unit 7 - psych

motivation

The process that initiates, guides, and maintains goal-oriented behaviors

homeostasis

An equilibrium of biological processes in the body (drive reduction theory)

drive reduction theory

We do things to fulfill our biological needs.

For something to be a need, you need it to survive.

The drive is the physical urge to acquire that need.

arousal theory

We do things to maintain optimal levels of nervous system activity.

yerkes-dodson law

For easy tasks, arousal increases ability. For hard tasks, it decreases ability.

evolutionary theory

We do things to insure the survival of our genetic line.

instincts

Fixed, genetically programmed behaviors that increase reproductive success

incentive theory

We do things for goal or material attainment

intrinsic motivation

Doing something because it is naturally satisfying to you

extrinsic motivation

Doing something due to external motivators

overjustification effect

When you receive extrinsic rewards for something you already have intrinsic motivation in, it can kill your desire to do that thing

hierarchy of needs

Needs are ordered from basic survival to psychological needs. Each level is addressed only after the preceding level’s needs have been met

hierarchy of needs

Needs are ordered from basic survival to psychological needs. Each level is addressed only after the preceding level’s needs have been met

gherlin

makes you hungry (hormone)

leptin

makes you feel full (hormone)

glucose

when low, you feel hungry

lateral hypothalamus

makes you hungry (brain part)

ventromedial hypothalamus

makes you feel full (brain part)

set point

The approximate weight that your body is naturally supposed to hover around

alfred kinsey

His scale is notable because it does not create a strict dichotomy between heterosexuality and homosexuality; the scale relies on a combination of behaviors and feelings rather than a person's self-identified sexual orientation.

masters and johnson human sexual response cycle

can be defined as a model of the physiological changes involved in human sexual response that breaks the process into four subsequent sexual phases, beginning from what happens after initial exposure to erotic stimuli.

emotion

is a complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and behavior.

james-lange

Emotions occur as a result of a physiological stimulus

cannon-bard

A stimulus causes a physiological response and the emotion simultaneously and independently

schachter-singer

A physiological stimulus triggers a cognitive appraisal of the situation, which then causes the emotion (two factor)

appraisal theory

A stimulus triggers a cognitive appraisal, which then causes a simultaneous and independent physiological and emotional responses (lazarus)

appraisal

an act of assessing something or someone.

zajonc-ledoux

Differentiated emotional experience as a combination of swift “low-road” emotional responses that are largely limbic based, while the slower “high-road” incorporates cognition

stress

any type of change that causes physical, emotional, or physiological strain.the body’s response to anything that requires attention or action

eustress

stress that comes from beneficial sources (getting married, starting a new job, etc.)

alarm

Triggers fight or flight response

resistance

Your body attempts to normalize by producing adrenaline and cortisol

exhaustive

Stress weakens the immune system, leading to illness and mental health issues

approach-approach

Need to pick between two desirable outcomes

avoidance-avoidance

Need to pick between two negative outcomes

approach-avoidance

Choosing between something with both good and bad qualities

multiple approach-avoidance

Choosing between multiple things with both good and bad qualities

personality

The characteristic pattern of a person’s thinking, feeling, and acting. Largely stable through adult life.

psychoanalytic theory

Freud’s theory centering around the importance of the unconscious mind

Aggressive and sexual impulses

Past trauma

Restraint

id

Concerned with immediate gratification and the “pleasure principle”/ Contains all of the unconscious, basic, and primal urges.

ego

The conscious mind/Part of the personality that must deal with the demands of reality. It helps control the urges of the id and makes us behave in ways that are both realistic and acceptable. forces us to fulfill our needs in ways that are socially acceptable and realistic.

superego

The conscience that uses guilt to restrain the Id/Contains our ideals and values. The values and beliefs that our parents and society instill in us are the guiding force of the it and it strives to make us behave according to these morals.

fixation

When the conflict of the stage is not resolved, it can result in certain maladaptive behaviors particular to that stage through life

alfred adler

Developed the theory of the inferiority complex

albert bandura

Theorized that a lot of our personality comes from watching others

costa and mcrae

Developed the Big Five trait theory of personality

carl rogers

A humanist who developed the concept of unconditional positive regard

abraham maslow

Determined personality as a means of reaching self-actualization

carl jung

A psychoanalyst who developed the collective unconscious

sigmund freud

Psychoanalyst who developed the stages of psychosexual development, defense mechanisms, and the Freudian Trio

denial

Refusing to acknowledge something you know to be true

repression

Pushing something out of your mind that is too painful to think about.

reaction formation

Convincing yourself and others the opposite of what is true

rationalization

Coming up with a logical explanation for shameful thought or action.

projection

Attributing an unwanted trait or thought to someone else.

displacement

Redirecting negative feelings to a safer target.

regression

Reverting to an earlier stage of development in conflict.

sublimation

Redirecting shameful impulses into more positive actions.

archetype

a very typical example of a certain person or thing

inferiority complex

claims we pick up feelings of inferiority in childhood and try to build up superiority in adulthood

behaviorism

Based off of the theories of Watson and Skinner

Personality is predictable, formed by rewards and punishments

Sometimes criticized for ignoring the importance of the internal experience

behavioral personality theory

The study of human behavior as it correlates to one's environment. Proponents of this school of thought believe that all behaviors are learned and that changes in behavior are related to the people, situations, and places in which they occur.

social cognitive theory

personality is due to a combination of environmental factors, behavior, and cognitive factors

reciprocal determinism

Personality develops as a result of three factors that all affect each other: personal factors, behavior, and the environment

locus of control

Your belief in your ability to affect the outcome of a situation.

internal locus of control

You can exert some control

external locus of control

It is determined by factors outside your control

self efficacy

Your belief in your ability to accomplish certain tasks

humanistic

Personality is directed by our innate desire to improve ourselves

Rogers and Maslow

unconditional positive regard

Acceptance from others regardless of circumstance. Considered to be very important for healthy development.

congruency

How much our ideal self matches our actual self

self actualization

Becoming the best possible version of yourself

trait

a personality characteristic that meets three criteria: it must be consistent, stable, and vary from person to person.

trait theory

Everyone’s personality is made up of relatively stable (over time and through situations) personality characteristics leading to infinite possible personalities

gordon allport

Determined that personality could be summarized in just a few traits

cardinal traits

(rare) are central to your being

They tend to define a person to such an extent that their names become synonymous with their personality. An examples of this is the following descriptive term-Christ-like.

central traits

are what generally describes you the most

General characteristics that form basic personality foundations. Not as dominating as cardinal traits, they describe the major characteristics you might use to describe another person. Descriptions such as "intelligent," "honest," "shy," and "anxious" are considered central traits. (5-10 traits on average)

secondary traits

are traits that pop up in specific situations

Secondary traits are sometimes related to attitudes or preferences. They often appear only in certain situations or under specific circumstances. Some examples include public speaking anxiety or impatience while waiting in line.

raymond cattell

Expanded on Allport’s work using factor analysis, which is using math to see which traits commonly group together, to identify 16 personality factors

hans eysenck

Used factor analysis as well, but only developed two dimensions.

objective personality tests

Personality tests (usually MC) that have you select from a list of options. More valid and reliable than projective.

MMPI

Mostly commonly used, valid, and reliable personality assessment. Uses clinical scales to compare to others with psychological disorders or personality characteristics.

myers briggs

Characterizes people on four binary personality characteristics. Less valid and reliable than MMPI.

Extraversion (E) – Introversion (I)

people respond and interact with the world around them

Sensing (S) – Intuition (N)

how people gather information from the world around them

Thinking (T) – Feeling (F)

how people make decisions based on the information that they gathered from their sensing or intuition functions

Judging (J) – Perceiving (P)

how people tend to deal with the outside world

projective personality tests

Personality tests that have you respond to an ambiguous stimulus to reveal the unconscious mind.

Less valid and reliable than objective personality tests

rorschach inkblot test

Describe what you see in a series of inkblots

thematic apperception test

Psychologist shows you ambiguous pictures and you tell a story about what is happening