Psych Unit 4

Hierarchy of Needs

A theory proposed by Abraham Maslow that categorizes human needs into a hierarchy, starting with physiological needs and culminating in self-actualization.

Physiological Needs

The most basic human needs, including food and water.

Safety Needs

The need for shelter and security.

Belonging Needs

The need for friendship and social relationships.

Esteem Needs

The need for respect and recognition.

Self-Actualization

The realization of one's potential and personal goals in life.

Unconditional Positive Response

Carl Rogers' concept referring to an attitude of acceptance towards others without judgments.

Self-Concept

How one views oneself and their relationships with others.

Reciprocal Determinism

The concept that behavior, environment, and cognitive processes influence each other.

Self-Esteem

The personal evaluation of one's own worth.

External Locus of Control

The belief that external forces influence one’s fate.

Internal Locus of Control

The belief that one can control their own fate through actions.

Self-Efficacy

The belief in one's own ability to succeed in specific situations.

Collective Culture

A culture that emphasizes the goals of the group over individual needs.

Individualistic Culture

A culture that stresses individual needs and personal accomplishments.

Trait Theories

Theories that propose that personality is composed of a set of traits.

Cognitive Dissonance

The psychological tension that arises when a person’s actions contradict their beliefs.

Central Route Persuasion

Persuasion that occurs when a person is persuaded by the content of the message.

Peripheral Route Persuasion

Persuasion that occurs when a person is influenced by superficial cues, such as attractiveness.

Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon

The tendency for people to comply with a larger request after agreeing to a smaller one.

Door-in-the-Face Phenomenon

The tendency to offer a large request first, which is refused, and then follow with a smaller, more reasonable one.

Role-Playing

The effect of acting out a role on one's attitudes and beliefs.

Conformity

The adjustment of one's behavior or thinking to align with a group standard.

Normative Social Influence

Conforming to fit in with a group.

Informational Social Influence

Conforming because one believes others have accurate information.

Obedience

Complying with a demand or order from an authority figure.

Attribution Theory

The theory that explains how people determine the causes of behavior.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate the influence of personal disposition and underestimate situational factors when evaluating others' behavior.

Actor-Observer Bias

The tendency to attribute one's actions to external factors while attributing others' actions to their character.

Self-Serving Bias

The tendency to attribute personal successes to internal factors and failures to external factors.

Just World Hypothesis

The belief that the world is a fair place and that people get what they deserve.

Optimistic Explanatory Style

The belief that one can cope with challenges effectively.

Pessimistic Explanatory Style

The tendency to see negative events as reflecting personal failure.

Prejudice

An unfair and biased attitude towards a group or its members.

Implicit Attitudes

Unconscious beliefs or feelings that influence thoughts and behaviors.

In-Group and Out-Group Bias

The tendency to favor one's own group (in-group) over others (out-group).

Out-Group Homogeneity Bias

The perception that out-group members are more similar to each other than they actually are.

Scapegoat Theory

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

Social Facilitation

The tendency for people to perform better on tasks in the presence of others when they are skilled.

Social Loafing

The tendency for individuals in a group to put forth less effort toward a common goal.

Deindividuation

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

Group Polarization

The enhancement of a group's prevailing attitudes through discussion.

Groupthink

The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group, leading to a lack of individual critical thinking.

Altruism

A selfless concern for the welfare of others, often manifested in acts of help.

Aggression

Any physical or verbal behavior intended to harm someone.

Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

The principle that frustration leads to aggression.

Genetic Influences on Aggression

The idea that genetic traits may predispose individuals to aggressive behaviors.

Neural Influences on Aggression

The role of specific brain areas, like the amygdala, in controlling aggression.

Biochemical Influences on Aggression

The influence of hormones like testosterone on aggressive behavior.

Psychological Factors of Aggression

The factors that contribute to aggressive behavior, including learned behaviors and social influences.