Terms for Unit 6 Exam

Incentive

a positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior

Self-efficacy

one’s sense of competence and effectiveness

James-Lange Theory

the theory that our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to an emotion-arousing stimulus: stumbles S arousal S emotion. We notice the changes in our body, then interpret which emotion we feel. Arousal and interpretation happen before emotions

Adaptation level phenomenon

our tendency to form judgements (of sounds, of lights, of income) relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience

Trait Theory

the measurement of traits, which can be defined as habitual patterns of behaviour, thought, and emotion

Humanistic Theory

theory that views personality with a focus on the potential for healthy personal growth

Social-cognitive theory

theory that behavior is an interaction between traits and people's social context

Instinct

a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Physiological needs, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

complex brain structure that is integral to many neuroendocrine functions, including glucose regulation, thermogenesis, and appetitive, social, and sexual behaviors

Drive

a state of arousal or discomfort which is triggered by a person’s physiological or biological needs such as hunger, thirst, and the need for warmth.

Cannon-Bard Theory

the theory that an emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers physiological responses and the subjective experience of emotion. Simultaneously

Sympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body mobilizing its energy. Fight or flight.

Epinephrine

It is a hormone that the body releases in response to stress, fright

Relative Deprivation

there perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself.

Feel-good phenomenon

people's tendency to be helpful when already in a good mood

Catharsis

the idea that releasing aggressive energy relieves aggressive urges.

Amygdala

the brain’s fear and emotion center

Sigmund Freud

Revolutionized psychology with his psychoanalytic theory

Psychoanalysis

Freuds theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts. Free associations, resistances dreams, and transferences. Behavior is due to unconscious thoughts.

Physiological Arousal

The state of being engaged with the environment.

Self-Actualization

one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self esteem is achieved. The motivation to fulfill ones potential.

Carl Rogers

known for creating the humanistic approach to psychology

Personality Traits

an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

Barnum Effect

the phenomenon that occurs when individuals believe that personality descriptions apply specifically to them (more so than to other people), despite the fact that the description is actually filled with information that applies to everyone.

Big 5 Personality Factors

Openess, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism

Reciprocal Determinism

the interacting influences of behavior, internal cognition, and environment

Internal Locus of Control

the perception that we control our own fate

External Locus of Control

the perception that chance or outside forces beyond our personal control determine our fate.

Spotlight Effect

overestimating other’s noticing and evaluating our appearance, performance, and blunders.

Self-Serving Bias

a readiness to perceive oneself favorably. Taking credit for sucesses and attribute failures to situational factors

Homeostasis

conditions to maintain a relatively constant internal environment.

Basal Metabolic Rate

The amount of energy used at rest

Social-cognitive perspective

views behavior as influenced by an interaction between people’s trait (including their thinking) and their context.

Psychodynamic Theory

theory the view personality with a focus on the unconscious and the importance of childhood experiences.

Self-Esteem

Life events, body image, personal perceptions, interactions that influence how you feel about your self worth

Positive psychology

the scientific study of human flourishing, with the foals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive. The study of happiness and fulfillment

Grit

passion and perseverance in the pursuit of long term goals.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

the principle that performance increases with arousal only up to a point, beyond which performance decreases.

Affiliation need

the need to build up relationships and to feel part of a group

Ostracism

deliberate social exclusion of individuals or groups

Narcissism

excessive self love and self absorption