AP Psych Unit 8 Vocab - Motivation and Emotion

All the vocab in the motivation and emotion unit

two-factor theory of emotion

the idea that emotional experience is the result of a two-step self-perception process in which people first experience physiological arousal and then seek an appropriate explanation for it

A.L Washburn and balloon swallow study

A.L. Washburn, under Walter Cannon, conducted a landmark study to determine the physiological basis of hunger. By swallowing an uninflated balloon connected to a tube, Washburn recorded stomach contractions, finding that stomach contractions (hunger pangs) coincided with feelings of hunger, suggesting hunger is caused by stomach contractions.

Affiliation need

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

Ancel Keys & semistarvation diet research

a landmark study on 36 conscientious objectors to determine the physical and psychological effects of starvation and the best methods for refeeding European war victims. Participants lost over 25% of their body weight, experiencing severe physical, mental, and emotional deterioration.

arousal theory (Yerkes-Dodson Law) of motivation

Y-D Law = moderate arousal leads to most optimal performance, whereas too much or too little arousal distracts and detracts from performance ability

basal metabolic rate

the body's resting rate of energy expenditure

behavior feedback effect

the tendency of behavior to influence our own and others' thoughts, feelings, and actions

Cannon-Bard Theory

the theory that an emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers (1) physiological responses and (2) the subjective experience of emotion

Catharsis

the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

cognitive appraisals

Personal interpretations of the situations that trigger stress.

Cortisol

stress hormone released by the adrenal cortex

drive reduction theory of motivation

the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need

Epinephrine

adrenaline

Estrogens

female sex hormones

facial feedback effect

the tendency of facial muscle states to trigger corresponding feelings such as fear, anger, or happiness

feel-good, do-good phenomenon

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

General Adaptation Syndrome

Selye's concept of the body's adaptive response to stress in three phases—alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Ghelin

a hormone, that, when released into the bloodstream, cues your brain that food is needed

Glucose

the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for body tissues. When its level is low, we feel hunger.

hierarchy of needs

Physical needs, safety, belonging, esteem, self actualization

Homeostatisis

the maintenance of a constant internal state in a changing environment

incentive theory of motivation

states that incentives and rewards are the driving forces behind people's choices and behaviors

instinct theory of motivation

people are driven to do certain behaviors based on evolutionarily programmed instincts

Insulin

A protein hormone synthesized in the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into tissues

James-Lange theory of emotion

theory proposing that emotions result from our interpretations of our bodily reactions to stimuli

Leptin

hormone that signals the hypothalamus and brain stem to reduce appetite and increase the amount of energy used

Lymphocytes

The two types of white blood cells that are part of the body's immune system: B lymphocytes form in the bone marrow and release antibodies that fight bacterial infections; T lymphocytes form in the thymus and other lymphatic tissue and attack cancer cells, viruses, and foreign substances.

Macrophages

Found within the lymph nodes, they are phagocytes that destroy bacteria, cancer cells, and other foreign matter in the lymphatic stream.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs (motivation)

people are driven to fulfill five levels of needs, from basic survival to higher growth, with lower-level needs generally needing satisfaction before higher ones motivate behavior

Meditation

the focusing of attention to clear one's mind and produce relaxation

narcissism

excessive self-love and self-absorption

NK cells

Natural killer cells that destroy infected cells.

Norpinephrine

A neurotransmitter that influences mood and arousal.

Obestatin

secreted by stomach; tells brain "I'm full"

Orexin

hunger-triggering hormone secreted by hypothalamus

Ostracism

deliberate social exclusion of individuals or groups

positive psychology

the scientific study of optimal human functioning; aims to discover and promote strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive

Psychneuroimmunology

the study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes together affect the immune system and resulting health

PYY

digestive tract hormone; sends "I'm not hungry" signals to the brain

Relative Deprivation effect

Feeling deprived compared to others affects satisfaction.

Hypertension

abnormally high blood pressure

role of hypothalamus

The lateral hypothalamus (LH) functions as the hunger center, stimulating appetite, food seeking, and energy regulation, while the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) acts as the satiety center, signaling fullness to stop eating.

set point/settling point

the point at which your "weight thermostat" is supposedly set. When your body falls below this weight, increased hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may combine to restore the lost weight

spillover effect

arousal response to one event spills over into our response to the next event

Stress appraisal

the events of our lives flow through a psychological filter. How we appraise an event influences how much stress we experience and how effectively we respond.

Tend and befriend response to stress

under stress, people (especially women) often provide support to others (tend) and bond with and seek support from others (befriend)

Testosterone

Male sex hormone

Fight-flight-freeze

an involuntary, physical response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness for fight (confront), flight (escape) or freeze (avoid detection)

Type A and Type B

A theory which describes two different personality types: type A being high strung and energetic and type B being calm and easy going.

thrill and adventure seeking

Attraction to risky things (e.g., sky diving).

Experience Seeking

the tendency to seek novel experiences through the mind and the senses

Disinhibition

the tendency to transmit messages without considering their consequences

Boredom Susceptibility

Tendency to experience boredom and frustration when not engaged in stimulating activities.

neophobia

fear of new things

Lewin's Conflict Theorys

Approach-Approach Conflict: Choosing between two equally desirable options. Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict: Choosing between two equally unattractive options. Approach-Avoidance Conflict: A single goal or option that has both positive and negative aspects. Multiple (Double) Approach-Avoidance Conflict: Choosing between two or more options, where each option has both positive and negative features.

Lazarus theory of emotion

The theory that a cognitive appraisal is the first step in an emotional response and all other aspects of an emotion, including physiological arousal, depend on it.

Zajonc and LeDoux theory of emotion

theory that some emotional responses occur instantly; sometimes we feel before we think

subjective well-being

self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life. Used along with measures of objective well-being (for example, physical and economic indicators) to evaluate people's quality of life.

resilience

the personal strength that helps most people cope with stress and recover from adversity and even trauma

broaden and build theory

theory proposing that happiness predisposes us to think more openly

adaptation-level phenomenon

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

Categories of Virtue

wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, transcendence

posttramatic growth

positive psychological changes as a result of struggling with extremely challenging circumstances and life crises