PSYC 1001 General Psychology Midterm Vocabulary Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards covering core terms and definitions from PSYC 1001 Midterm Study Guide.

Operational definition

A concrete, measurable description of what a psychological construct means in a particular context.

Self-regulation

Managing your own learning by setting goals, checking your progress, and changing your approach when needed.

Knowledge-behavior gap

Knowing something is good for you does not automatically mean you are going to do it

Motivation

A process that energizes, directs, and maintains behavior.

Intrinsic motivation

Doing something because the activity itself is valuable, interesting, satisfying, or enjoyable.

Extrinsic motivation

Doing something because it leads to an external goal, reward, or consequence.

Self-efficacy

The expectation that your efforts can lead to success.

Fixed mindset

Treating intelligence as a relatively fixed trait where challenges feel like tests of ability and failure feels like a verdict.

Growth mindset

Seeing abilities as developable, where challenges become opportunities to learn and failure provides useful information.

Selective attention

Directing mental resources to relevant information while ignoring irrelevant information.

Retrieval practice

Closing the notes and trying to recall, explain, or answer questions from memory.

Spaced practice

Spreading practice across time rather than compressing it into one session.

Elaborative rehearsal

Connecting new information to prior knowledge

Monitoring for learning

Tracking what you are actually learning using evidence from self-testing, practice, comprehension, and performance rather than just time spent studying.

Problem solving

Moving from a current state toward a goal state.

Mental set

An established way of thinking that can become an obstacle when a different solution is needed.

Restructuring

Thinking about a problem in a new way.

Subgoals

Breaking a large objective into smaller steps that move toward the goal.

Problem-focused coping

Taking direct steps to confront or reduce a stressor

Emotion-focused coping

Managing the emotional response to a stressor; often useful when the stressor is not directly controllable.

SMART goal

A goal that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Descriptive research

Research used to describe behavior or mental processes.

Case study

An in-depth investigation of an individual.

Explanatory research

Research aimed at explaining why something happens.

Experiment

A research method in which a researcher manipulates an independent variable and measures its effect on a dependent variable using random assignment and control to test causal explanations.

Maximizers

People who tend to want to consider many or all possible options before making a choice.

Satisficers

People who tend to choose an option that meets their needs rather than trying to find the absolute best option.

Modeling

Learning by observing another person's behavior and its consequences.

Obedience

Following the commands of an authority figure.

Subjective

Personal opinions and experiences based on individual perspectives.

Objective

Scientific observation and measurement

Empiricism

Using observation and measurement to build knowledge.

Belief

What you think is true, even if it’s not accurate.

Opinion

What you think about a topic

Intuition

A personal, instinctive gut feeling that does not constitute scientific evidence.

Independent variable

The variable that is manipulated to examine its impact on the dependent variable.

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured to determine how it was affected by the independent variable.

Control variable

A variable that is kept consistent so it does not provide an alternative explanation for the findings.

Naturalistic observation

Observing behavior in a natural setting without manipulating the situation.

Descriptive statistics

Statistics used to summarize and describe the data collected in a study.

Correlation (r)

A statistic describing the relationship between two variables.

Inferential statistics

Statistics used to make inferences from sample data beyond simply describing the sample.

Statistical significance

A result was unlikely to occur by chance; it provides evidence relevant to a hypothesis without proving it.

Theory

A broad explanation that organizes what is known and leads to testable predictions.

Testable hypothesis

A specific prediction that can be tested with data.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A board that reviews research involving human participants to help protect participants and evaluate ethical risks.

Privacy

Participants' right to control access to personal information about themselves.

Confidentiality

The principle that researchers protect participants' information and limit who can access identifiable data.

Informed consent

Providing participants with information about a study so they can decide whether to participate.

Preregistration

Specifying important hypotheses, methods, and planned analyses before collecting or analyzing data to reduce questionable research practices.

Replication

Repeating a study to see whether the findings can be reproduced.

Nervous system

A communication system that allows the body and brain to receive information, process it, and produce responses.

Phrenology

A pseudo-scientific method of brain study that uses lumps and bumps on the head to measure intelligence, skill, and personality.

EEG

A method used for studying electrical brain activity.

fMRI

A method for studying the brain by measuring patterns of activity associated with blood flow.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A method that uses magnetic stimulation to influence activity in targeted brain areas.

Neuron

A cell that communicates information within the nervous system.

Dendrites

Parts of a neuron that receive information.

Cell body

The main part of the neuron containing the nucleus.

Nucleus

The structure within the cell body that contains the cell's genetic material.

Axon

The part of a neuron that carries information away from the cell body.

Myelin sheath

Insulating material around the axon that helps neural signals travel efficiently.

Terminal buttons

Endings of the axon that release neurotransmitters.

Synapse

The junction between neurons across which chemical communication occurs.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that affect how neurons communicate with one another.

Endocrine system

A communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts and actions.

Hormones

Chemical substances released from endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to targeted tissues.

Materialism

The view that physical processing of information in the brain produces the experiences of the mind.

Global Workspace Model

Conscious experience emerges from interactions among different brain circuits

Neuroplasticity

The ability of the brain to change with experience.

Long-term potentiation

Strengthening of synaptic connections between neurons.

Consolidation

new memories become long lasting memories

Enteric nervous system

The network of nerve cells in the gut.

Social Connection

the size, diversity, quality, and functional support of our relationships

Social Isolation

Objectively having few social relationships, social roles, group memberships, and infrequent social interaction.

Loneliness

A subjective distressing experience that results from perceived isolation or inadequate meaningful connections.

Cortisol

A stress hormone released to mobilize energy in response to threats.

UCLA Loneliness Scale, Version 3

A 20-item self-report measure designed to assess subjective feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

Need to belong

The drive where people are motivated to form interpersonal attachments and groups.

Social presence

Being physically around other people.

Social safety

Experiencing recognition, inclusion, belonging, and protection.

Unconditional positive regard

Support that does not depend on making someone conform to a narrow set of expectations.

Emerging adulthood

A stage of life from ages 18–25 involving identity exploration, instability, self-focus, and possibilities.

Intimacy vs. isolation

Erik Erikson's central psychosocial challenge in emerging adulthood involving developing close, lasting relationships versus difficulty forming or maintaining connections.

Self-concept

What we think, believe, and feel about ourselves.

Self-schema

The organized memories and beliefs we have about ourselves.

Working self-concept

The version of ourselves that becomes most prominent in a particular situation.

Self-esteem

Our sense of self-worth.

Belonging uncertainty

The internal question asking 'Do these people accept me?'

Reflected appraisal

“What do these people think of me?”

Self-acceptance

The state expressed as 'Can I accept myself even when I am unsure how others see me?'

Social support

When you can trust the people around you for help with your needs.

Emotional support

A type of social support where someone listens and understands.

Practical support

A type of social support where someone helps you do something.

Informational support

A type of social support where someone gives you useful information.

Evaluative support

A type of social support where someone gives you feedback

Happiness (research definition)

The experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one's life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile.

Well-being

A broader idea than a single happy moment, representing an overall life that is going well even if it includes stress or sadness.

PERMA Model

A well-being framework consisting of Positive emotions, Engagement, Positive relationships, Meaning, and Achievement.