AP Psychology Module 4.7a-4.8b Key Terms - Myers' Psychology for AP 4th Ed.

motivation

a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior.

instinct

a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned.

physiological need

a basic bodily requirement.

drive-reduction theory

the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need.

homeostasis

a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level.

incentive

a positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior.

Yerkes-Dodson law

the principle that performance increases with arousal only up to a point, beyond which performance decreases.

affiliation need

the need to build and maintain relationships and to feel part of a group.

self-determination theory

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

intrinsic motivation

the desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake.

extrinsic motivation

the desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment.

ostracism

deliberate social exclusion of individuals or groups.

achievement motivation

a desire for significant accomplishment, for mastery of skills or ideas, for control, and for attaining a high standard.

grit

in psychology, passion and perseverance in the pursuit of long-term goals.

glucose

the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for body tissues. When its level is low, we feel hunger.

set point

the point at which the "weight thermostat" may be set. When the body falls below this weight, increased hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may combine to restore lost weight.

basal metabolic rate

the body's resting rate of energy output.

obesity

defined as a body mass index (BMI) measurement of 30 or higher, which is calculated from our weight-to-height ratio. (Individuals who are overweight have a BMI of 25 or higher.)

emotion

a response of the whole organism, involving (1) physiological arousal,(2) expressive behaviors, and, most importantly, (3) conscious experience resulting from one's interpretations.

polygraph

a machine used in attempts to detect lies; measures emotion-linked changes in perspiration, heart rate, and breathing.

facial feedback effect

the tendency of facial muscle states to trigger corresponding feelings such as fear, anger, or happiness.

behavior feedback effect

the tendency of behavior to influence our own and others' thoughts, feelings, and actions.

instinct theory(evolutionary perspective)

focuses on genetically predisposed behaviors

drive reduction theory focus

how we respond to inner pushes(nature) and external pulls(nurture)

arousal theory focus

finding right level of stimulation

abraham maslow’s hierarchy of needs focus

priority of some needs over others

drive

aroused motivated state that pushes us to reduce the need

sensation seeking theory

may display traits of experience seeking, thrill or adventure seeking, disinhibition, boredom susceptibility

experience seeking

a desire for novel sensory or mental experiences

thrill or adventure seeking

an attraction to risky or fear inspiring activities

disinhibition

loss of self control

boredom susceptibility

inability to tolerate monotony or repetition

self transcendence(maslows hierarchy)

strive for meaning purpose and communion in a way that is transpersonal-beyond the self

social identity

feeling part of a group- boosts people’s health and well being

anxiety

constantly craving acceptance but remaining vigilant to signs of possible rejection

avoidance

feeling such discomfort over getting close to others that avoidant strategies are used to maintain distance

emotions are a mix of

bodily arousal, expressive behaviors, conscious experience and feelings.

james-lange theory

feelings are after the body’s physiological response, not before

cannon-bard

bodily responses and experienced emotions occur seperately at the same time

schacter-singer

a two factor theory- our experience of emotion depends on general arousal and a conscious cognitive label

lazarus

cognitive appraisal- emotsometimes without our awareness- defines emotion

emotions categorized

across two dimensions, valence (positive or negative) and arousal (low versus high)

insula

neural center deep inside the brain, activated when we experience negative social emotions