Unit 7: Emotions & Intelligence

g theory: Proposes that a single general intelligence factor underlies specific mental abilities, indicating a common cognitive resource across various tasks.

IQ as mental age/chronological age: Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is defined as the ratio of mental age to chronological age multiplied by 100, indicating relative cognitive ability compared to peers.

Modern uses of IQ tests for identifying students in need of educational services: IQ tests are utilized to identify students who may require special educational interventions by assessing cognitive abilities across different domains.

Factor Analysis: A statistical method used to identify underlying relationships between variables, often employed in psychology to discern different aspects of intelligence.

Standardization: The process of administering and scoring a test under uniform conditions to ensure consistent results across different populations.

Validity (Construct & Predictive): Validity refers to the degree to which a test measures what it claims to measure (construct validity) and the ability to predict future performance based on test scores (predictive validity).

Reliability (Test-Retest & Split-Half): Reliability denotes the consistency of a test's results; test-retest reliability assesses stability over time, while split-half reliability evaluates internal consistency by comparing scores from two halves of a test.

Stereotype threat: A situational predicament where individuals perform poorly due to the fear of reinforcing negative stereotypes about their social group.

Stereotype lift: A phenomenon whereby individuals perform better on tasks when they are reminded of positive stereotypes associated with their social group.

Fluid intelligence: The capacity to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge.

Crystallized intelligence: The accumulation of knowledge and skills acquired through experience and education, typically increases with age.

Flynn Effect: The observed increase in IQ scores over time across populations, indicating that the average intelligence of the population is rising due to various socio-cultural factors.

Within group vs between group variation of IQ scores: Within-group variation refers to differences in IQ scores within a specific group, while between-group variation refers to differences in IQ scores between distinct groups.

Discriminatory uses of intelligence testing: The unethical application of intelligence tests to marginalize or disadvantage certain groups based on race, socioeconomic status, or other factors.

Achievement tests vs. aptitude tests: Achievement tests measure knowledge in specific subjects, while aptitude tests assess potential to learn new skills or knowledge in the future.

Growth vs. fixed mindset: A growth mindset embraces challenges and effort as the path to mastery, while a fixed mindset believes abilities are static and unchangeable.

Drive-reduction theory: A theory of motivation that posits behavior is motivated by biological drives that need to be reduced, like hunger or thirst.

Homeostasis: The body's tendency to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes, crucial for survival.

Arousal theory: Suggests that individuals are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal, leading them to seek out stimulating experiences.

Optimal arousal: The ideal level of arousal that leads to the best performance on a task, varies by individual and task complexity.

Yerkes-Dodson Law: A psychological principle stating that there is an optimal level of arousal for performance; performance improves with arousal to a point, beyond which it declines.

Self-determination theory: A theory of motivation emphasizing the role of intrinsic motivation (driven by internal rewards) and extrinsic motivation (driven by external rewards).

Incentive Theory: Proposes that behavior is motivated by external rewards or incentives, highlighting the role of factors that attract individuals to a goal.

Instincts: Innate behaviors that are automatically triggered in response to specific stimuli, characteristic of a species' survival strategies.

Lewin’s motivational conflicts: Framework outlining how individuals must navigate conflicts arising from competing motivations, categorized into three types: approach-approach (two positive incentives), approach-avoidance (one positive and one negative), and avoidance-avoidance (two negative incentives).

Sensation-seeking theory: A theory suggesting that individuals have a biological predisposition to seek varied, novel, complex, and intense sensations and experiences.

Experience seeking: A dimension of sensation-seeking involving the pursuit of new and varied experiences for pleasure or fulfillment.

Thrill or adventure: A facet of sensation-seeking characterized by a desire for excitement and risk-taking activities.

Disinhibition: The tendency to act in ways that are typically restrained, often in settings where social norms are lax or absent.

Boredom susceptibility: The tendency to become quickly bored when not engaged in stimulating activities, associated with a need for instant gratification and novelty.

Eating motivation: Refers to the biological and psychological drivers behind the need to eat, influenced by hunger signals and emotional factors.

Ghrelin: A hormone that increases appetite, stimulating hunger, secreted by the stomach when it is empty.

Leptin: A hormone related to regulating energy balance and inhibiting hunger, released by adipose (fat) tissue in response to food intake.

Hypothalamus and pituitary gland: Brain structures that play a crucial role in regulating hunger, thirst, and various hormonal functions.

Hunger and satiety: Hunger refers to the physiological need for food, while satiety is the feeling of fullness and satisfaction after eating.

External factors (cues like the presence of food, time of day, or social gatherings around meals): Environmental stimuli that can trigger eating behaviors regardless of actual physical hunger.

Universality of emotional expression: The concept that certain emotions (like anger, disgust, sadness, happiness, surprise, and fear) are expressed similarly across cultures.

Display rules: Cultural norms that dictate the appropriate expressions of emotions in social contexts, influencing how feelings are communicated.

Broad historical views of how an emotion unfolds (not by name): Understandings that describe the progression of emotions from physiological arousal to cognitive appraisal and behavioral response, without reference to specific theories.

Facial-feedback hypothesis: The theory proposing that facial expressions can influence emotional experiences; smiling can make one feel happier, for example.

Broaden-and-build theory: A theory positing that positive emotions broaden an individual's attention and thought processes, leading to the construction of personal resources and resilience.