Unit 4B: AP Psychology Vocab (1-56)

Personality

A person’s typical way of thinking, feeling and acting

Social

cognitive perspective

Reciprocal determinism

Behavior, thoughts, and environment influence each other

Self

concept

Self

efficacy

Self

esteem

Trait psychology

Way of studying personality by identifying and measuring stable traits

Factor analysis

Statistical method that reduces many traits into clusters of related traits

Conscientiousness

The trait of being organized, responsible, and hardworking

Agreeableness

The trait of being kind, cooperative, and trusting

Neuroticism

Tendency to experience emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness

Openness

Trait of being curious, imaginative, and open to new experiences

Extraversion

Trait of being outgoing, social, and energetic

Psychodynamic

Theories that view personality as shaped by the unconscious mind

Projective tests

Personality tests that use ambiguous images to reveal inner thoughts and feelings

Id

Seeks to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives

Ego

Mediates demands of id, superego, and reality

Superego

Represents internalized morals and standards

Defense mechanisms

Unconscious ways to reduce anxiety

Repression

Unconsciously pushing anxiety

Reaction formation

Acting opposite to true feelings

Projection

Attributing one’s own unwanted thoughts or feelings to others

Denial

Refusing to accept reality or facts

Rationalization

Making excuses for behavior that might otherwise cause anxiety

Displacement

Redirecting impulses to a safer substitute

Sublimation

Channeling unacceptable impulses into positive, socially acceptable activities

Humanistic

Focus on healthy personal growth

Self

actualizing tendency

Unconditional positive regard

Accepting and valuing a person without judgment

Person

centered perspective

Drive

reduction theory

Arousal theory

People are motivated to maintain an optimal level of alertness

Yerkes

Dodson law

Incentive theory

Behavior is motivated by rewards or goals

Instinct

Automatic, unlearned behaviors

Motivational conflict theory

Being torn between two or more competing goals

Approach

approach

Approach

avoidance

Avoidance

avoidance

No conflict

Choice between something clearly good and clearly bad

Sensation

seeking theory

Satiety

Feeling of fullness and no longer hungry

Ghrelin

Hormone that increases hunger

Leptin

Hormone that signals fullness

Hypothalamus

Brain structure that regulates hunger, thirst, and body temperature

External factors

Eating influenced by environment, social situations, habits, and food presence