AP Psychology: Unit 7

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Yerkes-Dodson Law

identifies the relationship between motivation and performance

cognitive dissonance theory

suggests that motivation exists because bodies have a cognitive system that needs to stay constant

self-efficacy

an individual’s belief that they have the most control over their own life

arcuate nucleus

the part of the hypothalamus that stimulates appetite

instinct theory

suggests that motivation is a genetic instinct that we are born with

biophysiological approach

suggests that hunger comes from biology and what we eat depends on sociocultural factors and physiological state

ventromedial hypothalamus

produces appetite-suppressing hormones and tells us when we are satisfied

affiliation motivation

the drive to belong

achievement motivation

the drive to perform well and accomplish goals

William James

believed that we react to emotions and that they come from our reaction to bodily activity

James-Lange Theory

suggests that emotion is the result of arousal

Cannon-Bard Theory

suggests that both emotion and arousal are triggered simultaneously

Schachter-Singer Two Factor Theory

suggests that emotion is a result of the combination of arousal and cognition

LeDoux Theory

suggests that emotions can bypass the cortex and go straight to the amygdala, therefore resulting in an immediate response

appraisal

suggests that the brain’s evaluation of the situation is what determines the emotional and physiological response

Paul Ekman

believed in the existence of innate emotions across cultures

facial feedback hypothesis

suggests that facial muscle movement sends information to the brain that can influence emotion

Hans Selye

proposed the idea of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

alarm, resistance, exhaustion

stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

the stages of response to stressful situations

reciprocal determinism

how environment, behavior, and an individual influence and impact each other

Albert Bandura

proposed the idea of reciprocal determinism

self-transcendence

when people look beyond themselves and see a larger perspective of life and the importance of caring for others

personality inventory

questionnaires that attempt to assess personality traits

oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital

Freud’s Psychosexual Stages

defense mechanism

the ego’s way of protecting itself from the wants of the id and superego

regression

defense mechanism where an individual becomes child-like

denial

defense mechanism where an individual refuses to acknowledge objective facts

projection

defense mechanism where an individual displaces their emotions onto someone or something else

repression

defense mechanism where an individual unconsciously pushes away and blocks unpleasant feelings from their mind

rationalization

defense mechanism where an individual justifies unacceptable feelings with apparent logic

sublimation

defense mechanism where an individual transforms unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behavior

displacement

defense mechanism where an individual satisfies an unacceptable impulse on a substitute object

compensation

defense mechanism where an individual “makes up” for a perceived area of weakness in their life by excelling in another area

reaction formation

defense mechanism where an individual pushes away an unwanted emotion by exaggerating the emotion that is the exact opposite of it

intellectualization

defense mechanism where an individual pushes away unwanted feelings by focusing on logical reasoning

Julian Rotter

believed that personality develops over time

expectancy theory

suggests that individuals act based on past experiences and expect the same outcome

positive regard

when an individual is good in nature and seeks approval from others

self-actualization

the point in an individual’s lifespan during which they’ve successfully developed their abilities and appreciation for life

cardinal trait

a trait that is so strong that is influences every behavior of an individual

central trait

a strong trait that is influential

secondary trait

a trait that is only expressed in certain situations

self-reports

personality test where participants provide information about themselves

observer ratings

when individuals are familiar with the person of interest and give their ratings

situational test

when an individual is placed into a controlled situation to see how they react

projective personality test

open response test with ambiguous stimuli