IELTS Reading Concepts and Vocabulary Unit 14: Psychology

In this unit, you will learn essential vocabulary related to psychology, including words like fear, anxiety, attachment, and therapy. These terms frequently appear in IELTS Reading passages, so mastering them will enhance your understanding of the texts. Moreover, exploring how early life experiences shape adult behavior provides valuable insight useful both for exams and everyday life.

Xem lại bài trước: IELTS Reading Concepts and Vocabulary Unit 13: Historical Events

Mở đầu

“Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior, focusing on how people think, feel, and act. It involves understanding emotions, thoughts, and actions, as well as how individuals interact with others. This unit will introduce you to key vocabulary related to psychology, which is essential for understanding IELTS Reading passages on this topic.

Tâm lý học là nghiên cứu về tâm trí và hành vi con người, tập trung vào cách mọi người suy nghĩ, cảm nhận và hành động. Nó bao gồm việc hiểu các cảm xúc, suy nghĩ và hành động, cũng như cách mỗi cá nhân tương tác với người khác. Đơn vị học này sẽ giới thiệu cho bạn các từ vựng quan trọng liên quan đến tâm lý học, rất cần thiết để hiểu các bài đọc IELTS về chủ đề này.”

Before You Read

Connect with the topic. Check (✓) your answers to these questions about psychology:

Do you think understanding our emotions can help us in daily life?

a) Yes

b) No

Can your feelings affect how you behave?

a) Yes

b) No

Which of these is most closely related to how we learn and remember things?

a) Behavior

b) Cognition

c) Emotion

d) Motivation

If someone is feeling very worried or scared often, what might they be experiencing?

a) High motivation

b) Strong perception

c) Increased stress

d) Positive personality

Part A. Reading

Passage: Fear of Abandonment in Romantic Relationships

Fear of abandonment is a common feature of the anxious attachment style, especially in romantic relationships. People who struggle with this fear often worry that their partner might leave them, even when there is no clear sign of danger. This deep fear usually starts in childhood, when a child receives inconsistent care from parents or caregivers. For example, if a caregiver gives love and attention one day but ignores the child the next, the child may grow up believing that love can disappear at any time.

As adults, these individuals often feel unsafe in relationships and constantly seek reassurance. A simple delay in replying to a message or a change in tone may cause them to panic. They might overthink small problems, believing that their partner is upset or planning to end the relationship. This can lead to repeated calling or texting, asking the partner if “everything is okay,” even when nothing is wrong. Over time, this behaviour can put stress on both partners.

People with a fear of abandonment may also blame themselves when things go wrong. They believe they must always act perfectly or meet all of their partner’s needs to avoid being rejected. This pressure can cause anxiety and low self-esteem. In some cases, they may even stay in unhealthy or one-sided relationships because the idea of being alone feels worse than being treated badly.

Fortunately, there are ways to reduce this fear. Learning to identify the difference between real danger and imagined fear is an important first step. Therapy and open communication with a partner can also help. People with anxious attachment need to build trust slowly, not only in others but also in themselves.

Fear of abandonment is painful, but it doesn’t have to control a relationship. With patience, understanding, and the right support, people can learn to manage their anxiety and enjoy more secure and healthy connections.

Xem thêm: Từ vựng IELTS Reading theo chủ đề thường gặp

Part B: Vocabulary Boosting

Abandonment (noun) – sự bỏ rơi He grew up with a fear of abandonment. (Anh ấy lớn lên với nỗi sợ bị bỏ rơi.)
Attachment (noun) – sự gắn bó Children often form a strong attachment to their parents, which helps them feel safe and loved. (Trẻ em thường hình thành sự gắn bó chặt chẽ với cha mẹ, điều này giúp các em cảm thấy an toàn và được yêu thương.)
Inconsistent (adj) – không nhất quán His inconsistent behavior in the relationship made her feel confused and insecure. (Hành vi không nhất quán của anh ấy trong mối quan hệ khiến cô cảm thấy bối rối và thiếu an toàn.)
Reassurance (noun) – sự trấn an Whenever he feels nervous before an exam, his sister gives him reassurance by saying he will do well. (Mỗi khi lo lắng trước kỳ thi, em gái luôn trấn an rằng anh sẽ làm tốt.)
Overthink (verb) – suy nghĩ quá nhiều Don’t overthink it. (Đừng suy nghĩ quá nhiều.)
Rejected (adj) – bị từ chối She felt rejected after not being invited to the party. (Cô ấy cảm thấy bị từ chối sau khi không được mời dự tiệc.)
Self-esteem (noun) – lòng tự trọng Good self-esteem helps people feel confident in themselves. (Lòng tự trọng tốt giúp con người tự tin vào bản thân.)
One-sided relationship (noun phrase) – mối quan hệ một chiều A one-sided relationship can be exhausting because only one person puts in all the effort. (Một mối quan hệ một chiều có thể rất mệt mỏi vì chỉ một người cố gắng.)
Therapy (noun) – liệu pháp He goes to therapy once a week. (Anh ấy đi trị liệu mỗi tuần.)
Open communication (noun phrase) – giao tiếp cởi mở Open communication helps couples solve problems together. (Giao tiếp cởi mở giúp các cặp đôi giải quyết vấn đề cùng nhau.)
Control (noun/verb) – kiểm soát She tries to control her temper by mediation when she’s upset. (Cô ấy cố kiểm soát cơn nóng giận bằng cách ngồi thiền khi buồn bực.)
Manage (verb) – quản lý, kiểm soát He manages his emotions well, so he always looks so calm. (Anh ấy quản lý cảm xúc tốt nên anh ấy lúc nào trông cũng rất bình tĩnh.)
Secure (adj) – an toàn, yên tâm She feels secure when she is with her family. (Cô ấy cảm thấy yên tâm khi ở bên gia đình.)

Xem thêm: Free Online IELTS Reading Practice Tests: Đề luyện tập miễn phí

Part C: Vocabulary Exercise

Bài 1: Nối từ với định nghĩa phù hợp

Bài 2: Đọc đoạn văn dưới đây và trả lời các câu hỏi.

Anna sometimes feels insecure in her friendships. She worries about being rejected if she shares her true feelings. However, her best friend always shows open communication and gives her reassurance. Anna is learning to manage her emotions and build her self-esteem. She knows that a one-sided relationship is unhealthy, so she tries to maintain balance and control in her friendships.

Câu hỏi

1) What does Anna worry about in her friendships?

……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….………………………

2) Which word means "talking honestly and sharing feelings"?

……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….………………………

3) What does Anna’s best friend give her to make her feel better?

……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….………………………

4) Which word describes a relationship where only one person makes all the effort?

……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….………………………

5) What is Anna trying to build to feel more confident?

……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….………………………

6) Which word means "the ability to organize or handle emotions"?

……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….……………………………….………………………

Bài 3: Chọn đáp án đúng nhất cho câu 1-4, và điền từ phù hợp vào đoạn văn bên dưới.

Why Dark Chocolate May Help Manage Depression

Modern science is increasingly supporting the ancient belief that dark chocolate can improve mood and help manage depression. Researchers have discovered that dark chocolate contains several compounds that positively affect mental health, especially varieties with high cocoa content. One of the main components, theobromine, is similar to caffeine but produces gentler, longer-lasting effects. Theobromine binds to specific receptors in the brain, promoting alertness and modulating neurotransmitters that influence mood, without causing the jitteriness often associated with caffeine.

In addition to theobromine, dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties. Since inflammation is linked to depression, these compounds may help reduce depressive symptoms. Dark chocolate also contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which stimulates the release of endorphins, creating feelings of happiness and euphoria. Another benefit is its prebiotic effect: consuming dark chocolate can increase the diversity of gut bacteria, which is increasingly recognized as important for mental health due to the gut-brain connection.

Clinical studies support these findings. For example, people who regularly eat dark chocolate are significantly less likely to report depressive symptoms. The benefits are most notable with chocolate containing at least 70% cocoa, and a daily serving of about 30 grams is often recommended. However, experts caution that chocolate should be used as a complement, not a replacement for other proven methods of managing depression, such as therapy and exercise. Overall, the scientific evidence highlights dark chocolate as a promising, enjoyable addition to mental health care.

1. In the passage, what does depression mean?

A. A type of chocolate

B. A mental health condition with feelings of sadness

C. A traditional ceremony

2. What does jitteriness refer to in the context of the article?

A. Feeling calm and relaxed

B. Feeling nervous, shaky, or unable to stay still

C. Feeling hungry after eating chocolate

3. In the passage, what does anti-inflammatory mean?

A. Causing more swelling and pain

B. Reducing swelling and inflammation in the body

C. Making chocolate taste sweeter

4. In the passage, what does prebiotic mean?

A. Helping to support healthy bacteria in the gut

B. Making chocolate sweeter

C. A type of ancient ceremony

Lưu ý: Học sinh điền không quá 2 từ cho mỗi chỗ trống sau:

Modern science shows that dark chocolate with high __________ content may help manage __________. Compounds such as theobromine and __________ are linked to these benefits. Clinical studies show that eating dark chocolate daily can improve mood, partly due to its __________ and __________ effects.

Bài 4: Đọc lại bài đọc ở phần A và trả lời câu hỏi sau

1. What does abandonment mean in the context of the passage?

A. Being left alone or rejected by someone important

B. Feeling happy in a relationship

C. Making a decision to stay together

2. The word inconsistent in the text means:

A. Always the same

B. Not regular or not steady

C. Very clear and obvious

3. What does reassurance mean?

A. Confidence or comfort given to reduce worry

B. A reason to be anxious

C. A type of punishment

4. The word panic in the passage means:

A. To feel calm and relaxed

B. To feel sudden, uncontrollable fear or anxiety

C. To ignore a problem

5. What does overthink mean?

A. To think about something too much, often causing worry

B. To quickly solve a problem

C. To forget something important

6. The word one-sided in the phrase "one-sided relationships" means:

A. Equal and fair for both people

B. Coming from only one person

C. A relationship with no problems

7. What does attachment style refer to in psychology?

A. The way a person emotionally bonds and behaves in relationships based on early experiences

B. A physical object attached to another

C. A type of fear unrelated to relationships

8. According to the passage, why might people with a fear of abandonment stay in unhealthy relationships?

A. Because they believe they deserve to be treated badly
B. Because they have high self-esteem
C. Because their partners always reassure them
D. Because they think being alone is worse than being mistreated

9. The passage suggests that one important step to reduce fear of abandonment is:

A. Avoiding all relationships until fully healed
B. Ignoring feelings of anxiety to build strength
C. Learning to distinguish between real threats and imagined fears
D. Relying solely on medication

10. True/False/Not Given:

People with anxious attachment always find it easy to build trust in themselves and others.

A. True
B. False
C. Not Given

Part D: Key and Explanations

Bài tập 1:

1 - B
2 - C
3 - D
4 - E
5 - F
6 - G
7 - A
8 - H

Bài 2:

1. Being rejected

2. Open communication

3. Reassurance

4. One-sided relationship

5. Self-esteem

6. Manage

Bài 3:

1. B

   (Trong câu:

   “Modern science is increasingly supporting the ancient belief that dark chocolate can improve mood and help manage depression.”

   Từ depression đi sau cụm improve mood và help manage, cho thấy đây là điều gì đó tiêu cực, liên quan đến cảm xúc.

   Ngoài ra, ở phần sau:

   “...may help reduce depressive symptoms.”

   Từ symptoms thường đi kèm với bệnh hoặc tình trạng sức khỏe, điều này củng cố rằng depression là một tình trạng sức khỏe tinh thần.)

2. B (Trong câu:

   “...promoting alertness and modulating neurotransmitters that influence mood, without causing the jitteriness often associated with caffeine.”

   Cụm “often associated with caffeine” gợi ý rằng jitteriness là một tác dụng phụ phổ biến khi dùng caffeine.

   Người học có thể nhớ rằng caffeine khiến người ta bồn chồn, run tay, khó ngồi yên. Việc dùng "without causing" cho thấy jitteriness là cảm giác tiêu cực, trái với "alertness" (tỉnh táo).)

3. B (Từ “anti-inflammatory” là tính từ miêu tả đặc tính của flavonoids.

   Đặc tính này liên quan đến việc giảm trầm cảm.

   → Suy ra đó là một tác dụng tốt, có thể đoán là: “giúp cơ thể khỏe hơn” hoặc “giảm điều gì đó có hại”. Từ "anti-" là tiền tố quen thuộc, có nghĩa là "chống lại" và phương án B (“reducing swelling...”) là hợp lý nhất.)

4. A (Trong câu:

   “Another benefit is its prebiotic effect: consuming dark chocolate can increase the diversity of gut bacteria, which is increasingly recognized as important for mental health...”

   Ngay sau từ prebiotic effect là một dấu hai chấm giải thích rõ tác dụng tăng sự đa dạng vi khuẩn đường ruột.

   Tức là, dù không biết nghĩa từ trước, học viên có thể dựa vào phần giải thích ngay sau để đoán đúng là: prebiotic giúp nuôi dưỡng vi khuẩn tốt trong đường ruột.)

5. cocoa (Giải thích:

   Câu hỏi đề cập đến “dark chocolate with high ___ content”. Trong bài, có cụm:

   “Researchers have discovered that dark chocolate, especially varieties with high cocoa content, contains several compounds…”

   Dịch: “Socola đen có hàm lượng ca cao cao đặc biệt chứa các hợp chất có lợi…”

   → Dễ suy ra rằng từ cần điền là cocoa vì liên quan đến chất lượng và hiệu quả của socola đen.

6. depression (Giải thích:

   Câu gốc:

   “Modern science is increasingly supporting the ancient belief that dark chocolate can improve mood and help manage depression.”

   → Chỗ trống nằm sau cụm “may help manage ___”, nên học viên cần suy luận ra một tình trạng hoặc vấn đề có thể được cải thiện, kiểm soát.)

7. flavonoids (Trong bài có đoạn:

   “In addition to theobromine, dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.” Dịch: “Ngoài theobromine, socola đen còn giàu flavonoid…”

   → Từ cần điền là một hợp chất có trong socola đen, ngoài theobromine.

   Dựa vào cấu trúc “compounds such as A and B”, học viên có thể xác định flavonoids là từ cần điền.)

8. anti-inflammatory (Câu trong bài:

   “…flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.”

   Và sau đó:

   “…may help reduce depressive symptoms.” → Từ cần điền miêu tả một tác động tích cực đến sức khỏe, bắt nguồn từ flavonoids. Dựa vào cụm “due to its ___ effects” và ngữ cảnh sức khỏe, anti-inflammatory là hợp lý.)

9. prebiotic (Từ cần điền phải là một tác dụng nữa liên quan đến lợi ích sức khỏe. Bài viết nêu:

   “Another benefit is its prebiotic effect: consuming dark chocolate can increase the diversity of gut bacteria...” Dịch: “Một tác dụng khác là như một chất tiền sinh học, giúp tăng vi khuẩn có lợi…”)

Bài 4:

1. A – Abandonment is the fear of being left or rejected.

2. B – Inconsistent means not steady or regular.

3. A – Reassurance is the comfort that reduces worry.

4. B – Panic means sudden fear or anxiety.

5. A – Overthink means to worry by thinking too much.

6. B – One-sided means benefiting only one person.

7. A – Attachment style is a psychological pattern of bonding and behavior in relationships.

8. D – Đáp án nằm ở Câu 4, đoạn số 3 “In some cases, they may even stay in unhealthy or one-sided relationships because the idea of being alone feels worse than being treated badly.”

9. C – Đáp án năm ở Câu 2, đoạn số 4 “Learning to identify the difference between real danger and imagined fear is an important first step.”

10. B – False – Đáp án nằm ở Câu số 3, đoạn số 4 “People with anxious attachment need to build trust slowly, not only in others but also in themselves.”

In summary, psychology offers valuable explanations for why people behave as they do. This unit has introduced key vocabulary and concepts that are crucial for understanding IELTS Reading passages on this topic. Words like depression, anxiety, and attachment not only help you perform better on exams but also deepen your awareness of yourself and others. By practicing these terms and ideas, you will strengthen your reading skills and your ability to discuss psychological topics with confidence. Continue exploring psychology to expand your knowledge and improve both your language skills and personal understanding.

Tác giả: Cao Thị Thuận