AP Psych- Unit 7 Part 1 Vocab

Motivation

A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior toward a goal

Instinct

A complex, unlearned behavior pattern shared by all members of a species

physiological need

A basic bodily requirement (e.g., hunger, thirst) necessary for survival

drive-reduction theory

The idea that physiological needs create aroused states (drives) that motivate behavior to restore balance

Homeostasis

The body's tendency to maintain a stable internal state

Incentive

A positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior

Yerkes-Dodson law

The principle that performance increases with arousal up to an optimal point, then decreases

hierarchy of needs

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs; pyramid of human needs from physiological to self-actualization

Glucose

Blood sugar that provides energy; its levels influence hunger

set point

The body's natural weight range that it tries to maintain

basal metabolic rate

The body's resting rate of energy expenditure

Obesity

Excessive body fat that increases risk of health problems

Asexual

Having no sexual attraction to others

Testosterone

The primary male sex hormone influencing development and sexual behavior

Estrogens

Female sex hormones that regulate reproductive development and function

sexual response cycle

The four stages of sexual responding: excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution

refractory period

A recovery phase after orgasm during which arousal is not possible

affiliation need

The desire to build relationships and be accepted by others

Ostracism

Being excluded or ignored by a group

Narcissism

Excessive self-love and self-centeredness

achievement motivation

A desire for significant accomplishment and mastery of skills

Grit

Passion and perseverance for long-term goals

Emotion

A complex response involving physiological arousal, expressive behavior, and conscious experience

James-Lange theory

The theory that emotion results from physiological arousal (we feel afraid because our heart races)

Cannon-Bard theory

The theory that emotion and physiological arousal occur simultaneously

two-factor theory

Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory; emotion = arousal + cognitive label

Polygraph

A device that measures physiological responses to detect lies

facial feedback effect

Facial expressions influence emotional experience

behavior feedback effect

Behavior influences thoughts and feelings

Stress

The process of perceiving and responding to threatening or challenging events

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

General Adaptation Syndrome; alarm, resistance, exhaustion stages

tend-and-befriend response

Under stress, people (especially females) seek social support and protect others

health psychology

The study of how psychological factors affect health and illness

Psychoneuroimmunology

The study of how stress and emotions affect the immune system

coronary heart disease

A condition caused by clogged heart arteries

Type A

Type B

Catharsis

Emotional release that is believed to reduce aggressive urges

aerobic exercise

Sustained physical activity that increases heart and lung fitness

mindfulness meditation

A practice of focusing attention on the present moment without judgment

feel-good, do-good phenomenon

When feeling happy leads to helpful behavior

positive psychology

The scientific study of human flourishing and strengths

subjective well-being

Self-perceived happiness or life satisfaction

adaptation-level phenomenon

The tendency to judge stimuli relative to a neutral standard formed by past experiences

relative deprivation

The perception that one is worse off compared to others