Psychology Chapter 10 – Emotions, Stress, Happiness & Motivation

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 10 of Pima Medical Institute’s psychology course on emotions, stress, happiness, and motivation.

Affect

The experience of feeling or emotion.

Arousal

The bodily responses created by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.

Emotion

A conscious, situation-specific, valenced mental state.

Motivation

A driving force that initiates goal-directed behavior.

Drive

Motivational state created by something negative that pushes behavior.

Homeostasis

The natural, balanced state of the body’s systems.

Cannon-Bard Theory

Proposes that emotions and physiological arousal occur simultaneously.

James-Lange Theory

Proposes that emotion is the result of physiological arousal.

Two-Factor Theory

Proposes that arousal and cognitive interpretation combine to create emotion.

Misattribution of Arousal

Incorrectly labeling the source of one’s physiological arousal.

Excitation Transfer

Arousal from one event intensifies emotions from an unrelated event.

Emotional Regulation

The ability to modulate an emotion or set of emotions.

Situation Selection

Choosing environments to influence future emotional states.

Situation Modification

Altering a situation to change its emotional impact.

Attentional Deployment

Directing attention to influence emotions.

Cognitive Change

Reinterpreting a situation to alter its emotional meaning.

Response Modulation

Influencing emotional responses after they arise.

Stress

The physiological response to internal or external stressors.

Acute Stress Disorder

Short-term (≤4 weeks) intrusive, hypervigilant reaction to trauma.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Similar symptoms to acute stress disorder lasting ≥4 weeks.

General Adaptation Syndrome

Three-phase physiological reaction to long-term stress.

HPA Axis

Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system central to stress response.

Cortisol

Stress hormone that releases sugars into the blood.

Social Readjustment Scale

Measure of life events that predicts stress-related illness risk.

Daily Hassles

Everyday minor stressors (e.g., losing keys) that harm health.

Fight-or-Flight Response

Emotional–behavioral readiness to confront or escape a threat.

Tend-and-Befriend Response

Creating social networks for protection and resource exchange during stress.

Subjective Well-Being

Personal assessment of happiness and life satisfaction.

PERMA Model

Framework of Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment.

Optimism

General tendency to expect positive outcomes.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one’s ability to achieve desired results.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

Energy expended while at rest; major determinant of weight.

Binge Eating Disorder

Recurrent binges without purging; often linked to overweight.

Bulimia Nervosa

Binge eating followed by purging; weight often normal.

Anorexia Nervosa

Severe food restriction, low weight, body dysmorphia, fear of gaining weight.

Sexual Response Cycle

Biological phases of human sexual response: arousal, plateau, orgasm, resolution.

Arousal Phase (Sex)

Genital areas fill with blood.

Plateau Phase

Pulse, blood pressure, and breathing rise; orgasm feels imminent.

Orgasm Phase

Muscular contractions throughout body, especially genitals.

Resolution Phase

Body gradually returns to pre-arousal state.

Gendered Orgasm Gap

Women have fewer orgasms than men in heterosexual sex.

Intrinsic Motivation

Doing an activity for its inherent pleasure.

Extrinsic Motivation

Doing an activity for external reward.

Expectancy Theory

Performance rises when effort is believed to lead to valued rewards.

Growth Mindset

Belief that abilities can be developed through effort.

Fixed Mindset

Belief that abilities are static and unchangeable.