Unit 8: ALL TERMS

Psychodynamic Theory

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the influence of unconscious motives and early childhood experiences on behavior and personality development.

Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies used to cope with anxiety and maintain a positive self-image by distorting reality.

Denial

A defense mechanism that involves refusing to accept reality or facts, thereby protecting oneself from uncomfortable emotions.

Displacement

A defense mechanism that involves redirecting emotions or impulses from a threatening target to a safer one, often resulting in a less harmful expression of feelings.

Projection

A defense mechanism in which an individual attributes their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or motives to another person, thereby avoiding personal responsibility.

Rationalization

A defense mechanism that involves explaining an unacceptable behavior or feeling in a logical or reasonable manner to avoid the true explanation.

Reaction Formation

A defense mechanism where an individual behaves in a manner opposite to their actual feelings or impulses, often as a way to conceal them.

Regression

A defense mechanism where an individual reverts to behaviors characteristic of an earlier stage of development when faced with stress or anxiety.

Repression

A defense mechanism that involves unconsciously blocking out painful or unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or memories from awareness.

Sublimation

A defense mechanism where socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are transformed into socially acceptable actions or behaviors, often resulting in positive outcomes.

Protective Tests

Psychological assessments designed to reveal hidden emotions, desires, and conflicts by analyzing responses to ambiguous stimuli.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

A projective psychological test that involves creating stories about ambiguous images, used to uncover underlying motives, feelings, and conflicts.

Rorschach Inkblot test

A projective psychological test consisting of inkblots, used to analyze a person's perceptions and emotional responses to reveal underlying thoughts and feelings.

Humanisitc

A psychological approach that emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and the inherent goodness of people, focusing on individual potential.

Unconditional Regard

A fundamental concept in humanistic psychology where an individual is accepted and valued without conditions or limitations, promoting personal growth and self-acceptance.

Self-Actualization

The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potential, often considered the ultimate goal in humanistic psychology.

Social Cognitive Theory

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the role of observational learning, imitation, and modeling in behavior, highlighting the interaction between personal, behavioral, and environmental factors.

Reciprocal Determination

A concept in social cognitive theory that suggests an individual's behavior is influenced by personal factors and the social environment, creating a continuous loop of interaction.

Self-Efficacy

The belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task, influencing motivation and behavior.

Self Esteem

an individual's overall evaluation of their own worth, encompassing their beliefs about themselves and the emotions associated with those beliefs, essentially how much they value and respect themselves as a person

Self concept

an individual's overall perception of themselves, encompassing their beliefs, attitudes, and evaluations about their own abilities, traits, and characteristics

Trait Theory

a personality theory that suggests individuals can be understood by identifying and measuring stable, enduring characteristics called "traits" which influence their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors across different situations

Big Five theory (Five Factor)

a widely accepted theory that identifies five broad dimensions of personality: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism

Agreeableness

a person's tendency to be cooperative, kind, sympathetic, and considerate towards others

Openness to Experience

characterizing a person's tendency to seek out new experiences, explore novel ideas, and be receptive to different perspectives, often displaying curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to try new things

Extraversion

a personality trait characterized by outgoing, sociable, and energetic behavior, where individuals tend to gain energy from social interactions and enjoy being around people

Conscientiousness

a personality trait characterized by being responsible, organized, careful, and diligent, essentially reflecting a tendency to be goal-oriented, planful, and reliable, often with strong self-discipline and a commitment to following rules and norms

Emotional Stability (neuroticism)

a personality dimension that measures how well a person can manage their emotions

Factor Analysis

a statistical method used to identify underlying patterns or "factors" that explain the relationships between a set of observed variables

Personality Inventories

a self-assessment questionnaire designed to measure various aspects of an individual's personality by asking them to respond to statements about their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

Physiological

relating to the physical processes and responses of the body, particularly in relation to emotional experiences.

Emotional Appraisal

the process of evaluating and interpreting emotional stimuli, influencing how individuals respond to emotions.

Facial - Feedback Hypothesis

suggests that facial expressions can influence emotional experiences, enhancing or dampening feelings.

Cognitive Appraisal

the mental process of assessing and interpreting a situation to determine its emotional significance, affecting emotional responses.

Broaden - and - build theory

a psychological theory suggesting that positive emotions broaden individuals' thought processes and build their personal resources.

Universal emotions

are a set of emotions that are recognized and experienced by all humans, regardless of culture, including happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust.

Display Rules

social and cultural guidelines that dictate how and when emotions should be expressed in different situations.

Drive Reduction Theory

A theory that explains motivation as the result of biological needs (The body has a need, or "drive", to maintain balance, or homeostasis. When a drive is aroused, the body is motivated to reduce it)

Homeostasis

The body's process of maintaining a stable internal environment despite external changes.

Arousal Theory

A theory of motivation that suggests individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal, which can vary from person to person.

Yerkes Dodson Law

The principle that performance is optimal at a moderate level of arousal, indicating that too much or too little arousal can negatively affect performance.

Self Determination Theory

A theory of motivation that emphasizes the role of intrinsic motivation and the basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering personal growth and well-being.

Intrinsic Motivation

The drive to engage in an activity for its own sake, rather than for some external reward or outcome. It is fueled by personal satisfaction and interest.

Extrinsic Motivation

The drive to engage in an activity to achieve external rewards or avoid negative outcomes, such as money, praise, or recognition.

Incentive Theory

A theory of motivation that suggests behavior is motivated by external rewards or incentives, emphasizing the role of positive reinforcement in driving actions.

Instincts

Innate behaviors that are biologically hardwired in organisms, driving them to act in certain ways without prior learning or experience.

Lewin’s Motivational Conflicts Theory

A psychological theory that describes how individuals experience conflict when faced with multiple motives, categorized into approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, and approach-avoidance conflicts.

Approach - Approach Conflict

A type of conflict where an individual must choose between two desirable options, leading to feelings of tension and indecision.

Approach - Avoidance Conflict

A conflict where an individual faces a single goal with both attractive and unattractive aspects, resulting in mixed feelings and difficulty in decision-making.

Avoidance - Avoidance Conflict

A type of conflict where an individual must choose between two undesirable options, often leading to heightened stress and anxiety.

Sensation Seeking Theory

A theory that suggests individuals have varying levels of desire for novel and intense experiences, influencing their behavior and risk-taking.

Ghrelin

A hormone that stimulates appetite, playing a key role in energy balance and hunger regulation.

Leptin

A hormone produced by adipose (fat) tissue that helps to regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger, thereby promoting satiety.

Hypothalamus

A region of the brain that plays a crucial role in regulating various autonomic functions, including hunger, thirst, sleep, and body temperature.

Thalamus

A brain structure that relays sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex, and is involved in the regulation of consciousness, sleep, and alertness.

Pituitary Gland

A pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain that produces hormones regulating various bodily functions, including growth, metabolism, and reproduction.