Glossary
671
displacement. Transferring an
emotion connected with
one person or thing to an
unrelated person or thing; a
defense mechanism. (3)
divorce. A legal dissolution of the
marriage contract. (12)
domestic violence. Violence
between intimate friends or
family members, including
spouses, children, or older
adults. (19)
down payment. The initial
payment made to buy a home
or item, which is usually
a percentage of the total
purchase price. (22)
drug. A substance, other than food,
that has an effect on one or more
systems of the body, especially
the central nervous system. (7)
drug abuse. Deliberately taking
a substance for other than
its intended purpose, and
in a manner that can result
in damage to the person’s
health or his or her ability to
function. (7)
drug misuse. Taking a substance
for its intended purpose,
but not in the appropriate
amount, frequency, strength,
or manner. (7)
drug use. The taking of a drug for
its intended purposes, in the
appropriate amount, frequency,
strength, and manner. (7)
dual-career families. Families in
which both the husband and
the wife are employed. (18)
dysfunctional family. Family
system in which one or more
family members do not fulfi ll
their responsibilities, throwing
the system out of balance. (14)
E
eclampsia. The occurrence
of seizures following
preeclampsia. (8)
ecology. The science of relationships
between living things and their
environment. (22)
ecosystem. Community of living
things together with their
physical environment. (22)
emotional abuse. Any
nonphysical behavior or
attitude that damages
a person’s self-esteem.
Humiliation, name-calling,
yelling, intimidation, and
verbal threats are all forms of
emotional abuse. (10)
emotional development/growth.
The continuing refi nement
of emotions or mental states
that causes a person to act in a
certain way. (1, 16)
emotional neglect. The failure to
provide children with love,
support, and affection. (19)
empathy. The process of seeing
things from another person’s
point of view. (9)