AP Psychology: MESH Unit

instinct theory

A view that explains human behavior as motivated by automatic, involuntary, and unlearned responses. For example, babies have an instinct to breastfeed

drive-reduction theory

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

incentive theory

A theory of motivation stating that behavior is directed toward attaining desirable stimuli and avoiding unwanted stimuli.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

only if the needs of the lower tiers are met can you focus on meeting the next levels- physiological, safety, social, esteem, self-actualization

intrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior effectively for its own sake, internal

extrinsic motivation

a desire to perform a behavior to receive promised rewards or avoid threatened punishment, external

overjustification effect

the result of bribing people to do what they already like doing; they may then see their actions as externally controlled rather than intrinsically appealing

arousal theory

A theory of motivation suggesting that people are motivated to maintain an optimal level of alertness and physical and mental activation.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

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

physiological needs

those relating to the basic biological necessities of life: food, drink, rest, shelter, homeostasis, air

Homeostasis

A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level

law of effect

Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

safety and security needs

person's need to be protected from actual or potential harm and to have freedom from fear- basic shelter, financial security, transportation, clothing, health, employment

Love and Belongingness (Social) Needs

Social aspects like friendship, intimacy, trust and acceptance, receiving and giving affection and love. Affiliating, being part of a group (family, friends, work).

esteem needs

need for self-esteem, achievement, competence, and independence; need for recognition and respect from others. Recognition and external factors are important.

self-actualization needs

need to live up to our fullest and unique potential, unconcerned with other's opinions, growth mindest

chronic stress

Continuous stressful arousal persisting over time.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

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

alarm stage of GAS

1st stage, initial fight-or-flight response to stress

resistance stage of GAS

2nd stage; body functions normalize while responding to the stressor. The body attempts to cope with the stressor. If continuous, it will go on to the 3rd stage.

Exhaustion stage of GAS

3rd stage, body runs out of adaptation energy stores for adjusting to stressor, and resistance drops below normal. Burnout, depression, anxiety, and fatigue occur.

motivational conflicts theory

when an organism is in conflict between two opposite motives (approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, approach-avoidance)

approach-approach conflict

conflict occurring when a person must choose between two desirable goals- low anxiety

approach-avoidance conflict

conflict occurring when a person must choose or not choose a goal that has both positive and negative aspects- some anxiety

avoidance-avoidance conflict

conflict occurring when a person must choose between two undesirable goals- most anxiety

components of emotion

physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, conscious experience

James-Lange Theory

the theory that emotion results from physiological states triggered by stimuli in the environment, arousal before emotion

Cannon-Bard Theory

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

Schacter-Singer Two Factor theory

theory that to experience emotion one must be physically aroused and cognitively label the arousal

Zajonc's emotion theory

emotional reactions are experienced apart from or before interpretation of a situation

Lazarus' emotion theory

Cognitive appraisal sometimes without our awareness defines emotion

cognitive appraisal

the interpretation of an event that helps determine its stress impact

Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)

The component of the autonomic nervous system that responds to stressful situations by initiating the fight-or-flight response.

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

insula

activated when experiencing social emotions such as pride, lust, & disgust

Amygdala

activated by fear and anxiety

frontal lobe

positive emotions activate the left prefrontal cortex & negative emotions activate the right prefrontal cortex

nonverbal communication

communication using body movements, gestures, and facial expressions rather than speech

facial expressions

facial gestures that convey emotions and attitudes

universal emotions

anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise

facial feedback effect

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

broaden and build theory

the proposition that positive emotions expand an individual's attention and mind-set, authored by Barbara Fredrickson

misattribution of arousal

The tendency for people to incorrectly label the source of the arousal that they are experiencing, such as mistaking fear to attraction

shaky bridge experiment

Study showing misattribution of arousal to attraction

Most recognizable emotion via facial expression

Happiness

Stress

the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging

hypertension (HTN)

elevated blood pressure persistently higher than 140/90 mm Hg

Immune Suppression

a weakening of the body's ability to fight disease; created by a reduction in lymphocytes that normally help the body resist pathogens

Eustress

A positive stress that energizes a person and helps a person reach a goal

distress

negative stress that inhibits

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

traumatic childhood experiences, such as abuse, neglect, violence exposure, or death of a parent, that are linked to mental and physical health problems later in life

tend-and-befriend response

under stress, people often provide support to others and bond with and seek support from others

problem-focused coping

a type of coping in which people take direct steps to confront or minimize a stressor

emotion-focused coping

a type of coping in which people try to prevent having an emotional response to a stressor

post-traumatic growth

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

active listening

Empathic listening in which the listener echoes, restates, and clarifies. A feature of Rogers' client-centered therapy.

Cognitive behavior therapy

a popular integrated therapy that combines cognitive therapy (changing self-defeating thinking) with behavior therapy (changing behavior)

Applied Behavior Analysis

Biofeedback

cognitive restructuring

a therapeutic approach that teaches clients to question the automatic beliefs, assumptions, and predictions that often lead to negative emotions and to replace negative thinking with more realistic and positive beliefs

cognitive triad

dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

Promising treatment for borderline personality disorder that involves exposing the client to stressors in a controlled situation, as well as helping the client regulate emotions and cope with stressors that might trigger suicidal behavior.

fidelity

faithfulness; loyalty

hypnosis

a social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur

Maladaptive Thinking

Negative and irrational thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and dysfunctional behaviors, which therapy aims to identify and change.

Nonmaleficence

duty to do no harm

person centered therapy

a nondirective insight therapy based on the work of Carl Rogers in which the client does all the talking and the therapist listens

rational-emotive behavior therapy

a confrontational cognitive therapy, developed by Albert Ellis, that vigorously challenges people's illogical, self-defeating attitudes and assumptions

Tardive dyskinesia (TD)

potentially disabling motor disorder that may occur following regular use of antipsychotic drugs

therapeutic alliance

a bond of trust and mutual understanding between a therapist and client, who work together constructively to overcome the client's problem