PSYC 455 EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE

This set of flashcards reviews key concepts and vocabulary from the PSYC 455 exam study guide, covering topics such as learning and decision-making, personality traits, emotional intelligence, team dynamics, leadership, and organizational culture.

Positive Reinforcement

A positive outcome that follows a desired behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

The removal of an unwanted outcome following a desired behavior.

Punishment

An unwanted outcome that follows an unwanted behavior.

Extinction

The removal of a consequence that follows an unwanted behavior.

Stereotype

The tendency to make assumptions about others based on their membership in a social group.

Heuristics

Simple rules of thumb that enable easier decision-making but may introduce biases.

Escalation of commitment

The decision to continue on a failing course of action to avoid appearing incompetent.

Representativeness

Estimating the probability of an event based on its similarity to a known situation.

Availability

Relying on information that comes to mind quickly when making decisions.

Anchoring/adjustment

The tendency to rely too heavily on one piece of information when making decisions.

Big Five Personality Traits

Key traits (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism) that influence behavior and job performance.

Openness

A personality trait characterized by a broad range of interests and creativity.

Conscientiousness

A personality trait defined by being organized and mindful, heavily impacting job performance.

Extraversion

A personality trait marked by high emotional expressiveness and sociability.

Agreeableness

A personality trait that reflects cooperativeness and empathy towards others.

Neuroticism

A personality trait indicated by emotional instability and mood swings.

Emotional Intelligence

Capabilities related to the management and use of emotions in interactions with others.

Tuckman’s stages of team development

A model outlining the phases that teams go through as they form and evolve.

Punctuated Equilibrium Theory

A theory that describes how teams develop in a two-phase process with periods of stability and significant change.

Task interdependence

The degree of interaction and reliance among team members to complete tasks.

Pooled interdependence

Team members complete work separately, then combine efforts for an outcome.

Sequential interdependence

Tasks are delegated in a set order, where each task depends on the completion of the previous one.

Reciprocal interdependence

Team members perform specialized tasks that require interaction and reliance on each other.

Comprehensive interdependence

Team members have the autonomy to decide their tasks and who they work with.

Team Processes

Activities and interactions within a team that contribute to achieving goals.

Team States

Specific thoughts and feelings that arise within team members as a result of working together.

Leader emergence

The process by which individuals become leaders.

Leader effectiveness

How well individuals perform in leadership positions.

Leader-Member Exchange Theory

A theory focusing on the relationships and interactions between leaders and subordinates.

Situational Theory

A leadership approach where leaders adapt their style based on the circumstances.

Transformational leadership

Leadership that inspires followers to commit to a shared vision and achieve their potential.

Organizational Culture

The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors that shape how work gets done in an organization.

Socialization

The process by which new employees learn the culture of the organization.

Culture Strength

A measure of how strongly the culture of an organization is held by its members.