Intro to Psych FINAL

Algorithm

Methodical rule or procedure

Heuristic

a mental shortcut or practical method used to solve problems or make decisions quickly

Insight

sudden aha! reaction 

Confirmation bias 

tendency to search support for your own views and ignore contradictory evidence 

Fixation

inability to view problems from a new angle 

Intuition 

fast, automatic feelings and thoughts 

Overconfidence

overestimating the accuracy of our beliefs and judgements

Belief perseverance

ignoring evidence that proves our beliefs are wrong

Framing

wording a question or statement so that it provokes a desired response 

Creativity

ability to innovate valuables ideas

Normal curve

the bell-shaped curve showing how traits, abilities, or behavior are distributed across a population

Reliability

the extent to which a test yields consistent results

validity

how well a test measures what it is supposed to measure

Predictive Validity

how well past events predict future outcomes

Cross-sectional study

research that compares people of different ages at the same point in time 

Longitudinal study

research that follows and retests the same people over time 

Motivation

a need or desire that energizes and direct behavior

Instinct

a complex unlearned behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species

Psychological need

a basic bodily requirement

Drive-reduction-theory

a psychological need creates an aroused state that motivates an organism to satisfy the need

Homeostasis

maintain a constant internal state

Incentive

positive or negative stimuli that motivates behavior

Affiliation need

the need to belong

Maslow’s pyramid of human needs, hierarchy of needs

psychological

safety 

belongingness and love 

Esteem 

Self-actualization 

Self-transcendence 

ostracism

deliberate social exclusion

B lymphocytes

fight bacterial infections

T lymphocytes

attack cancer cells, viruses, and foreign substances

Macrophage cells

attack harmful invaders and worn-out cells

Natural killer cells

attack diseased cells

Foot-in-the-door phenomenon

agreeing to a small request can lead to agreeing to a larger request (small yes, big yes)

Just-world-phenomenon

believe that the world is just (people get what they deserve)

ingroup

us

outgroup

them

scapegoat theory

an outlet for anger by blaming someone else

Proximity and mere exposure effect

the phenomenon that repeated exposure to novel stimuli increases the liking of them 

Equity

people receive from a relationship in proportion to what they give to it

Altruism

unselfish concern for the welfare of others

Bystander effect

less likely to help someone if other bystanders are present

Reciprocity rule 

people will help, not hurt, those who have helped them 

Social trap

conflicting parties pursue their own self-interests rather than the good of the group

Self-fulfilling prophecies

a belief that leads to its own fulfillment

Regression

retreating to an earlier psychosexual stage, where some psychic energy remains fixated; reverting to a less mature response 

Reaction formation

switching unacceptable impulses into their opposites; behaving the opposite of how you feel

Projection

distinguishing one’s own threatening impulses by attributing them to others

Rationalization

offering self-justifying explanations in place of the real, more threatening unconscious reasons for one’s actions

Displacement

shifting sexual or aggressive impulses toward more acceptable or less threatening object or person

Denial

refusing to believe or even perceive painful realities

Narcissism 

excessive self-love and self-absorption

Self-concept

all our thoughts and feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question, “Who am I?”

Empirically derived test

a test created by selecting from a pool of items, those that discriminate between groups

Sigmund Freud’s psychotherapy technique

patient’s free associations, resistances, dreams, and transferences (and therapist’s interpretations) released previously repressed feelings, allowing the patient to gain self-insight 

Carl Roger’s client-centered technique

client-centered therapy (client, not patient); active listening; echoing, restating and clarifying what the client says; unconditional positive regard

Aaron Beck’s cognitive techniques

goal include reverse client’s negativity about themselves, their situations, and their futures; use gentle questioning seeking to reveal irrational thinking; persuade clients to change the way they view life; reverse negativity  

cognitive behavioral therapy

used an integral approach to alter the way clients think and act

Adversive Conditioning

associates an unpleasant state with an unwanted behavior; creates a negative response to harmful stimuli

Operant conditioning

learning through rewards and punishment for behavior; behavior modification; token economy