Ma'anar ƙamus na maganin ɗabi'a wani nau'i ne na ilimin halin ɗan adam wanda ke mai da hankali kan gyara halayen mutum ta hanyar amfani da dabaru daban-daban, kamar ƙarfafawa mai kyau ko mara kyau, ƙirar ƙira, da sauran dabarun ɗabi'a. Manufar ilimin halayyar shine don taimakawa mutane su maye gurbin halayen rashin kyau ko matsala tare da tabbatacce, mafi dacewa, da kuma inganta ci gaban mutum da jin dadi. Yawancin lokaci ana amfani da maganin halayyar don magance yanayi kamar damuwa, damuwa, phobias, da jaraba.