EBQ

Dopamine

Brain chemical that controls reward and motivation. [Apply: Addiction, Parkinson’s, focus]

Serotonin

Brain chemical that affects mood and sleep. [Apply: Depression, SSRIs, emotion]

Plasticity

The brain’s ability to change and learn from experience.[Apply: Learning, recovery after injury]

Circadian Rhythm

The body’s 24-hour sleep and wake cycle  [Apply: Teen sleep patterns, jet lag]

Hypothalamus

Controls hunger, thirst, and body temperature. [Apply: Eating behavior, motivation]

Thalamus

Sends sensory signals to the brain. [Apply: Processing visuals, hearing, attention]

Confirmation Bias

Only noticing information that matches your beliefs. [Apply: Flawed decision-making, echo chambers]

Encoding

Putting new information into memory.[Apply: Attention improves memory formation]

Retrieval

Getting information out of memory.[Apply: Test performance, forgetting]

Priming

Unconscious trigger that helps recall related ideas.[Apply: Faster word recognition, advertising]

Heuristics

Quick thinking shortcuts that may be wrong. [Apply: Availability, representativeness]

Operant Conditioning

Learning through rewards or punishments. [Apply: Behavior reinforcement in classrooms]

Classical Conditioning

Learning by linking two things together.[Apply: Phobias, anticipatory anxiety]

Positive Reinforcement

Adding something good to increase behavior. [Apply: Praise, rewards for effort]

Negative Reinforcement

Taking away something bad to increase behavior. [Apply: Less homework for good work]

Punishment

Using a consequence to stop a behavior. [Apply: Detention, phone taken]

Modeling

Learning by watching others. [Apply: Copying peer or adult behavior]

Attachment

A close emotional bond, usually with a caregiver. [Apply: Secure attachment improves emotional health]

Authoritative Parenting

Parenting style with warmth and rules. [Apply: Academic and emotional success]

Theory of Mind

Knowing others have their own thoughts. [Apply: Social development in kids]

Object Permanence

Knowing something exists even when it’s hidden. [Apply: Infant development]

Temperament

A person’s natural emotional style.[Apply: Parenting adaptations, behavior traits]

Critical Period

Time when learning must happen for normal growth.[Apply: Language, visual development]

Fundamental Attribution Error

Blaming personality instead of situation.[Apply: Misjudging someone's actions or intentions]

Cognitive Dissonance

Feeling uncomfortable from conflicting thoughts or actions. [Apply: Justifying unhealthy behavior]

Ingroup Bias

Preferring your group over others. [Apply: School cliques, social exclusion]

Deindividuation

Losing self-awareness in a group. [Apply: Riots, online anonymity]

Social Facilitation

Doing better on easy tasks when watched.[Apply: Sports, presentations]

Bystander Effect

Less likely to help when others are around. [Apply: Emergencies, public settings]

Intrinsic Motivation

Doing something because you enjoy it. [Apply: Hobbies, passion projects]

Extrinsic Motivation

Doing something for a reward. [Apply: Studying for a grade, working for money]

Incentive Theory

Behavior motivated by rewards or avoiding punishment. [Apply: Bonuses, punishment avoidance]

Yerkes Dodson Law

Medium stress helps you do your best. [Apply: Test prep, public speaking]

Homeostasis

The body staying balanced and stable.[Apply: Drives behavior like eating or drinking]

Arousal Theory of Motivation

Doing things to feel just the right amount of excitement. [Apply: Thrill seeking }

schema

Mental framework that helps organize and understand information.
[Apply: Stereotypes, misremembering]