Intro to Psychology - Exam 3

Motivation

Forces acting on or within an organism to initiate and direct behavior

Activation

The initiation or production of behavior

Persistence

Determination to achieve a particular goal (time)

Intensity

The greater vigor of responding that usually accompanies motivated behavior (effort)

Instinct Theory

Certain human behaviors are due to evolutionary programming

Fixed action patterns

Automatic and instinctual behavior patterns displayed by animals

Drive Theory

Behavior is motivated by the desire to reduce internal tension caused by unmet biological needs

Homeostasis

Constant levels of internal states

Incentive Theory

Behavior is motivated by "pull" of external goals, such as rewards, money, or recognition

Arousal Theory

Optimal stimulation as a motivator

Sensation Seeking

Degree to which an individual is motivated to experience high levels of sensory and physical arousal associated with varied and novel activities

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Most people function best at a middle level of arousal

Humanistic Theory

Human potential as a motivator

Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow's levels of motivation; progresses from physiological needs -> safety -> love -> esteem -> self-actualization

Performance Goals

Belief that learning occurs quickly or not at all

Mastery Goals

Seeing effort as a path to mastery

Fixed Mindset

The belief that skills, intellect, and talents are set and unchangeable

Growth Mindset

The belief that skills, intellect, and talents can be developed through practice and perseverance

Need to Belong

The drive to form and maintain lasting positive relationships that are characterized by mutual concern and caring

Self-Determination Theory

Optimal human functional can only occur if innate, psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness and satisfied

Intrinsic Motivation

Internal force that propels you to succeed

Extrinsic Motivation

External force that compels you to succeed

Achievement Motivation

The desire to direct your behavior toward excelling, succeeding, or outperforming others at some task

Emotion

Complex psychological states that serve many functions in human behavior and relationships

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to regulate your emotions and understand the emotions of others

Moods

Mild, generalized, and prolonged emotional states

Basic Emotions

Fear, disgust, surprise, happiness, anger, sadness

James-Lange Theory of Emotion

Emotions arise from the perception of body changes

Cannon-Bard Theory

Stimulus results in emotion and physiological response, which are independent and happen at the same time

Two-Factory Theory of Emotion

Emotion is the interaction of physiological arousal and the cognitive label applied to explain arousal

Cognitive Appraisal Theory of Emotion

Emotions result from cognitive appraisal of a situation's effect on personal well-being

Developmental Psychology

Branch of psychology that studies how people change over the lifespan

Gene

Unit of DNA on chromosome that encodes instructions for making a particular protein molecule

Genotype

Genetic makeup of individual organism

Phenotype

Observable traits or characteristics of organism

Attachment

Emotional bond that forms between infant and caregivers during first year of life

Jean Piaget

Developed the four stage theory of cognitive development

Sensorimotor

Birth to 2 years

Preoperational

2 to 7 years

Deferred Imitation

Capacity to repeat an action observed earlier

Egocentrism

Inability to take another perspective

Concrete Operational

7 years to adolescence

Formal Operational

Adolescence to adulthood

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Guided participation allows children to learn faster

Adolescence

Stage that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood; sexual maturity is reached

Erikson's Theory of Psychosocial Development

Divided lifespan into 8 psychosocial stages, with each stage having a drive and outcome (either positive or negative)

Moral Reasoning (Lawrence Kohlberg)

There are stages of moral development based on degree of conformity to societal standards

Carol Gilligan

Proposed that women's moral development is based on an ethic of care and responsibility

Adulthood

Marked by exploration, physical changes, and new social roles

Emerging Adulthood

Late teens to mid-to late 20s

Late Adulthood

Doesn't necessarily involve a steep decline in physical/cognitive capabilities; late 60s

Sex

Biological aspects of being male, female, or intersex

Gender

Psychological, social, and cultural aspects of masculinity or femininity

Gender-Role Stereotypes

The beliefs and expectations people hold about the typical characteristics, preferences, and behavior of men and women

Benevolent Sexism

Viewing female gender-role stereotypes more positively

Toxic Masculinity

Extreme adherence to cultural norms of masculinity

Social Learning Theory

Gender roles acquired through learning, including reinforcement, punishment, and modeling

Gender Schema Theory

Formation of schemas (gender categories)

Evolutionary Theory

Gender differences are a result of sexual selection and parental investment

Interactionist Theory

Social and psychological factors create expectations that make division of labor

Intersex

Person's biological sex is ambiguous, often combining aspects of both male and female anatomy and physiology

Transgender

Person's psychological gender identity conflicts with their biological sex assigned at birth