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Psychodynamic Approach
An approach to psychology emphasizing unconscious thought, the conflict between biological drives and society's demands, and early childhood family experiences.
Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud's therapeutic technique. Freud believed the patient's free associations, dreams, etc. - and the therapist's interpretations of them - released previously repressed feelings, allowing the patient to gain self-insight.
Id
Primitive part of personality seeking immediate gratification.
Ego
Mediator between id and reality, rational decision-maker.
Superego
Moral component of personality, internalized societal norms.
Defense Mechanisms
Psychological strategies to cope with anxiety.
Denial
Refusal to accept reality or facts.
Displacement
Redirecting emotions to a safer target.
Projection
Attributing one's own unacceptable feelings to others.
Rationalization
Justifying behaviors with logical reasons.
Reaction Formation
Expressing opposite emotions to conceal true feelings.
Regression
Reverting to earlier developmental stages under stress.
Repression
Unconsciously blocking unpleasant thoughts and memories from awareness.
Sublimation
Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.
Projective Tests
Assess personality through ambiguous stimuli interpretation.
Preconscious
Thoughts not currently in awareness but accessible.
Unconscious
Part of mind containing repressed memories and desires.
Humanistic Approach
An approach to psychology emphasizing a person's positive qualities, the capacity for positive growth, and the freedom to choose any destiny.
Unconditional Positive Regard
a caring, accepting, nonjudgmental attitude, which Carl Rogers believed would help clients to develop self-awareness and self-acceptance
Self-Actualization
According to Maslow, the ultimate psychological need that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one's potential
Self-Actualizing Tendency
An innate drive to reach full potential - an underlying assumption of Rogers' approach to therapy is that people generally have this drive.
Traits
Stable characteristics influencing behavior across situations.
Personality Inventory
Questionnaire assessing various personality traits.
The Big Five Theory
identifies five main characteristics that account for most individual differences in personality: Openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism.
Openness to Experience
A personality dimension that characterizes someone in terms of imagination, sensitivity, and curiosity.
Conscientiousness
A personality dimension that characterizes someone in terms of responsibility, dependability, persistence, and organization
Neuroticism (emotional stability)
A personality dimension that characterizes someone in terms of emotional stability, hostility, anxiety, and coping abilities. High = unstable, low = stable
Agreeableness
A personality dimension that characterizes someone in terms of trust, altruism, compliance, honesty, and empathy
Factor Analysis
a statistical procedure that identifies clusters of related items on a test; used to identify different dimensions of performance that underlie a person's total score.
Social-Cognitive Approach
An approach that views personality in terms of how the person thinks about the situations encountered in daily life and behaves in response to them
Behavioral Approach
in personality theory, this perspective focuses on the effects of learning (conditioning, observation) on our personality development
Motivation
A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior
Physiological Needs
Basic requirements for human survival. Food, water, oxygen, warmth, etc.
Homeostasis
A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry around a particular level
Incentive
External stimulus motivating behavior.
Drive-Reduction Theory
the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates one to satisfy the need
Arousal Theory
A theory of motivation suggesting that people are motivated to maintain an optimal level of alertness and physical and mental activation.
Optimal Level of Arousal
the level of alertness at which performance peaks
Yerkes-Dodson Law
The principle that performance peaks at moderate arousal levels; too little arousal is not motivating enough and too much is overwhelming
Self-Determination Theory
A theory of motivation that is concerned with the beneficial effects of intrinsic motivation and the harmful effects of extrinsic motivation
Intrinsic Motivation
a desire to perform a behavior for its own sake and to be effective
Extrinsic Motivation
A desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment
Instincts
Biologically determined and innate patterns of behavior triggered by specific stimuli
Lewin's Motivational Conflicts Theory
Describes various types of conflict involved in the decision making process. (i.e. approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, approach-avoidance.)
Approach-Approach Conflict
Choosing between two desirable but incompatible options.
Approach-Avoidance Conflict
conflict occurring when a person must choose or not choose a goal that has both positive and negative aspects
Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict
Choosing between two undesirable options.
Sensation-Seeking Theory
A theory that proposes that one's level of need for varied or novel experiences is the basis of motivation
Hormones
Chemical messengers regulating physiological processes.
Ghrelin
Hormone stimulating appetite and hunger.
Leptin
Hormone that signals the hypothalamus and brain stem to reduce appetite and increase the amount of energy used
Hypothalamus
Brain region regulating hunger, thirst, and temperature.
Pituitary Gland
Master gland controlling hormone release.
Emotion
a response of the whole organism, involving (1) physiological arousal, (2) expressive behaviors, and (3) conscious experience
Affect
Observable expression of emotion.
Facial-Feedback Hypothesis
the idea that facial expressions can influence emotions as well as reflect them (e.g. smiling can make you feel happier)
Broaden-and-Build Theory
the proposition that positive emotions expand an individual's attention and mind-set
Universality of Emotions
The finding that, to some extent, emotional responses and expressions are innate and universal
Display Rules
culturally determined rules about which nonverbal behaviors are appropriate to display
6 Universal Emotions
happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, surprise
