Exam 3 Review - PP

How humanistic psychologists view behavior

They try to understand how you see the world. Example: A therapist asks “How did that situation feel to you?” instead of judging your reaction.

Two concepts humanistic psych uses to understand people

Your personal view and your personal experience. Example: Two people at the same party can have totally different experiences.

Are people’s views of reality fixed? (Kelly)

No, your reality can change. Example: Someone who thought they “aren’t smart” can change that belief after doing well in school.

Self-actualization

Becoming your actual best self. Example: Reaching your full potential in career, relationships, and personal growth.

What you need for self-actualization

Support, safety, and chances to grow. Example: Having people who believe in you and opportunities to improve.

Unconditional positive regard

Supporting someone without judging them. Example: A parent saying “I love you no matter what.”

Conditions of worth

Feeling like you are only valued if you act a certain way. Example: Someone feels loved only when they get good grades.

Real self vs ideal self

Real self is who you actually are right now and Ideal self is the version of you that you WANT to be if they don’t match, you feel stressed.

Within-group variation

People in the same culture are not all the same. Example: Not all Americans value the same things.

Risk of ignoring within-group variation

You stereotype people. Example: Assuming “all people from this culture behave alike.”

Embeddedness

How much a culture wants you connected to the group. Example: A family that expects everyone to eat dinner together daily.

Limits of cultural competency

You cannot fully know every culture. Example: You can learn about a culture, but you’ll never fully understand every tradition.

Collectivist vs individualist cultures

Collectivist is group-first; individualist is self-first.

Problems when these cultures interact

They expect different levels of independence. Example: One person expects group decisions; the other expects personal freedom.

Which culture shows more consistent behavior

Individualist cultures. Example: Someone acts the same at home, school, and work.

Two ways people learn cultural norms

Enculturation and acculturation. Example: You learn your home culture growing up (enculturation) but learn new norms after moving to another country (acculturation).

Bicultural identity

Being able to switch between cultures. Example: Speaking differently at home than with friends.

Ethnocentrism

Thinking your culture is better than others. Example: Believing your traditions are “the right way.”

Outgroup homogeneity bias

Thinking everyone in another group is the same. Example: Saying “all athletes act the same.”

Functions of emotions

They help you react and communicate. Example: Fear makes you run; sadness shows someone you need comfort.

Emotions and memory

Strong emotions create stronger memories. Example: You remember a scary event clearly years later.

Learning theory view of personality

Personality is learned through experience. Example: A child becomes polite because they were rewarded for being polite.

Self-concept

How you see yourself. Example: “I am a shy person.”

Self-efficacy

How confident you are in your ability to do something. Example: Believing you can pass a test makes you more likely to try hard.

Bobo doll study meaning

People learn behavior by watching others. Example: Kids hit the doll after watching adults hit it.

Why emotions are procedural knowledge

You feel emotions without thinking through steps. Example: You don’t “plan” to feel angry — it just happens.

Circumplex model dimensions

Valence (good/bad) and arousal (high/low). Example: Excitement = positive + high energy; sadness = negative + low energy.

Subjective reality

Your personal view of the world based on your own experiences.
It’s how things feel to YOU, not how they actually are objectively.

Valence

Whether the emotion is positive or negative.

Arousal

How much energy an emotion has.
Example: Feeling hyped before a game = high arousal. Feeling peaceful while laying down = low arousal.