Aaron Beck, David Burns
Personalization: Attributing to oneself responsibility for negative events unrelated to one’s actions.Aaron Beck
Emotional reasoning: Treating one’s emotions as a reflection of reality: "I feel worthless, so I am worthless".Aaron Beck
Mental rumination: Repetitive, passive thinking about negative content (the past, oneself, problems). A strong predictor of depression.
Overgeneralization: Drawing a general conclusion from an isolated event: "he cancelled one appointment → he never keeps his commitments".Aaron Beck

Couples

Consummate love(consummate love): A balanced combination of the 3 components (intimacy + passion + commitment). Ideal but difficult to maintain.Robert Sternberg
Passionate love: Passion without intimacy or lasting commitment. Typical state at the start of a relationship, generally transient (12-24 months).Robert Sternberg, Helen Fisher
Bid for connection(demande de connexion): An attempt at emotional connection (a look, a touch, a word). Stable couples respond positively more than 85% of the time.John Gottman
Criticism (horseman): A global attack on the partner’s character ("you are selfish") rather than the expression of a specific need.John Gottman
Defensiveness: Systematic refusal to accept any share of responsibility, with counter-attacks or constant justification.John Gottman
Love languages: Five ways of expressing love: words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, physical touch.Gary Chapman (1992)
Love map(carte de l'amour): In-depth knowledge of the partner’s inner world (dreams, fears, values, history). Pillar #1 of the Gottman model.John Gottman
Contempt(contempt): The worst of the 4 horsemen: sarcasm, sneering, humiliation that signal disgust toward the partner.John Gottman
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse(four horsemen): Four toxic behaviors that predict divorce, identified by John Gottman: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, stonewalling.John Gottman (1999)
5:1 ratio: For a stable relationship, there must be 5 positive interactions for every negative one (Gottman).John Gottman
Stonewalling(stonewalling): The wall of silence: disconnecting emotionally, no longer responding, leaving the room. More frequent in men.John Gottman
Triangular theory of love: Sternberg’s model combining 3 components: intimacy, passion, commitment. Generates 7 types of love depending on their combination.Robert Sternberg (1986)

Schemas (Young)

Abandonment schema: Unconscious conviction that significant figures will eventually leave. Activated at the slightest sign of emotional distancing. One of Young’s 18 schemas.Jeffrey Young
Subjugation schema: Excessive submission to the needs and desires of others to avoid conflict, abandonment or rejection.Jeffrey Young
Failure schema: Deep conviction of being incapable of succeeding, of being inferior to others in areas of performance.Jeffrey Young
Unrelenting standards schema(unrelenting standards): Very high internal standards that make satisfaction impossible. Linked to perfectionism and procrastination.Jeffrey Young
Defectiveness / shame schema(defectiveness/shame): The feeling of being fundamentally flawed, bad or unworthy. Generates chronic shame and avoidance of intimacy.Jeffrey Young
Emotional inhibition schema: Excessive inhibition of spontaneous actions, feelings and communication in order to maintain internal control.Jeffrey Young
Social isolation schema: The feeling of being fundamentally different from others, of not belonging to any group.Jeffrey Young
Dependence / incompetence schema: Conviction of being unable to handle one’s daily responsibilities without the constant help of others.Jeffrey Young
Entitlement schema(entitlement): Conviction of deserving special treatment, of being above the rules.Jeffrey Young
Enmeshment schema(enmeshment): Excessive emotional bond with a parental figure at the expense of individual development.Jeffrey Young
Emotional deprivation schema: Conviction that fundamental emotional needs will never be adequately met by others.Jeffrey Young
Mistrust / abuse schema(mistrust/abuse): Conviction that others will manipulate, betray or cause harm. Built following early experiences of abuse.Jeffrey Young
Negativity / pessimism schema: Persistent focus on the negative aspects of the present and future, anticipating that things will go wrong.Jeffrey Young
Punitiveness schema: Conviction that people (including oneself) should be severely punished for their mistakes.Jeffrey Young
Self-sacrifice schema: Tendency to give to others at the expense of one’s own needs, in a posture of excessive caregiving.Jeffrey Young
Vulnerability schema: Chronic anticipation of catastrophes (medical, financial, natural, emotional).Jeffrey Young

Mindfulness

Acceptance: ACT stance consisting of welcoming thoughts and emotions without trying to suppress or control them.Steven Hayes
Cognitive defusion: ACT technique consisting of distancing oneself from one’s thoughts rather than experiencing them as absolute truths.Steven Hayes
Experiential avoidance: Attempting to suppress, change or escape unpleasant emotions, thoughts or sensations. A central concept in ACT.Steven Hayes
Psychological flexibility: Central concept of ACT: the ability to stay in contact with the present and act according to one’s values despite difficult emotions.Steven Hayes
Mindfulness(mindfulness): Sustained, intentional and non-judgmental attention to the present moment. The basis of MBCT and MBSR.Jon Kabat-Zinn
Values (ACT): Chosen life directions (not attainable goals). A compass for committed action.Steven Hayes

Emotions

Alexithymia: Difficulty identifying and describing one’s emotions, and distinguishing emotions from bodily sensations.
Anticipatory anxiety: Anxiety triggered by the anticipation of a feared future situation, sometimes more intense than the situation itself.
Hypervigilance: A state of permanent alertness to a potential danger. A central symptom of PTSD and generalized anxiety.

Popular concepts

Breadcrumbing: Giving crumbs of attention (occasional messages) to keep the other person waiting without real commitment.
Gaslighting: Manipulation aimed at making the victim doubt their perception of reality ("you are making it up", "you are exaggerating").
Ghosting: Sudden disappearance of a partner without explanation (breaking up through silence). Often linked to avoidant attachment.
Limerence: An obsessive state of unrequited passionate love (Tennov, 1979). Intrusive thoughts, neurochemical dependency.Dorothy Tennov (1979)
Love bombing(inondation amoureuse): Initial affective bombardment (declarations, gifts, excessive compliments) followed by devaluation. A manipulation tactic.
No contact(silence radio, NC): Post-breakup method: cutting off all communication with the ex for 60-90 days to allow neurochemical regulation.
Trauma bonding(lien traumatique): Intense attachment bond formed with an abuser through the abuse-reconciliation cycle. Involves oxytocin + dopamine.

Disorders

Generalized anxiety (GAD)(TAG, GAD): Chronic anxiety disorder: excessive worries about multiple subjects, muscle tension, sleep disturbances. GAD-7 scale.
Panic attack: An intense anxiety crisis with physical symptoms (palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath). Peaks within 10 minutes, typical duration 20-30 min.
Burnout(épuisement professionnel): Occupational exhaustion syndrome: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, reduced sense of accomplishment.
Emotional codependency: A pattern where identity and happiness depend excessively on the relationship with another. Often rooted in childhood with a dysfunctional parent.Robin Norwood, Pia Mellody
Major depression: Disorder characterized by depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue, rumination. Diagnosed via DSM-5 or the PHQ-9 scale.
Dissociation: A defense mechanism in the face of trauma: disconnection between thoughts, bodily sensations and emotions. A sense of unreality.
Coercive control: Gradual psychological domination leading to loss of autonomy, isolation and emotional dependency.
Post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD, ESPT): Disorder occurring after exposure to a traumatic event: flashbacks, avoidance, hypervigilance. DSM-5.
Flashback: Intrusive re-experiencing of a traumatic experience, often with sensory components (images, sounds, sensations).
Identification with the aggressor: Defense mechanism (Ferenczi, A. Freud): the victim internalizes the aggressor’s values to reduce anxiety.Sándor Ferenczi, Anna Freud
Retroactive jealousy: Obsession with the partner’s romantic and sexual past. A pattern close to OCD.
Narcissistic abuser(PN, narcissisme malin): Psychological profile characterized by lack of empathy, manipulation, devaluation. A debated clinical concept (vs narcissistic personality disorder).
Social phobia(anxiété sociale): Intense anxiety in social situations due to fear of judgment, humiliation or performance.
Projection: Defense mechanism: attributing to others one’s own unacceptable thoughts or emotions.Sigmund Freud
OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder): Disorder characterized by obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and/or compulsions (rituals) aimed at reducing anxiety.

Methods

Feedback loop(feedback loop): A cycle where an emotion feeds a behavior that amplifies the emotion (e.g. anxiety → avoidance → increased anxiety).
Cardiac coherence: Breathing technique (5 sec inhale / 5 sec exhale, 5 min, 3×/day) that modulates the autonomic nervous system.
Nonviolent communication (NVC)(CNV, NVC): A 4-step communication method (observation, feeling, need, request) developed by Marshall Rosenberg.Marshall Rosenberg
Graded exposure: Progressive confrontation with an anxiety-provoking stimulus to allow the extinction of fear. Indicated for phobias and OCD.
Thought record: CBT tool: note the situation → automatic thought → emotion (intensity 0-10) → alternative thought → new emotion.
ABC model: Activating event (situation) → Belief → Consequence (emotion/behavior). A basic CBT tool.Albert Ellis
Cognitive restructuring: CBT technique for identifying, examining and modifying dysfunctional thoughts through Socratic questioning.Aaron Beck

Development

Abandonment wound: Psychological imprint of the early absence or withdrawal of a significant figure. Activates Young’s abandonment schema.
Chronotype: Biological preference for the morning (lark) or the evening (owl). Influences sleep, performance and mood.
Parentification: Reversal of parent-child roles: the child takes emotional or material care of the parent.
Absent father: Physical or emotional absence of the father in the child’s development. 6 major psychological consequences in adulthood.Guy Corneau

This glossary is also available as JSON via the public API: /api/v1/concepts. Licensed under CC-BY 4.0. Citation: Gildas Garrec — Psychology & Serenity (Wikidata Q138729009).