Unit 7 Psychology

Motivation

a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior

instinct

a complex, unlearned behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species

drive-reduction theory

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

Homeostasis

process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment

incentive

a reason for doing something; something that stimulates action

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization

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.

set point theory

The idea that the body monitors fat-cell levels to keep them (and weight) fairly stable.

basal metabolic rate

the body's resting rate of energy expenditure

anorexia nervosa

an eating disorder in which an irrational fear of weight gain leads people to starve themselves

bulimia nervosa

an eating disorder characterized by episodes of overeating, usually of high-calorie foods, followed by vomiting, laxative use, fasting, or excessive exercise

Estorgen

female sex hormone, secreted by ovaries, responsible for the release of eggs from ovaries as well as the development and maintenance of female reproductive structures and secondary sex characteristics

Testosterone

the most important of the male sex hormones. Both males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty

arousal theory of motivation

theory of motivation in which people are said to have an optimal (best or ideal) level of tension that they seek to maintain by increasing or decreasing stimulation

instinct theory of motivation

innate, fixed patterns of behavior in response to stimuli

drive

an urgent basic need pressing for satisfaction, usually rooted in some physiological tension, deficiency, or imbalance (e.g., hunger and thirst) and impelling the organism to action.

motive

a driving force that causes a person to take action to satisfy specific needs

Alfred Kinsey

his research described human sexual behavior and was controversial (for its methodology & findings)

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

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

PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

an anxiety disorder characterized by haunting memories, nightmares, social withdrawal, jumpy anxiety, and/or insomnia that lingers for four weeks or more after a traumatic experience

Stress

the reaction of the body and mind to everyday challenges and demands

emotion

a response of the whole organism, involving (1) physiological arousal, (2) expressive behaviors, and (3) conscious experience

James-Lange theory of emotion

theory in which a physiological reaction leads to the labeling of an emotion

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

theory in which the physiological reaction and the emotion are assumed to occur at the same time

Schachter-Singer two-factor theory

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

polygraph

lie detector

facial feedback hypothesis

the idea that facial expressions can influence emotions as well as reflect them

Catharsis

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

feel-good, do-good phenomenon

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

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.

adaptation-level phenomenon

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

relative deprivation

the perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself

Seven Basic Emotions (Paul Ekman)

sadness, fear, anger, disgust, contempt, happiness, and surprise

lateralization of emotions

Different influences of the two brain hemispheres on various emotions. The left hemisphere apparently influences positive emotions, and the right hemisphere influences negative emotions.

cognitive appraisal theory of emotion

our emotional experience depends on our interpretation of the situation we are in

two pathways of fear

A fast one in emergencies, a slow one for normal emotions.