Psychology: Key Terms and Theories on Emotions, Motivation, and Eating Disorders

anorexia nervosa

eating disorder characterized by an individual maintaining body weight that is well below average through starvation and/or excessive exercise

basolateral complex

part of the brain with dense connections with a variety of sensory areas of the brain; it is critical for classical conditioning and attaching emotional value to memory

binge eating disorder

type of eating disorder characterized by binge eating and associated distress

bisexual

emotional and erotic attractions to both same-sexed individuals and opposite-sexed individuals

body language

emotional expression through body position or movement

bulimia nervosa

type of eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

physiological arousal and emotional experience occur at the same time

central nucleus

part of the brain involved in attention and has connections with the hypothalamus and various brainstem areas to regulate the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems' activity

cognitive-mediational theory

our emotions are determined by our appraisal of the stimulus

components of emotion

physiological arousal, psychological appraisal, and subjective experience

cultural display rule

one of the culturally specific standards that govern the types and frequencies of emotions that are acceptable

distorted body image

individuals view themselves as overweight even though they are not

drive theory

deviations from homeostasis create physiological needs that result in psychological drive states that direct behaviour to meet the need and ultimately bring the system back to homeostasis

emotion

subjective state of being often described as feelings

excitement

phase of the sexual response cycle that involves sexual arousal

extrinsic motivation

motivation that arises from external factors or rewards

facial feedback hypothesis

facial expressions are capable of influencing our emotions

gender dysphoria

diagnostic category in DSM-5 for individuals who do not identify as the gender associated with their biological sex

gender identity

individual's sense of having a particular gender

habit

pattern of behaviour in which we regularly engage

heterosexual

emotional and erotic attractions to opposite-sexed individuals

hierarchy of needs

spectrum of needs ranging from basic biological needs to social needs to self-actualization

homosexual

emotional and erotic attractions to same-sexed individuals

instinct

species-specific pattern of behaviour that is unlearned

intrinsic motivation

motivation based on internal feelings rather than external rewards

James-Lange theory of emotion

emotions arise from physiological arousal

leptin

satiety hormone

metabolic rate

amount of energy that is expended in a given period of time

motivation

wants or needs that direct behaviour toward some goal

orgasm

peak phase of the sexual response cycle associated with rhythmic muscle contractions (and ejaculation)

overweight

adult with a BMI between 25 and 29.9

plateau

phase of the sexual response cycle that falls between excitement and orgasm

polygraph

lie detector test that measures physiological arousal of individuals as they answer a series of questions

refractory period

time immediately following an orgasm during which an individual is incapable of experiencing another orgasm

resolution

phase of the sexual response cycle following orgasm during which the body returns to its unaroused state

satiation

fullness; satisfaction

Schachter-Singer two-factor theory of emotion

emotions consist of two factors: physiological and cognitive

self-efficacy

individual's belief in their own capabilities or capacities to complete a task

set point theory

assertion that each individual has an ideal body weight, or set point, that is resistant to change

sexual orientation

one's emotional and erotic attraction to others

sexual response cycle

divided into 4 phases including excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution

hormone therapy

use of hormones to change the appearance of one's body, often used to treat gender dysphoria

Yerkes-Dodson law

simple tasks are performed best when arousal levels are relatively high, while complex tasks are best performed when arousal is lower