Psych Unit 3: Social Psychology and Personality

instincts

-innate, fixed pattern of behavior in animals
-triggered by specific stimuli, causing them to act in predictable ways

drive-reduction theory

behavior is motivated by the need to REDUCE INTERNAL DRIVES
-caused by PHYSIOLOGICAL DEFICITS
-aims to restore homeostasis

ghrelin

hormone
-produced in the stomach
-stimulates apetite

leptin

hormone
-produced by fat cells
-helps REGULATE ENERGY BALANCE by INHIBITING HUNGER

belongingness

-innate human desire to form and sustain close, meaningful relationships
-significantly drives behavior and affects emotional health

arousal theory

-idea that individuals are motivated to maintain an OPTIMAL LEVEL of ALERTNESS
-they seek to INCREASE ALERTNESS when TOO LOW and DECREASE ALERTNESS when TOO HIGH to enhance performance and well-being

yerkes-dodson law

-the idea that PERFORMANCE INCREASES with AROUSAL (physiological or mental) but only UP TO A POINT
-when levels of arousal become too high, performance decreases
individuals perform best when they are at an OPTIMUM LEVEL of AROUSAL

sensation-seeking theory

idea that one’s motivation is driven by the need for varied, novel, and intense experiences

thrill seeking

component of sensation-seeking theory
-individuals are motivated by the desire for intense and exciting experiences
-often involves RISK

adventure seeking

component of sensation-seeking theory
-individuals are motivated by the desire for NEW and CHALLENGING EXPERIENCES
-often involves physical activities and exploration

disinhibition

tendency to seek out social and experiential thrills by engaging in behaviors that are typically restrained by social norms and inhibitions

boredom susceptibility

an individual’s intolerance for repetitive or monotonous experiences
leads people to seek out new and stimulating activities to avoid boredom

incentive theory

behavior is motivated by the DESIRE FOR EXTERNAL REWARDS

self-determination theory

proposes that people are motivated by intrinsic motivations or extrinsic motivations

intrinsic motivation

engaging in activities for their own sake
-driven by INTERNAL rewards

extrinsic motivation

engaging in behavior due to EXTERNAL REWARDS or pressures

lewin’s motivational conflicts theory

describes the psychological struggles individuals face when making decisions

approach-approach conflicts

when an individual must choose between two DESIRABLE options
-leads to a conflict of which positive outcome to pursue

avoidance-avoidance conflicts

when an individual must choose between two UNDESIRABLE options
-leads to a conflict of which negative outcome to avoid

approach-avoidance conflicts

when an individual is DRAWN TO and REPELLED BY the SAME OPTION
-leads to a conflict between the desire for a positive outcome and the fear of a negative consequence

emotion

elicitors

arousal comes before emotion

facial-feedback hypothesis

arousal and emotion occur simultaneously

arousal + cognitive label = emotion

broaden-and-build theory of emotion

universal emotions

display rules

james-lange theory

cannon-bard theory

schacter-singer theory

psychodynamic theory

preconscious mind

unconscious mind

projective tests

ego defense mechanism

denial

displacement

projection

rationalization

reaction formation

regression

repression

sublimation

rorschach inkblot test

thematic apperception test (TAT)

humanistic psychology

unconditional regard

self-actualizing tendency

social-cognitive theory

reciprocal determinism

self-concept

self-efficacy

self-esteem

trait theories

big five theory

personality inventories

factor analysis

openness to experience

conscientiousness

extraversion

agreeableness

emotional stability

approach

the inclination or desire to move towards a goal or outcome because it is seen as desirable

avoidance

describes the motivation to move away from a goal or outcome because it is seen as undesirable or potentially harmful