Motivation and Personality Psychology

This set of flashcards covers key concepts in motivation and personality psychology, including theories, terms, and definitions.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation derived from internal factors.

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation driven by external factors.

Self-actualization

The process by which individuals achieve their full potential.

Optimal Arousal Theory

The theory suggesting organisms are motivated to achieve and maintain an ideal state of arousal.

James-Lange Theory

The theory that physiological activity precedes the emotional experience.

Cannon-Bard Theory

The theory that emotional reactions and physical reactions occur simultaneously.

Drive-Reduction Theory

The theory suggesting organisms are motivated to reduce a state of arousal caused by a physiological need.

Id

The instinctive part of personality focused on instant gratification.

Ego

The 'self' or reality part of personality; the decision-maker.

Superego

The moral part of personality.

Repression

A defense mechanism where a person forgets an experience by pushing it into the unconscious.

Denial

A defense mechanism where a person refuses to believe painful realities.

Projection

A defense mechanism where a person projects their own thoughts onto someone else.

Regression

A defense mechanism where an individual returns to an earlier state of behavior.

Displacement

A defense mechanism where a person redirects feelings of aggression onto another target.

Extrovert

An outgoing person.

Introvert

A person whose thoughts and interests are directed inward.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

A theory of human motivation that outlines a five-level pyramid of needs.

Homeostasis

The tendency to maintain a balanced internal state.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

The principle stating that performance increases with arousal only up to a point.

Lateral Hypothalamus

Part of the hypothalamus that stimulates hunger.

Ventromedial Hypothalamus

Part of the hypothalamus that ceases hunger.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

The rate at which the body burns energy at rest.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by an irrational fear of weight gain.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by episodes of overeating followed by purging.

Testosterone

The important male sex hormone that stimulates the development of male characteristics.

Estrogen

A female sex hormone that promotes sexual receptivity.

Affiliation Need

The need to build relationships and feel part of a group.

Flow

A completely involved, focused state of consciousness resulting from optimal engagement.

Personnel Psychology

A subfield of I/O psychology focused on recruitment and development of employees.

Human Factors Psychology

A branch of psychology that explores how people and machines interact.

GRIT

Passion and perseverance in the pursuit of long-term goals.

Schachter-Singer Theory

A theory stating that physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal must occur before emotion.

Amygdala

Neural clusters in the limbic system linked to emotion.

Sympathetic Nervous System

The division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes the body in stress.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The division that calms the body and conserves energy.

Stress

The process of perceiving and responding to stressors.

Cortisol

A stress hormone.

Psychodynamic Perspective

A perspective analyzing how behavior springs from unconscious drives.

Sigmund Freud

The founder of psychoanalysis and clinical methods for treating psychopathology.

Positive Regard

The idea that we value what others think of us and seek approval.

Big Five Personality Traits

Traits including openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.

Self-efficacy

An individual's belief in their capability to perform a task.

Spotlight Effect

The tendency to overestimate how much others notice and evaluate us.