Psychology Vocabulary Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from Myers' Psychology for the AP® Course.

person perception

How we form impressions of ourselves and others, including attributions of behavior.

attribution theory

The theory that we explain someone’s behavior by crediting either the situation (situational attribution) or the person’s stable, enduring traits (dispositional attribution).

fundamental attribution error

The tendency for observers to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition when analyzing others’ behavior.

actor-observer bias

The tendency for individuals to attribute their behavior to external causes while observers attribute others’ behavior to internal causes.

prejudice

An unjustifiable and usually negative attitude toward a group and its members, often involving negative emotions and stereotyped beliefs.

stereotype

A generalized belief about a group of people, which can be sometimes accurate but often overgeneralized.

discrimination

Unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group or its members.

just-world phenomenon

The tendency for people to believe the world is just and that individuals get what they deserve.

social identity

The ‘we’ aspect of our self-concept that comes from our group memberships.

ingroup

‘Us’—people with whom we share a common identity.

outgroup

‘Them’—those perceived as different or apart from our ingroup.

ingroup bias

The tendency to favor our own group.

scapegoat theory

The theory that prejudice provides an outlet for anger by blaming someone else.

other-race effect

The tendency to recall faces of one’s own race more accurately than faces of other races.

attitudes

Feelings influenced by beliefs that predispose us to respond in particular ways.

foot-in-the-door phenomenon

The tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later with a larger request.

role

A set of expectations about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.

cognitive dissonance theory

The theory that we act to reduce discomfort when two of our thoughts are inconsistent.

persuasion

Changing people’s attitudes, which can influence their actions.

peripheral route persuasion

Occurs when people are influenced by incidental cues.

central route persuasion

Occurs when people’s thinking is influenced by considering evidence and arguments.

norms

A society’s understood rules for accepted and expected behavior.

conformity

Adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.

normative social influence

Influence resulting from a person’s desire to gain approval or avoid disapproval.

informational social influence

Influence resulting from a willingness to accept others’ opinions about reality.

obedience

Complying with an order or command.

social facilitation

Improved performance on simple or well-learned tasks in the presence of others.

social loafing

The tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts.

deindividuation

The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations.

group polarization

The enhancement of a group’s prevailing inclinations through discussion.

groupthink

The mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives.

culture

Enduring behaviors, ideas, values, and traditions shared by a group of people.

tight culture

A culture with clearly defined and reliably imposed norms.

loose culture

A culture with flexible and informal norms.

aggression

Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone.

frustration-aggression principle

The principle that frustration creates anger, which can generate aggression.

social script

A culturally modeled guide for how to act in various situations.

mere exposure effect

The tendency for repeated exposure to increase liking.

passionate love

An aroused state of intense positive absorption in another.

companionate love

The deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined.

equity

A condition in which people receive in proportion to what they give.

altruism

Unselfish regard for the welfare of others.

bystander effect

The tendency for bystanders to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present.

social exchange theory

The theory that social behavior is an exchange process to maximize benefits and minimize costs.

reciprocity norm

An expectation that people will help those who have helped them.

social-responsibility norm

An expectation that people will help those needing their help.

conflict

A perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas.

social trap

A situation where two parties become caught in mutually destructive behavior.

mirror-image perceptions

Mutual views often held by conflicting parties.

self-fulfilling prophecy

A belief that leads to its own fulfillment.

superordinate goals

Shared goals that override differences among people.

GRIT

Graduated and Reciprocated Initiatives in Tension-Reduction.

personality

An individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

psychodynamic theories

Theories that view personality with a focus on the unconscious mind.

psychoanalysis

Freud’s theory that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives.

unconscious

A reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, and feelings.

free association

A method in psychoanalysis where a person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind.

id

A reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that strives to satisfy basic drives.

ego

The partly conscious ‘executive’ part of personality that mediates among the demands of the id and reality.

superego

The partly conscious part that represents internalized ideals and standards for judgment.

defense mechanisms

The ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality.

repression

A defense mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts from consciousness.

collective unconscious

Jung’s concept of a shared, inherited reservoir of memory traces from history.

terror-management theory

A theory that explores people’s emotional responses to reminders of death.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

A projective test where people express inner feelings through stories about ambiguous scenes.

projective test

A test that provides ambiguous images designed to trigger projection of one's inner dynamics.

Rorschach inkblot test

A projective test that seeks to identify inner feelings through interpretation of inkblots.

humanistic theories

Theories that focus on the potential for healthy personal growth.

hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s pyramid of human needs, with physiological needs at the base.

self-actualization

The motivation to fulfill one’s potential after basic needs are met.

self-transcendence

The striving for identity and meaning beyond the self.

unconditional positive regard

A caring, accepting, nonjudgmental attitude believed to help develop self-acceptance.

self-concept

All our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, answering ‘Who am I?’

trait

A characteristic pattern of behavior or disposition.

personality inventory

A questionnaire to gauge a wide range of feelings and behaviors.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

The most widely used personality test originally designed to identify emotional disorders.

empirically derived test

A test created by selecting items from a pool that discriminate between groups.

Big Five factors

Five traits—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism—that describe personality.

social-cognitive perspective

A view of behavior as influenced by the interaction of traits and social context.

behavioral approach

Focuses on the effects of learning on personality development.

reciprocal determinism

The interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment.

self

Assumed center of personality, organizing thoughts, feelings, and actions.

spotlight effect

Overestimating others' noticing and evaluating our appearance.

self-esteem

Our feelings of high or low self-worth.

self-efficacy

Our sense of competence and effectiveness.

self-serving bias

A readiness to perceive ourselves favorably.

narcissism

Excessive self-love and self-absorption.

individualism

A cultural pattern emphasizing personal goals over group goals.

collectivism

A cultural pattern prioritizing group goals over individual ones.

motivation

A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior.

instinct

A complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species.

physiological need

A basic bodily requirement.

drive-reduction theory

The idea that a physiological need creates an aroused state that motivates behavior.

homeostasis

The tendency to maintain a balanced internal state.

incentive

A positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior.

Yerkes-Dodson law

The principle that performance increases with arousal only to a point.

affiliation need

The need to build relationships and feel part of a group.

self-determination theory

The theory that we feel motivated to satisfy needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness.

intrinsic motivation

The desire to perform a behavior for its own sake.

extrinsic motivation

The desire to perform a behavior to receive rewards or avoid punishment.