ch10-14

Motivation

Goal-directed behavior driven by needs, wants, interests, and desires.

Homeostasis

A state of physiological equilibrium or stability.

Drive

An internal state of tension that motivates an organism to engage in activities to reduce this tension.

Incentive

An external goal that has the capacity to motivate behavior.

Set-Point Theory

The body monitors fat-cell levels to keep weight fairly stable.

Settling-Point Theory

Weight tends to drift around the level at which the factors determining food consumption and energy expenditure achieve equilibrium.

Achievement Motivation

The need to master difficult challenges, to outperform others, and to meet high standards of excellence.

Emotion

A subjective conscious experience, accompanied by bodily arousal and characteristic overt expressions.

Hedonic Adaptation

The tendency for people’s happiness levels to return to a baseline despite positive or negative events.

Personality

An individual's unique set of consistent behavioral traits.

Big Five Personality Traits

Extraversion – Sociability & enthusiasm, Neuroticism – Emotional instability & anxiety, Openness – Creativity & curiosity, Agreeableness – Compassion & cooperativeness, Conscientiousness – Organization & responsibility.

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

Personality is shaped by unconscious conflicts between the id, ego, and superego.

Defense Mechanisms

Unconscious reactions that protect a person from unpleasant emotions (e.g., repression, projection, denial).

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

A motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, culminating in self-actualization.

Social Psychology

The study of how people influence each other’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Attributions

Inferences people make about the causes of behavior (internal vs. external).

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overestimate personal factors and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behavior.

Conformity

Adjusting one’s behavior to align with a group standard.

Obedience

Following direct commands, usually from an authority figure (e.g., Milgram’s shock experiment).

Bystander Effect

The tendency for individuals to be less likely to help someone in need when others are present.

Groupthink

When group members emphasize agreement over critical thinking, leading to poor decision-making.

Psychological Disorder

A pattern of behavior that causes significant distress, impairs daily life, or deviates from cultural norms.

Anxiety Disorders

Disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety, including generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, and panic disorder.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A disorder marked by persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

Mood Disorders

Psychological disorders involving emotional disturbances, such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia

A severe disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, and impaired functioning.

Personality Disorders

Chronic, inflexible personality traits that cause distress or impaired social functioning (e.g., antisocial personality disorder).

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A disorder triggered by traumatic experiences, leading to flashbacks, anxiety, and emotional numbness.