Motivation, Emotion, Personality & Stress Game Flashcards

Emotional Stability

Ability to remain calm and resist stress. Example: Staying composed during a crucial exam.

External Cues (Eating)

Eating triggered by environmental factors rather than hunger. Example: Grabbing snacks at a party instead of eating only when hungry.

Amygdala

Brain structure that processes fear and emotional responses. Example: The amygdala activates when encountering a threatening dog.

Intrinsic Motivation

Engaging in a behavior because it is personally rewarding or enjoyable. Example: Volunteering for a charity organization because you find it fulfilling.

Projection

Attributing one’s own thoughts or feelings to others. Example: Feeling envious of a friend’s success and thinking they are looking down on you.

Physiological Arousal

Physical activation of the body during emotion. Example: Sweating and increased heart rate before giving a class presentation.

Factor Analysis

Statistical method that groups related traits. Example: Identifying personality traits through a comprehensive personality test.

Chronic Stress

Long-term, continuous stress. Example: Constant worry about financial issues affecting daily life.

Broaden-and-Build Theory

Positive emotions expand thinking and build resources. Example: Happy students who form supportive friendships and engage in more collaborative learning.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one’s ability to succeed. Example: A student feels capable of improving their grades and actively seeks help.

Cognitive Appraisal

Interpretation of a situation determines emotional response. Example: Viewing a tough exam as an opportunity to learn rather than a threat.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions to a safer target. Example: Yelling at a friend after a frustrating day at work.

Simultaneous Physiological and Cognitive Processing

Emotional experience and arousal occur at the same time. Example: Feeling both excited and anxious before a performance.

Approach-Avoidance Conflict

One goal has both positive and negative aspects. Example: Applying to your dream college that is far from home.

Hypothalamus

Brain structure regulating basic drives and linking emotion to physiology. Example: The hypothalamus triggering hunger signals during an emotional eating episode.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Performance increases with moderate arousal but decreases when too low or too high. Example: Students perform best with a bit of pressure before exams.

Problem-Focused Coping

Managing stress by addressing the problem directly. Example: Creating a study schedule to prepare for upcoming tests.

Self-Concept

Beliefs and perceptions about oneself. Example: Seeing yourself as a responsible student who takes their studies seriously.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial expressions influence emotional experience. Example: Forcing yourself to smile during a conversation can lift your mood.

Reciprocal Determinism

Interaction of behavior, cognition, and environment. Example: A student’s attitude influences their performance and peer interactions.

Positive Affect

A positive emotional state that influences thinking and behavior. Example: Feeling happy after receiving good news, leading to more productive behavior.

Sensation-Seeking Theory

Seeking novel and intense experiences for stimulation. Example: Students who choose risky sports or adventurous activities.

Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict

Choosing between two undesirable options. Example: Completing an assignment or facing a penalty for not doing it.

Personality Inventory

Self-report measure of personality traits. Example: Taking the Big Five Inventory to assess personality dimensions.

Leptin

Hormone that signals fullness and reduces hunger. Example: Feeling satisfied after a healthy meal due to leptin release.

Emotion Influences Cognition

Emotional states affect thinking and decision-making. Example: Anxiety leading to difficulty concentrating during tests.

Narrowing of Attention

Emotional arousal restricts focus to central details. Example: Being unable to notice distractions during a stressful presentation.

Extrinsic Motivation

Engaging in a behavior to earn rewards or avoid punishment. Example: Studying diligently to receive compliments from parents.

Misattribution of Arousal

Incorrectly identifying the source of physiological arousal. Example: Mistaking the rush from exercise for romantic attraction.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Accepting others without judgment. Example: A teacher supporting a student's efforts regardless of mistakes.

Drive-Reduction Theory

Behavior is motivated by reducing physical discomfort. Example: Drinking water to quench thirst after exercise.

Self-Determination Theory

Motivation increases with autonomy, competence, and connection. Example: Students feeling more driven when given choices in assignments.

Approach-Approach Conflict

Choosing between two desirable options. Example: Deciding between attending a concert or a sports event.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Activates fight-or-flight response. Example: Heart racing when a student faces an unexpected question in class.

Extraversion

Trait involving sociability and outgoing behavior. Example: A student thriving in group projects and social events.

Trait Theory

Personality consists of stable characteristics across situations. Example: Always being punctual and responsible in various settings.

Narrowing of Attention (Negative Emotion)

Negative emotions focus attention on threats. Example: Stress making it hard to notice helpful resources while studying.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Calms the body and restores balance. Example: Deep breathing exercises helping a student relax before a test.

Incentive Theory

Behavior is motivated by external rewards. Example: Choosing to complete extra credit for a chance at a better grade.

Belongingness Need

Desire to form and maintain relationships. Example: Joining clubs to make friends and feel included.

Repression

Unconsciously blocking distressing memories. Example: Not recalling a traumatic event from childhood.

Physiological and Cognitive Interaction

Emotion involves both bodily arousal and interpretation. Example: Feeling a racing heart and labeling it as excitement before a performance.

Life Change Stressor

Major life event causing stress. Example: Moving to a new city and starting over.

Projective Test

Uses ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious thoughts. Example: Showing a student a Rorschach inkblot and interpreting their response.

Exhaustion Stage

Final stage of stress when resources are depleted. Example: A student feeling burned out after an intense examination period.