The COHE glossary of humanist and related terms is offered as a public service to our site visitors. We hope that it will assist you with not only academic work, but also your pursuit of general knowledge about humanism, science, religion, psychology, ethics, politics, and more.

Because glossary terms are defined by the authors of COHE courses in our diverse Study Areas, some show multiple definitions depending on context within those modules. Note also the offering of synonyms (words with identical meanings) for some terms.

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BCE
Humanist Studies [HUM 100]

Before Common Era, a nonreligious replacement for BC (before Christ).

behavior
Psychology and Humanism [PSH 100]

Any observable action of an organism, including actions that can be observed only by using sophisticated technology such as brain imaging techniques.

behavior modification synonym with BeMod
Psychology and Humanism [PSH 100]

Intentionally using the natural principles of learning to systematically influence someone's learning, usually by trying to increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable ones.

BeMod synonym with behavior modification
Psychology and Humanism [PSH 100]

Intentionally using the natural principles of learning to systematically influence someone's learning, usually by trying to increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable ones.

Bill of Rights
Law and Politics [LAP 100]

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, passed to reassure some supporters of the recently ratified Constitution that the federal government would not interfere with individual rights or the states' authority to regulate those rights.

biobehavioral information processing model
Psychology and Humanism [PSH 100]

A psychological theoretical model that attributes all human thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to natural biological causes, and features a natural information processing model of human cognition (thoughts, ideas, memories, concepts, learning, etc.) in contrast with psychodynamic, behavioral, and other cognitive models of psychological theory.

Blaine Amendment
Law and Politics [LAP 100]

A measure unsuccessfully proposed by James G. Blaine in 1875 to amend the U.S. Constitution prohibiting any public funds from supporting religious establishments. The amendment was motivated by anti-Catholic sentiment.

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