Unit 4b: Personality, Motivation, and Emotion Vocabulary Definitions

Definition: An individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Definition: Theories that focus on the unconscious mind and childhood experiences in shaping personality.

Psychoanalysis: Freud's theory attributing thoughts/actions to unconscious motives; involves exposing and interpreting unconscious tensions.
Free Association: A method in psychoanalysis for exploring the unconscious where individuals express thoughts as they come to mind.
Id: A reservoir of unconscious psychic energy striving for basic drives; operates on the pleasure principle seeking immediate gratification.
Ego: The conscious executive part that mediates between the id, superego, and reality, operating on the reality principle.
Superego: Represents internalized ideals, standards for judgment (conscience), and aspirations.
Preconscious: Mind part typically unknowable but accessible through focused thought.
Unconscious: Reservoir of unacceptable thoughts and memories, often inaccessible.
Defense Mechanisms: Ego's methods for reducing anxiety through reality distortion.

Denial: Refusal to accept painful realities.
Displacement: Redirecting impulses towards more acceptable targets.
Projection: Attributing threatening impulses to others.
Rationalization: Self-justifying explanations contrary to real motives.
Reaction Formation: Adopting opposite behavior to unwanted impulses.
Regression: Retreating to an earlier psychosexual stage.
Repression: Banishing anxiety-arousing thoughts and memories from consciousness.
Sublimation: Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable behaviors.

Definition: Personality tests using ambiguous stimuli to uncover inner dynamics.
Types:
- Thematic Apperception Test: Stories created about ambiguous scenes reflect inner feelings.
- Rorschach Test: Analyzes interpretations of inkblots to reveal inner feelings.

Definition: Focuses on the whole person, uniqueness, human potential, and personal growth.
Unconditional Positive Regard: Acceptance without judgments, fostering self-awareness and acceptance.
Self-Actualizing Tendency: Natural process towards fulfilling true potential when basic needs are met.

Social-Cognitive Theory: Views behavior as influenced by interactions between traits and social contexts.
Reciprocal Determinism: Interaction between behavior, internal cognition, and environment.
Self-Concept: Encompasses thoughts/feelings about ourselves; “Who am I?”
Self-Efficacy: Belief in own ability to succeed; sense of competence.
Self-Esteem: Feelings of self-worth.

Traits: Consistent patterns in behaviors/dispositions.
Big Five Traits:
- Openness: Imaginative and independent.
- Conscientiousness: Organized and careful.
- Extraversion: Sociable and affectionate.
- Agreeableness: Trusting and helpful.
- Neuroticism: Emotional stability vs. instability.

Homeostasis: Maintaining balanced internal conditions.
Drive-Reduction Theory: Physiological needs create arousal, motivating behavior to satisfy those needs.
Arousal Theory: Motivation is to maintain optimal arousal levels.
Self-Determination Theory: Motivation driven by needs for competence and autonomy.

Approach-Approach Conflict: Choosing between two equally attractive options.
Approach-Avoidance Conflict: A single choice with both positive and negative elements.
Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict: Choosing between two unattractive options.

Hormones: Chemical messengers regulating physiological processes.
- Leptin: Decreases hunger by regulating metabolism.
- Ghrelin: Signals hunger when the stomach is empty.
Hypothalamus: Brains' part regulating hunger control.
Pituitary Gland: Communicates with endocrine system, sending hormones throughout the body.

Definition: A whole organism response involving physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis: Facial expressions can trigger emotional responses.
Behavioral Feedback Effect: Behavior influences thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Polygraph: Measures emotions through physiological responses; attempts to detect lies.

Definitions: Emotions recognized across cultures; includes anger, happiness, disgust, fear, sadness, surprise.
- Anger: Eyebrows together, eyes fixed.
- Happiness: Smile with lifted cheeks.
- Disgust: Wrinkled nose, raised upper lip.
- Fear: Eyebrows raised, mouth corners retracted.
- Sadness: Eyebrows raised, downturned mouth.
- Surprise: Raised eyebrows, widened eyes.
Display Rules: Cultural norms dictating emotional expression.