PSYC 1001 Module 1-3 Terms

algorithm

problem-solving strategy characterized by a specific set of instructions

analytical intelligence

aligned with academic problem solving and computations

anchoring bias

faulty heuristic in which you fixate on a single aspect of a problem to find a solution

artificial concept

concept that is defined by a very specific set of characteristics

availability heuristic

faulty heuristic in which you make a decision based on information readily available to you

cognition

thinking, including perception, learning, problem solving, judgment, and memory

cognitive psychology

field of psychology dedicated to studying every aspect of how people think

cognitive script

set of behaviours that are performed the same way each time

concept

category or grouping of linguistic information, objects, ideas, or life experiences

confirmation bias

faulty heuristic in which you focus on information that confirms your beliefs

convergent thinking

providing correct or established answers to problems

creative intelligence

ability to produce new products, ideas, or inventing a new, novel solution to a problem

creativity

ability to generate, create, or discover new ideas, solutions, and possibilities

crystallized intelligence

characterized by acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve it

cultural intelligence

ability with which people can understand and relate to those in another culture

deductive reasoning

applying general rules to specific observations (the opposite of inductive reasoning)

divergent thinking

ability to think “outside the box” to arrive at novel solutions to a problem

emotional intelligence

ability to understand emotions and motivations in yourself and others

event schema

set of behaviours that are performed the same way each time

fluid intelligence

ability to see complex relationships and solve problems

Flynn effect

observation that each generation has a significantly higher IQ than the previous generation

functional fixedness

inability to see an object as useful for any other use other than the one for which it was intended

grammar

set of rules that are used to convey meaning through the use of a lexicon

heuristic

mental shortcut that saves time when solving a problem

hindsight bias

belief that the event just experienced was predictable, even though it really wasn’t

inductive reasoning

drawing general conclusions from specific observations

intelligence quotient

(also, IQ) score on a test designed to measure intelligence

language

communication system that involves using words to transmit information from one individual to another

lexicon

the words of a given language

mental set

continually using an old solution to a problem without results

morpheme

smallest unit of language that conveys some type of meaning

Multiple Intelligences Theory

Gardner’s theory that each person possesses at least eight types of intelligence

natural concept

mental groupings that are created “naturally” through your experiences

norming

administering a test to a large population so data can be collected to reference the normal scores for a population and its groups

overgeneralization

extension of a rule that exists in a given language to an exception to the rule

phoneme

basic sound unit of a given language

practical intelligence

aka “street smarts”

problem-solving strategy

method for solving problems

prototype

best representation of a concept

range of reaction

each person’s response to the environment is unique based on his or her genetic make-up

representative bias

faulty heuristic in which you stereotype someone or something without a valid basis for your judgment

representative sample

subset of the population that accurately represents the general population

role schema

set of expectations that define the behaviours of a person occupying a particular role

schema

(plural = schemata) mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts

semantics

process by which we derive meaning from morphemes and words

standard deviation

measure of variability that describes the difference between a set of scores and their mean

standardization

method of testing in which administration, scoring, and interpretation of results are consistent

stereotype threat

performance decrements that are caused by the knowledge of cultural stereotypes

syntax

manner by which words are organized into sentences

trial and error

problem-solving strategy in which multiple solutions are attempted until the correct one is found

triarchic theory of intelligence

Sternberg’s theory of intelligence

working backwards

heuristic in which you begin to solve a problem by focusing on the end result

anorexia nervosa

eating disorder characterized by an individual maintaining body weight that is well below average through starvation and/or excessive exercise

basolateral complex (of the amygdala)

part of the brain with dense connections with a variety of sensory areas of the brain; it is critical for classical conditioning and attaching emotional value to memory

binge eating disorder

type of eating disorder characterized by binge eating and associated distress

body language

emotional expression through body position or movement

bulimia nervosa

type of eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

physiological arousal and emotional experience occur at the same time

central nucleus (of the amygdala)

part of the brain involved in attention and has connections with the hypothalamus and various brainstem areas to regulate the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems’ activity

cognitive-mediational theory

our emotions are determined by our appraisal of the stimulus

components of emotion

physiological arousal, psychological appraisal, and subjective experience

cultural display rule

one of the culturally specific standards that govern the types and frequencies of emotions that are acceptable

distorted body image

individuals view themselves as overweight even though they are not

drive theory

deviations from homeostasis create physiological needs that result in psychological drive states that direct behaviour to meet the need and ultimately bring the system back to homeostasis

emotion

subjective state of being often described as feelings

extrinsic motivation

motivation that arises from external factors or rewards

facial feedback hypothesis

facial expressions are capable of influencing our emotions

habit

pattern of behaviour in which we regularly engage

hierarchy of needs

spectrum of needs ranging from basic biological needs to social needs to self-actualization

instinct

species-specific pattern of behaviour that is unlearned

intrinsic motivation

motivation based on internal feelings rather than external rewards

James-Lange theory of emotion

emotions arise from physiological arousal

leptin

satiety hormone

metabolic rate

amount of energy that is expended in a given period of time

motivation

wants or needs that direct behaviour toward some goal

overweight

adult with a BMI between 25 and 29.9

polygraph

lie detector test that measures physiological arousal of individuals as they answer a series of questions

satiation

fullness; satisfaction

Schachter-Singer two-factor theory of emotion

emotions consist of two factors: physiological and cognitive

self-efficacy

individual’s belief in their own capabilities or capacities to complete a task

set point theory

assertion that each individual has an ideal body weight, or set point, that is resistant to change

Yerkes-Dodson law

simple tasks are performed best when arousal levels are relatively high, while complex tasks are best performed when arousal is lower

anal stage

psychosexual stage in which children experience pleasure in their bowel and bladder movements

analytical psychology

Jung’s theory focusing on the balance of opposing forces within one’s personality and the significance of the collective unconscious

archetype

pattern that exists in our collective unconscious across cultures and societies

big five

theory that personality is composed of five factors, including openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism

collective unconscious

common psychological tendencies that have been passed down from one generation to the next

congruence

state of being in which our thoughts about our real and ideal selves are very similar

conscious

mental activity (thoughts, feelings, and memories) that we can access at any time

Contemporized-Themes Concerning Blacks Test (C-TCB)

projective test designed to be culturally relevant to African Americans, using images that relate to African-American culture

culture

all of the beliefs, customs, art, and traditions of a particular society

defense mechanism

unconscious protective behaviours designed to reduce ego anxiety

displacement

ego defense mechanism in which a person transfers inappropriate urges or behaviours toward a more acceptable or less threatening target

ego

aspect of personality that represents the self, or the part of one’s personality that is visible to others

genital stage

psychosexual stage in which the focus is on mature sexual interests

heritability

proportion of difference among people that is attributed to genetics

id

aspect of personality that consists of our most primitive drives or urges, including impulses for hunger, thirst, and sex

ideal self

person we would like to be

incongruence

state of being in which there is a great discrepancy between our real and ideal selves

individual psychology

school of psychology proposed by Adler that focuses on our drive to compensate for feelings of inferiority