AP Psychology Unit 8 Vocab

Motivation

A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior toward a goal.

Instinct

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

Physiological Need

A basic bodily requirement such as food, water, or warmth.

Drive-Reduction Theory

The idea that we are motivated to reduce physical discomfort and maintain homeostasis.

Homeostasis

The body’s tendency to maintain a balanced internal state.

Incentive

A positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Moderate arousal leads to optimal performance; too little or too much lowers performance.

Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow’s pyramid of human needs: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, self-actualization.

Glucose

Blood sugar; levels influence hunger.

Set Point

The body’s natural weight range maintained by metabolism.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

The body’s resting rate of energy expenditure.

Obesity

Excessive body fat linked to genetic, environmental, and behavioral factors.

Asexual

Having no sexual attraction to others.

Testosterone

The most important male sex hormone; influences sexual behavior in both sexes.

Estrogens

Sex hormones (mainly female) that influence sexual development and behavior.

Sexual Response Cycle

Four stages: excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution.

Refractory Period

Recovery phase after orgasm, longer in males.

Affiliation Need

The need to build relationships and feel part of a group.

Ostracism

Being excluded or ignored by others.

Narcissism

Excessive self-love and self-focus.

Achievement Motivation

Desire for significant accomplishment and mastery.

Grit

Passion and perseverance toward long-term goals.

James-Lange Theory

William James: We feel emotion because of physiological arousal.

Cannon-Bard Theory

Walter Cannon: Emotion and bodily response happen simultaneously.

Two-Factor Theory (Schachter-Singer)

Stanley Schachter: Emotion = physiological arousal + cognitive label.

Polygraph

A lie detector that measures physiological arousal.

Facial Feedback Effect

Facial expressions influence emotions.

Behavior Feedback Effect

Behavior influences feelings, such as acting confident increases confidence.

Stress

The process of appraising and responding to a threatening event.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Hans Selye’s 3-stage stress response: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Tend-and-Befriend Response

Stress response involving nurturing and seeking social support, more common in women.

Health Psychology

Study of how psychological factors affect health.

Psychoneuroimmunology

Study of how stress affects the immune system.

Coronary Heart Disease

Blockage of heart arteries linked to stress and behavior.

Type A Personality

Competitive, impatient, hostile; higher heart risk.

Type B Personality

Relaxed, easygoing.

Catharsis

Emotional release; venting anger does not reduce aggression.

Aerobic Exercise

Sustained activity that increases heart/lung fitness and reduces stress.

Mindfulness Meditation

Focused, nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment.

Feel-Good, Do-Good Phenomenon

When happy, people are more helpful.

Positive Psychology

Martin Seligman’s study of strengths and well-being.

Subjective Well-Being

Self-perceived happiness or life satisfaction.

Adaptation-Level Phenomenon

We adjust to new circumstances; happiness returns to baseline.

Relative Deprivation

Feeling worse off compared to others.

Abraham Maslow

Known for the hierarchy of needs and self-actualization.

Alfred Kinsey

Conducted sexual behavior surveys.

William Masters & Virginia Johnson

Conducted research on sexual response cycle.

William James

Proposed the James-Lange theory of emotion.

Walter Cannon

Proposed the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion.

Stanley Schachter

Developed the two-factor theory of emotion.

Robert Zajonc

Argued that emotions can occur without conscious thinking.

Joseph LeDoux

Studied 'low road' and 'high road' fear pathways.

Richard Lazarus

Developed cognitive appraisal theory of stress.

Paul Ekman

Researched universal facial expressions.

Hans Selye

Introduced the General Adaptation Syndrome concept.

Martin Seligman

Pioneered the positive psychology movement.