Psych Terms U1, Mod 6

Situation

All the external cues (environment, people, weather, etc.) that are often trivial but affect fundamental parts of our well-being

Chameleon Effect

A subconscious phenomenon in which people mimic the body language, facial expressions, and other behaviors of another person

Emotional Contagion

A phenomenon in which people “soak up” the emotions of people around them

Conformity

The act of a person matching their behaviors and attitudes to the people around them

Social Proof

A psychological phenomenon in which people assume the actions of others reflect the correct behavior for a given situation

Habit

Automatic behavioral responses to a situation or environmental cue; they are a special behavior pattern with a specific loop structure

Cue

A perceptual stimulus that triggers an automatic habit

Routine

The physical, mental, or emotional action we take when a cue is triggered

Implementation Intention

A self-regulatory strategy in the form of an “if-then” plan that can lead to more goal-oriented behaviors

WOOP Method

A method for setting goals: (1) your wish, (2) the best outcome, (3) potential obstacles, (4) an IF/THEN plan

Social Benchmarking

A psychological phenomenon in which other people's behavior gives you a standard from which to assess your own behavior

Temptation Bundling

A strategy in which people restrict their access to instantly rewarding experiences (e.g. watching TV) only to occasions when they engage in goal-consistent behaviors (e.g. exercising)

Association

Mental connection between concepts, behaviors, events and/or feelings that are formed through specific experiences

Reward

The positive outcomes that are earned as a result of our behaviors

Fresh-Start Effect

A psychological phenomenon in which it's easier to adopt new habits and make changes at natural temporal landmarks (new year, birthday, new semester, etc.)