Psych unit 2

Motivation

The force that starts, directs, and keeps behavior going.

Need

Something your body or mind requires to function or survive.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A theory that people meet basic needs before higher-level needs.

Physiological Needs

Basic survival needs like food, water, and sleep.

Safety Needs

The need for security, protection, and stability.

Love and Belonging Needs

The need for relationships, friendship, and acceptance.

Esteem Needs

The need for confidence, achievement, and respect.

Self-Actualization

Reaching your full potential and becoming the best version of yourself.

Drive Reduction Theory

A need creates a drive that motivates behavior until the need is satisfied.

Drive

Internal tension caused by an unmet need.

Homeostasis

The body's process of keeping internal conditions balanced.

Set Point

The weight or level your body naturally tries to maintain.

Arousal Theory

People are motivated to maintain an ideal level of excitement or alertness.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Moderate arousal leads to the best performance; too little or too much hurts performance.

Pleasure Principle

The tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain.

Incentives

External rewards that motivate behavior.

Intrinsic Motivation

Doing something because you enjoy it or find it personally rewarding.

Extrinsic Motivation

Doing something to earn a reward or avoid punishment.

Self-Determination Theory

People are most motivated when they have autonomy, competence, and relatedness.

Autonomy

Feeling in control of your own actions.

Competence

Feeling capable and effective.

Relatedness

Feeling connected to and supported by others.

Self-Perception Theory

People figure out their attitudes by observing their own behavior.

Hunger

A biological motivation to eat.

Glucose

The body's main source of energy from food.

Insulin

A hormone that helps regulate blood sugar after eating.

Ghrelin

A hormone that increases hunger.

Leptin

A hormone that signals fullness and reduces hunger.

Hypothalamus

The brain region that helps regulate hunger and other basic body functions.

Ventromedial Hypothalamus (VMH)

The part of the hypothalamus that helps stop eating (satiety center).

Lateral Hypothalamus (LH)

The part of the hypothalamus that helps start eating (hunger center).

Learned Eating

Eating because of habits, environment, or cues rather than true hunger.

Need to Belong

The natural human desire to form close relationships and be accepted.

Belonging Uncertainty

Feeling unsure about whether you fit in or are accepted by others.

Achievement Motivation

The desire to succeed and accomplish goals.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in your ability to succeed or complete a task.

Delay of Gratification

Choosing a larger future reward over a smaller immediate reward.

Grit

Passion and perseverance toward long-term goals.

Emotion

A short-lasting feeling triggered by a specific event.

Primary Emotions

Basic universal emotions such as happiness, fear, anger, sadness, surprise, and disgust.

Secondary Emotions

More complex emotions such as guilt, embarrassment, pride, and jealousy.

Mood

A longer-lasting emotional state that is not always linked to a specific event.

Circumplex Model of Emotion

A model that organizes emotions based on pleasantness and level of arousal.

James-Lange Theory

Physical reactions happen first, then the emotion is experienced.

Cannon-Bard Theory

Physical reactions and emotions happen at the same time.

Two-Factor Theory (Schachter-Singer)

Emotion results from physical arousal plus thinking about the cause of the arousal.

Misattribution of Arousal

Mistaking the cause of your physical arousal for something else.

Polygraph

A machine that measures physical responses such as heart rate, breathing, and sweating; it does not directly detect lies.

Thalamus

The brain's sensory relay station that sends information to other brain areas.

Fast Pathway

A quick route from the thalamus to the amygdala that allows rapid emotional reactions.

Slow Pathway

A slower route from the thalamus through the cortex that allows more accurate thinking before reacting.

Amygdala

The brain structure involved in processing emotions, especially fear.

Emotion Regulation

Managing and controlling emotions in healthy ways.

Facial Expressions

Facial movements that communicate emotions; many are recognized across cultures.

Display Rules

Cultural rules that influence how and when emotions are expressed.

Guilt

Feeling bad about something you did.

Embarrassment

Feeling awkward or uncomfortable because of a social situation.

Health Psychology

The study of how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health.

Health

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.

Well-Being

Overall happiness, health, and life satisfaction.

Biopsychosocial Model

A model explaining that health is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.

Biological Factors

Physical influences on health such as genetics, hormones, and disease.

Psychological Factors

Mental and emotional influences on health such as thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Social Factors

Environmental and cultural influences on health such as family, friends, income, and community.

Health Disparities

Differences in health outcomes among different groups of people.

Obesity

Having an unhealthy amount of body fat that may increase health risks.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measurement that estimates body fat based on height and weight.

Genetics

Traits inherited from parents that influence health.

Environment

External surroundings and experiences that affect health.

Fat Shaming

Criticizing or discriminating against someone because of their weight.

Restrictive Diet

A diet that greatly limits calories or certain foods.

Yo-Yo Dieting

Repeatedly losing and regaining weight.

Exercise

Physical activity that improves health and fitness.

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

An infection spread through sexual contact.

Smoking

The use of tobacco products that increases the risk of disease.

Vaping

Inhaling vapor from electronic cigarettes or similar devices.

Nicotine

An addictive chemical found in tobacco and many vaping products.

Chantix (Varenicline)

A medication that helps people stop smoking by reducing cravings.

Stress

The physical and psychological response to challenges or demands.

Stressor

Anything that causes stress.

Acute Stressor

A short-term stressful event.

Chronic Stressor

A long-term or ongoing source of stress.

Eustress

Positive stress that motivates or improves performance.

Distress

Negative stress that causes discomfort or harm.

Daily Hassles

Small everyday problems that create stress.

Major Life Stressor

A significant life event that causes major stress.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

The body's three-stage response to prolonged stress.

Alarm Stage

The first stage of GAS when the body prepares to respond to stress.

Resistance Stage

The second stage of GAS when the body continues coping with stress.

Exhaustion Stage

The final stage of GAS when the body's resources become depleted.

Fight-or-Flight Response

The body's automatic reaction to danger by preparing to fight or escape.

Tend-and-Befriend Response

A stress response involving seeking social support and protecting others.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The part of the nervous system that activates the body's stress response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The part of the nervous system that calms the body after stress.

Cortisol

A stress hormone released during stressful situations.

Type A Personality

A competitive, impatient, and high-stress personality.

Type B Personality

A relaxed, easygoing, and less competitive personality.

Hostility

Frequent anger and aggression that can negatively affect health.

Primary Appraisal

Deciding whether a situation is stressful or threatening.

Secondary Appraisal

Deciding whether you have the resources to cope with the stress.