Psych!
Motivation: The process that initiates, guides, and sustains goal-oriented behaviors.
Instinct: A behavior that is genetically programmed and triggered by specific stimuli.
Drive-reduction theory: The theory that motivation arises from the desire to reduce internal tension caused by unmet biological needs, like hunger or thirst.
Incentives: External stimuli or rewards that motivate behavior.
Hierarchy of needs: Maslow's theory that people are motivated by a series of needs, from basic physiological needs up to self-actualization.
Glucose: The primary source of energy for the body's cells, especially the brain.
Set point: The weight level that the body strives to maintain through adjustments in metabolism and hunger.
BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate): The rate at which the body uses energy while at rest to maintain basic bodily functions.
PYY: A hormone produced by the digestive system that helps to reduce appetite.
Ghrelin: A hormone that stimulates appetite and is produced when the stomach is empty.
Orexin: A hormone produced in the hypothalamus that increases appetite and arousal.
Leptin: A hormone produced by fat cells that helps to regulate energy balance by inhibiting hunger.
Biological needs: The essential requirements for survival, like food, water, and sleep.
Physical needs: Basic bodily needs for health and functioning, like nutrition, rest, and hydration.
Psychological needs: The emotional and cognitive needs for fulfillment, such as love, belonging, and self-esteem.
Needs: Basic requirements for survival or well-being, such as physiological and psychological needs.
Drives: A state of tension or arousal caused by biological or psychological needs that motivates behavior to reduce that tension.
Arousal: A state of physiological alertness or excitement, often motivating actions.
Ventromedial hypothalamus: A part of the brain that signals when to stop eating, playing a key role in regulating hunger.
Homeostasis: The body's process of maintaining a stable internal environment, like temperature or fluid balance.
Coronary heart disease: A condition caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the heart, often linked to stress and unhealthy behaviors.
Muzafer Sherif: A social psychologist known for his work on intergroup conflict and cooperation, especially the Robbers Cave experiment.
Realistic Conflict Theory: A theory that prejudice and conflict arise when groups compete for scarce resources.
Superordinate Goals: Shared goals that require cooperation between groups, often used to reduce intergroup conflict.
Conflict: A perceived incompatibility of actions, goals, or ideas between individuals or groups.
Cooperation: Working together toward a common goal or interest.
Aggression: Any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy.
Altruism: Unselfish concern for the welfare of others, often manifesting as helping behaviors.
Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis: A theory that frustration often leads to aggressive behavior.
Limbic System: A group of structures in the brain involved in emotion, motivation, and memory, including the amygdala and hippocampus.
Frontal Lobes: Part of the brain involved in decision-making, problem-solving, and controlling emotions.
Testosterone: A hormone associated with male characteristics and aggression, though present in both genders.
Glucocorticoids: Steroid hormones, including cortisol, involved in the stress response.
Bystander Effect: The phenomenon where individuals are less likely to help in an emergency when other people are present.
Diffusion of Responsibility: The tendency for individuals to feel less responsible for taking action when others are present.
Social Exchange Theory: A theory that social behavior is a result of an exchange process aimed at maximizing benefits and minimizing costs.
Norm of Reciprocity: The social norm that suggests people should repay others for what they have received from them.
Social Responsibility Norm: The expectation that people will help those dependent on them or in need, without expecting a reward.
Social Traps: Situations where individuals or groups act in their own self-interest but ultimately harm the collective well-being.
Self-interest: The focus on one's own benefit, well-being, or advantage.
Out-group: A group of people perceived as different or outside of one's own group.
In-group: A group with which an individual identifies and feels a sense of belonging.
Instinct Theory: The theory that behavior is driven by innate biological instincts.
Evolutionary Perspective: The perspective that behavior is driven by natural selection and the survival of the fittest.
Drive-Reduction Theory: The theory that motivation is based on the desire to reduce internal drives, such as hunger or thirst.
Optimal Arousal Theory: The theory that individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal, not too high or too low.
Stress: A physiological and psychological response to perceived challenges or threats.
Boredom: A state of mind in which a person feels uninterested or unstimulated by their environment or activities.
Physiological Needs: Basic needs for survival, such as food, water, and shelter.
Esteem: The need for respect, recognition, and a sense of accomplishment.
Self-Actualization: The realization of one's full potential and personal growth.
Hunger: The physiological need for food.
Metabolism: The process by which the body converts food into energy.
Minnesota Hunger Experiment: A study conducted during World War II to explore the effects of starvation on physical and psychological health.
Semistarvation: A condition of near-starvation, used in experiments to study the impact on the body and mind.
Social Isolation: The state of being separated from others, either physically or emotionally.
Autonomy: The need for independence and the ability to make one's own choices.
Ostracism: The exclusion or rejection of an individual from a group.
Social Exclusion: The process of being excluded or marginalized from social, economic, or cultural activities.
Emotion: A complex psychological state involving physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience.
Physiological Arousal: The body's physical response to emotions, such as changes in heart rate or breathing.
Expressive Behaviors: Observable actions or gestures that communicate emotions.
Conscious Experience: The mental awareness of emotions and their impact on behavior.
James-Lange Theory: The theory that emotions result from the perception of physiological responses to stimuli.
Cannon-Bard Theory: The theory that emotion and physiological responses occur simultaneously, not sequentially.
Two-Factor Theory: The theory that emotion is based on two factors: physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation of that arousal.
Cognition: The mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding, including thinking, memory, and perception.
Arousal: A physiological and psychological state of heightened alertness or excitement.
Spillover Effect: The transfer of arousal from one event to another, affecting emotional responses.
Epinephrine: A hormone also known as adrenaline, which is released during stressful or emotional situations.
Adrenaline: A hormone that increases heart rate, blood pressure, and energy, particularly during fight-or-flight situations.
High-Road: The slower, conscious processing pathway for emotions, involving the cortex.
Low-Road: The faster, automatic emotional response pathway that involves the amygdala.
Thalamus: A brain structure that processes sensory information and directs it to the appropriate areas of the brain.
Cortex: The outer layer of the brain responsible for higher-order functions like thinking, decision-making, and perception.
Limbic System: A group of structures in the brain that control emotions, motivation, and memory, including the amygdala and hippocampus.
Amygdala: A brain structure involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and aggression.
Autonomic Nervous System: The part of the nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions, like heart rate and digestion.
Sympathetic Nervous System: The part of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for fight-or-flight responses.
Parasympathetic Nervous System: The part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body after a stress response.
Optimal Arousal: The ideal level of arousal for performance and emotional well-being.
Left Frontal Lobe: The part of the brain associated with positive emotions and approach behavior.
Right Frontal Lobe: The part of the brain associated with negative emotions and withdrawal behavior.
Personality: The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character.
Sanguine: A personality type characterized by sociability, optimism, and cheerfulness.
Id: In Freudian theory, the part of the personality that operates on the pleasure principle, seeking immediate gratification.
Ego: In Freudian theory, the part of the personality that operates on the reality principle, mediating between the id and the superego.
Superego: In Freudian theory, the part of the personality that represents internalized moral standards and ideals.
Self-Actualization: The process of realizing one's full potential and becoming the best version of oneself.
Trait theory: The theory that personality is composed of a number of traits, which are stable over time.
Social Cognitive Perspective: A perspective on personality that emphasizes the interaction between individuals and their environment in shaping behavior.
The Big Five: A model of personality based on five broad traits: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
Openness: A personality trait characterized by curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to try new things.
Conscientiousness: A personality trait characterized by being organized, responsible, and reliable.
Extraversion: A personality trait characterized by sociability, talkativeness, and a preference for stimulation.
Agreeableness: A personality trait characterized by kindness, trustworthiness, and a cooperative attitude.
Neuroticism: A personality trait characterized by emotional instability
OCEAN / CANOE: Acronyms representing the five major traits in the Big Five personality model: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (OCEAN) or Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Openness, and Extraversion (CANOE).
Reciprocal Determinism: The theory proposed by Albert Bandura that personality is shaped through the interaction of behavioral, cognitive, and environmental factors.