Module 6

Situation

all of the factors outside of a person (external cues, the environment, the people around, etc.) that are often trivial but influence our behavior anyway

Chameleon Effect

a phenomenon in which people unconsciously mimic the postures, facial expressions, and other behaviors of another person

Emotional Contagion

a phenomenon in which people tend to express and feel emotions that are similar to the people around them

Conformity

the act of matching one's attitudes, beliefs, & behaviors to those of other people and/or a group

Social Benchmarking

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

Social Proof

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

Habit

automatic behavioral responses to a situational or environmental cue to which the behavior has been performed consistently in the past

Reward

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

Cue

a perceptual stimulus that triggers an automatic habit

Routine

the physical, mental, or emotional action you take when a cue is present to get a reward

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

Implementation Intention

a self-regulatory strategy in the form of an "if-then plan" that can lead to more goal-directed behaviors

WOOP Method

a method for setting goals in which you think about (1) your wish, (2) the best outcome, (3) potential obstacles, & (4) your if/then plan

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.)