Kwan 315 Exam 3

What is the difference between shared and nonshared environment?

Shared = experiences siblings share; nonshared = unique experiences that explain most personality differences.

Why do siblings differ in personality?

Nonshared experiences, differential parental treatment, and chance events create differences.

What are the birth-order effects on the Big Five personality traits?

Firstborns tend to be more conscientious, while laterborns are often more open and agreeable.

What is classical conditioning?

A conditioned stimulus (CS) paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) produces a conditioned response (CR).

What does 'tabula rasa' mean in psychology?

It refers to the idea that humans are blank slates, and behavior is shaped by the environment.

What is a conditioned emotional reaction?

Emotional responses learned via pairing, such as phobias.

What is systematic desensitization?

A technique involving gradual exposure and relaxation to unlearn fear.

What is operant conditioning?

Behavior is shaped by consequences, where reinforcement increases behavior and punishment decreases it.

What is a token economy?

A system where tokens are used as secondary reinforcers exchanged for rewards.

What does stimulus-response theory state?

Habits form from repeated stimulus-response pairings, motivated by drives.

What are the types of conflict?

Approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, and approach-avoidance.

What are critical periods in learning?

Certain types of learning are easier at specific times, such as language acquisition in early childhood.

What is plasticity in the brain?

The brain changes with experience, and biology shapes and is shaped by behavior.

What is one-trial learning?

Learning that occurs after a strong single event, such as taste aversion.

What is an evolved psychological mechanism?

Domain-specific mental adaptations, like preferences in mate selection.

What is the difference between proximal and distal causes?

Proximal causes are immediate, while distal causes provide evolutionary explanations.

What are the sex differences in mate selection and jealousy?

Men prioritize youth and appearance, while women prioritize resources; men are more upset by sexual infidelity, women by emotional infidelity.

What is sensation seeking?

The desire for novel, intense experiences, which can be adaptive or risky.

What does life history theory explain?

Trade-offs between growth and reproduction, with strategies categorized as fast or slow.

What is Personal Construct Theory?

People are seen as 'scientists' using constructs to predict events and can change by revising these constructs.

What is fixed-role therapy?

A therapeutic approach where individuals act out new roles to revise their constructs and reduce maladaptive patterns.

What is reciprocal determinism?

The concept that behavior, person, and environment mutually influence each other.

What is observational learning?

Learning that occurs by watching models, where acquisition does not equal performance.

What is self-efficacy?

The belief in one's ability to succeed, influencing persistence and avoidance.

What is a growth mindset?

The belief that abilities can grow with effort, contrasted with a fixed mindset.

What is delay of gratification?

Choosing larger delayed rewards predicts better long-term outcomes.

What is culture in psychology?

Shared values and practices, distinguishing between individualism and collectivism.