Intro to Psych Chapters 9 & 10 - FINAL EXAM

motivation

The force that moves people to behave, think, and feel the way they do. This type of behavior is energized, directed, and sustained.

need

A deprivation that energizes the drive to eliminate or reduce the deprivation.

drive reduction theory

theory that explains that as a drive becomes stronger, we are motivated to reduce it and the goal is maintain homeostasis

optimum arousal theory

Also called Yerkes-Dodson law, The psychological principle stating that performance is best under conditions of moderate arousal rather than either low or high arousal.

hierarchy of needs

Maslow’s theory that human needs must be satisfied in the following sequence: physiological needs, safety, love and belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization.

self-determination theory

Deci and Ryan’s theory asserting that all humans have three basic, innate organismic needs: competence, relatedness, and autonomy.

intrinsic motivation

Motivation based on internal factors such as organismic needs (competence, relatedness, and autonomy), as well as curiosity, challenge, and fun.

extrinsic motivation

Motivation that involves external incentives such as rewards and punishments.

emotion

Feeling, or affect, that can involve physiological arousal (such as a fast heartbeat), conscious experience (thinking about being in love with someone), and behavioral expression (a smile or grimace).

self-regulation

The process by which an organism effortfully controls its behavior in order to pursue important objectives.

display rules

Sociocultural standards that determine when, where, and how emotions should be expressed.

circumplex model

a type of graph that creates a circle from two independent dimensions of valence and arousal level

valence

the pleasantness or unpleasantness of an emotion

arousal

the physiological and psychological intensity of an emotion

personality

A pattern of enduring, distinctive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that characterize the way an individual adapts to the world.

psychodynamic perspectives

Theoretical views emphasizing that personality is primarily unconscious (beyond awareness).

id

The part of the person that Freud called the “it,” consisting of unconscious drives; the individual’s reservoir of sexual energy.

ego

The Freudian structure of personality that deals with the demands of reality.

superego

The Freudian structure of personality that serves as the harsh internal judge of the individual’s behavior; what is often referred to as conscience.

defense mechanisms

Tactics the ego uses to reduce anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality.

denial

most primitive defense mechanism, ego simply refuses to acknowledge anxiety-producing realities

displacement

directing unacceptable impulses at a less threatening target, instead of trying to date your mom, you date someone that resembles your mom

repression

most powerful and pervasive defense mechanism, pushes unacceptable impulses into the unconscious mind

humanistic perspectives

Theoretical views stressing a person’s capacity for personal growth and positive human qualities.

unconditional positive regard

Rogers’s construct referring to the individual’s need to be accepted, valued, and treated positively regardless of their behavior.

self-concept

our conscious representation of who we are and who we wish to become, during childhood

trait theories

Theoretical views stressing that personality consists of broad, enduring dispositions (traits) that tend to lead to characteristic responses.

big five factors of personality

five broad traits that describe the main dimensions of personality; experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism (emotional instability)

social cognitive perspective

Theoretical views emphasizing conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals

reciprocal determinism

coined by Bandura, describes the way behavior, environment, person/cognitive factors interact to create personality

social cognitive theory

states that behavior, environment, and person/cognitive factors are all important in understanding personality

internal locus of control

when we feel that we ourselves are controlling our choices and behaviors

external locus of control

when we feel that other influences are controlling our choices and behaviors

self-efficacy

The belief that one can master a situation and produce positive change.