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Vocabulary for MCAT > Behavioral Sciences > Flashcards

Behavioral Sciences Flashcards

1
Q

Absolute poverty

A

Poverty wherein people do not have enough resources to acquire basic life necessities such as shelter, food, clothing, and water.

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2
Q

Ageism

A

Prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person’s age.

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3
Q

Amygdala

A

A portion of the limbic system that is important for memory and emotion, especially fear.

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4
Q

Absolute threshold

A

The minimum of stimulus energy needed to activate a sensory system.

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5
Q

Aggression

A

A behavior with the intention to cause harm or increase relative social dominance; can be physical or verbal.

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6
Q

Anomie

A

A state of normlessness; anomic conditions erode social solidarity by means of excessive individualism, social inequality, and isolation.

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7
Q

Accommodation

A

Process by which existing schemata are modified to encompass new information.

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8
Q

Alcohol myopia

A

The inability to think about consequences and possible outcomes of one’s actions due to alcohol intoxication.

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9
Q

Anxiety disorders

A

Disorders that involve worry, unease, fear, and apprehension about future uncertainties based on real or imagined events that can impair physical and psychological health.

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10
Q

Acetylcholine

A

A neurotransmitter associated with voluntary muscle control.

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11
Q

Alertness

A

State of consciousness in which one is aware, able to think, and able to respond to the environment; nearly synonymous with arousal.

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12
Q

Appraisal model

A

A similar theory to the basic model, accepting that there are biologically predetermined expressions once an emotion is experienced; accepts that there is a cognitive antecedent to emotional expression.

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13
Q

Achieved status

A

A status gained as a result of direct, individual action.

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14
Q

Aligning actions

A

An impression management strategy in which one makes questionable behavior acceptable through excuses.

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15
Q

Acquisition

A

In classical conditioning, the process of taking advantage of reflexive responses to turn a neutral stimulus into a conditioned stimulus.

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16
Q

Alter-casting

A

An impression management strategy in which one imposes an identity onto another person.

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17
Q

Archetype

A

In Jungian psychoanalysis, a thought or image that has an emotional element and is a part of the collective unconsciousness.

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18
Q

Adaptation

A

In perception, a decrease in stimulus perception after a long duration of exposure; in learning, the process by which new information is processed; consists of assimilation and accommodation.

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19
Q

Altruism

A

A form of helping behavior in which the person’s intent is to benefit someone else at a cost to him or herself.

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20
Q

Arcuate fasciculus

A

A bundle of axons that connects Wernicke’s area (language comprehension) with Broca’s area (motor function of speech).

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21
Q

Adaptive value

A

The extent to which a trait benefits a species by influencing the evolutionary fitness of the species.

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22
Q

Amphetamine

A

A central nervous system stimulant that increases activity of both dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.

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23
Q

Arousal

A

A psychological and physiological state of being awake or reactive to stimuli; nearly synonymous with alertness.

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24
Q

Arousal theory

A

A theory of motivation that states there is a particular level of arousal required in order to perform actions optimally; summarized by the Yerkes-Dodson law.

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25
Q

Authentic self

A

Who someone actually is, including both positive and negative attributes.

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26
Q

Basal ganglia

A

A portion of the forebrain that coordinates muscle movement and routes information from the cortex to the brain and spinal cord.

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27
Q

Ascribed status

A

A status that one is given at birth, such as race, ethnicity, or sex.

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28
Q

Automatic processing

A

The brain process most closely resembling autopilot, enabling performance of multiple activities at the same time.

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29
Q

Assimilation

A

In psychology, the process by which new information is interpreted in terms of existing schemata; in sociology, the process by which the behavior and culture of a group or an individual begins to merge with that of another group.

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30
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

The involuntary branch of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, bronchial dilation, temperature, and digestion.

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31
Q

Basic model

A

First established by Charles Darwin, a theory that states that emotional expression involves a number of systems: facial expression as well as behavioral and physical responses; claims that emotions are universal and should be similar across cultures.

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32
Q

Associative learning

A

The process by which a connection is made between two stimuli or stimulus and a response; examples include classical conditioning and operant conditioning.

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33
Q

Autonomy

A

The ethical tenet that the physician has the responsibility to respect patients’ choices about their own healthcare.

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34
Q

Belief

A

An acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.

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35
Q

Availability heuristic

A

A shortcut in decision-making that relies on the information that is most readily available, rather than the total body of information on a subject.

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36
Q

Beneficence

A

The ethical tenet that the physician has a responsibility to act in the patient’s best interest.

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37
Q

Benzodiazepine

A

A central nervous system depressant that is often used to reduce anxiety or promote sleep.

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38
Q

Attitude

A

A tendency toward expression of positive or negative feelings or evaluations of a person, place, thing, or situation.

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39
Q

Avoidance learning

A

A form of negative reinforcement in which one avoids the unpleasantness of something that has yet to happen.

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40
Q

Biomedical approach

A

An approach to psychological disorders that considers only pathophysiological causes and offers pharmaceutical and medical solutions for symptom alleviation.

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41
Q

Attribute substitution

A

A phenomenon observed when individuals must make judgments that are complex but instead substitute a simpler solution or perception.

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42
Q

Back stage

A

In the dramaturgical approach, the setting where players are free from their role requirements and not in front of the audience; back stage behaviors may not be deemed appropriate or acceptable and are thus kept invisible from the audience.

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43
Q

Biopsychosocial approach

A

An approach to psychological disorders that considers conditions and treatments to be dependent on biological, psychological, and social causes.

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44
Q

Attribute theory

A

A theory that focuses on the tendency for individuals to infer the causes of other people’s behavior.

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45
Q

Barbiturate

A

A drug that acts as a central nervous system depressant; often used for anxiety, insomnia, and as an antiseizure medication.

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46
Q

Birth rate

A

The number of births per population in a period of time; usually the number of births per 1000 people per year.

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47
Q

bisexual

A

A sexual orientation wherein individuals are attracted to members of both sexes.

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48
Q

Catatonia

A

Disorganized motor behavior characterized by various unusual physical movements or stillness.

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49
Q

Brainstem

A

The most primitive portion of the brain, which includes the midbrain and hindbrain; controls the autonomic nervous system and communication between the spinal cord, cranial nerves, and brain.

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50
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

The portion of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord.

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51
Q

Cognitive dissonance

A

The simultaneous presence of two opposing thoughts or opinions.

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52
Q

Broca’s aphasia

A

Loss of the motor function of speech, resulting in intact understanding with an inability to correctly produce spoken language.

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53
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

The outermost layer of the cerebrum, responsible for complex perceptual, behavioral, and cognitive processes.

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54
Q

Collective unconscious

A

In Jungian psychoanalysis, the part of the unconscious mind that is shared among all humans and is a result of our common ancestry.

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55
Q

Broca’s area

A

A brain region located in the inferior frontal gyrus of the frontal lobe (usually in the left hemisphere); largely responsible for the motor function of speech.

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56
Q

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

A

An aqueous solution in which the brain and spinal cord rest; produced by cells lining the ventricles of the brain.

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57
Q

Colliculi

A

Two structures in the midbrain involved in sensorimotor reflexes; the superior colliculus receives visual sensory input, and the inferior colliculus receives auditory sensory input.

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58
Q

Bureaucracy

A

A formal organization with the goal of performing complex tasks as efficiently as possible by dividing work among a number of bureaus.

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59
Q

Cerebrum

A

A portion of the brain that contains the cerebral cortex, limbic system, and basal ganglia.

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60
Q

Compliance

A

A change of behavior of an individual at the request of another.

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61
Q

Bystander effect

A

The observation that, when in a group, individuals are less likely to respond to a person in need.

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62
Q

Characteristic institution

A

The social structure or institution about which societies are organized.

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63
Q

Conduction aphasia

A

A speech disorder characterized by the inability to repeat words with intact spontaneous speech production and comprehension; usually due to injury to the arcuate fasciculus.

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64
Q

Cannon-Bard theory

A

A theory of emotion that states that a stimulus is first received and is then simultaneously processed physiologically and cognitively, allowing for the conscious emotion to be experienced.

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65
Q

Circadian rhythm

A

The alignment of physiological processes with the 24-hour day, including sleep-wake cycles and some elements of the endocrine system.

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66
Q

Confirmation bias

A

A cognitive bias in which one focuses on information that supports a given solution, belief, or hypothesis, and ignores evidence against it.

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67
Q

Circular reaction

A

A repetitive action that achieves a desired response; seen during Piaget’s sensorimotor stage.

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68
Q

Cataplexy

A

Loss of muscle control with intrusion of REM sleep during waking hours, usually cause by an emotional trigger.

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69
Q

Classical conditioning

A

A form of associative learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditional stimulus such that the neutral stimulus alone produces the same response as the unconditioned stimulus; the neutral stimulus thus becomes a conditioned stimulus.

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70
Q

Conflict theory

A

A theoretical framework that emphasizes the role of power differentials in producing social order.

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71
Q

Conformity

A

The changing of beliefs or behaviors in order to fit into a group or society.

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72
Q

Crystallized intelligence

A

Cognitive capacity to understand relationships or solve problems using information acquired during schooling and other experiences.

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73
Q

Demographic transition

A

The transition from high birth and mortality rates to lower birth and mortality rates, seen as a country develops from a pre-industrial to an industrialized economic system.

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74
Q

Consciousness

A

Awareness of oneself; can be used to describe varying levels of awareness that occur with wakefulness, sleep, dreaming, and drug-induced states.

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75
Q

Cultural relativism

A

The theory that social groups and cultures must be studied on their own terms to be understood.

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76
Q

Demographics

A

The statistical arm of sociology, which attempts to characterize and explain populations by quantitative analysis.

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77
Q

Conservation

A

Concept seen in quantitative analysis performed by a child; develops when a child is able to identify the difference between quantity by number and actual amount, especially when faced with identical quantities separated into varying pieces.

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78
Q

Cultural sensitivity

A

Recognizing and respecting the differences between cultures.

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79
Q

Depressant

A

Any substance that reduces nervous system function.

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80
Q

Context effect

A

A retrieval cue by which memory is aided when a person is in the location where encoding took place.

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81
Q

Cultural syndrome

A

A shared set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, values, and behaviors organized around a central theme and found among people who speak the same language and share a geographic region.

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82
Q

Depressive episode

A

A period of at least two weeks in which there is a prominent and persistent depressed mood or lack of interest and at least four other depressive symptoms.

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83
Q

Deviance

A

The violation of norms, rules, or expectations within a society.

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84
Q

Contralateral

A

On the opposite side of the body, relative to something else (usually a side of the brain).

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85
Q

Deductive reasoning

A

A form of cognition that starts with general information and narrows down that information to create a conclusion.

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86
Q

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM)

A

The guide by which most psychological disorders are characterized, described, and diagnosed; currently in its fifth edition (DSM-5, published May 2013).

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87
Q

Controlled (conscious) processing

A

Processing method used when a task requires complete attention.

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88
Q

Defense mechanism

A

In Freudian psychoanalysis, a technique used by the ego that denies, falsifies, or distorts reality in order to resolve anxiety caused by undesirable urges of the id and superego.

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89
Q

Diencephalon

A

A portion of the prosencephalon that becomes the thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary gland, and pineal gland.

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90
Q

Correspondent inference theory

A

A theory that states that people pay closer attention to international behavior than accidental behavior when making attributions, especially if the behavior is unexpected.

91
Q

Deindividuation

A

The idea that people will lose a sense of self-awareness and can act dramatically differently based on the influence of a group.

92
Q

Disconfirmation principle

A

The idea that states that if evidence obtained during testing does not confirm a hypothesis, then the hypothesis is discarded or revised.

93
Q

Critical period

A

A time during development during which exposure to language is essential for eventual development of the effective use of language; occurs between two years of age and puberty.

94
Q

Delusions

A

Fixed, false beliefs that are discordant with reality and shared by one’s culture, and are maintained in spite of strong evidence to the contrary.

95
Q

Discrimination

A

In classical conditioning, the process by which two similar but distinct conditioned stimuli produce different responses; in sociology, when individuals of a particular group are treated differently than others based on their group.

96
Q

Dopamine

A

A neurotransmitter associated with smooth movements, steady posture, the reward pathway, and psychosis.

97
Q

Distabituation

A

A sudden increase in response to a stimulus, usually due to a change in the stimulus or addition of another stimulus; sometimes called resensitization.

98
Q

Dramaturgical approach

A

An impression management theory that represents the world as a stage and individuals as actors performing to an audience.

99
Q

Elaborative rehearsal

A

The association of information in short-term memory to information already stored in long-term memory; aids in long-term storage.

100
Q

Displacement

A

A defense mechanism by which undesired urges are transferred from one target to another, more acceptable one.

101
Q

Drive reduction theory

A

A theory that explains motivation as being based on the goal of eliminating uncomfortable internal states.

102
Q

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A

A test used to study the electrical patterns of the brain under varying conditions; consists of multiple electrodes placed on the scalp.

103
Q

Display rules

A

Cultural expectations of how emotions can be expressed.

104
Q

Drives

A

Deficiencies that activate particular behaviors focused on a goal.

105
Q

Emotion

A

A feeling and state of mind derived from circumstances, mood, or relationships.

106
Q

Dyssomnia

A

A sleep disorder in which one has difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or avoiding sleep.

107
Q

Emotional support

A

Listening to, affirming, and empathizing with someone’s feelings as part of social support.

108
Q

Dispositional (internal) attributions

A

Attributions that relate to the decisions or personality of the person whose behavior is being considered.

109
Q

Ecstasy

A

Common name for MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine); a central nervous system stimulant with effects similar to both amphetamines and hallucinogens.

110
Q

Empathy

A

The ability to vicariously experience the emotions of another.

111
Q

Distant networks

A

Networks that are looser and composed of weaker ties.

112
Q

Ego

A

In Freudian psychoanalysis, the part of the unconscious mind that mediates the urges of the id and superego; operates under the reality principle.

113
Q

Encoding

A

The process of receiving information and preparing it for storage; can be automatic or effortful.

114
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural painkillers produced by the brain.

115
Q

Divided attention

A

The ability to attend to multiple stimuli simultaneously and to perform multiple tasks at the same time.

116
Q

Egocentrism

A

Self-centered view of the world in which one is not necessarily able to understand the experience of another person; seen in Piaget’s preoperational stage.

117
Q

Epinephrine

A

A neurotransmitter associated with the fight-or-flight response.

118
Q

Error of growth

A

Misuse of grammar characterized by universal application of a rule, regardless of exceptions; seen in children during language development.

119
Q

Dominant hemisphere

A

The side of the brain that provides analytic, language, logic, and math skills; in most individuals, the left hemisphere.

120
Q

Elaboration likelihood model

A

A theory in which attitudes are formed and changed through different routes of information processing based on the degree of deep thought given to persuasive information.

121
Q

Escape learning

A

A form of negative reinforcement in which one reduces the unpleasantness of something that already exists.

122
Q

Fertility rate

A

The average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime in a population.

123
Q

Functional fixedness

A

The inability to identify uses for an object beyond its usual purpose.

124
Q

Esteem support

A

Affirming qualities and skills of the person as part of social support.

125
Q

Fixation

A

In Freudian psychoanalysis, the result of overindulgence or frustration during a psychosexual stage causing a neurotic pattern of personality based on that stage.

126
Q

Functionalism

A

A theoretical framework that explains how parts of society fit together to create a cohesive whole.

127
Q

Ethnicity

A

A social construct that sorts people by cultural factors, including language, nationality, religion, and other factors.

128
Q

Flat affect

A

Behavior characterized by showing virtually no signs of emotion or affective expression.

129
Q

Fundamental attribution error

A

The general bias toward making dispositional attributions rather than situational attributions when analyzing another person’s behavior.

130
Q

Ethnocentrism

A

The practice of making judgments about other cultures based on the values and beliefs of one’s own culture.

131
Q

Fluid intelligence

A

Ability to quickly identify relationships and connections, and then use those relationships and connections to make correct deductions.

132
Q

Game theory

A

A model that explains social interaction and decision-making as a game, including strategies, incentives, and punishments.

133
Q

Explicit memory

A

Memory that requires conscious recall, divided into facts (semantic memory) and experiences (episodic memory);also known as declarative memory.

134
Q

Foraging

A

The act of searching for and exploiting food resources.

135
Q

y-aminobutyric acid (GABA)

A

A neurotransmitter associated with stabilizing and quelling brain activity.

136
Q

Forebrain

A

A portion of the brain that is associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes such as emotion and memory.

137
Q

Ganglia

A

Collections of neuron cell bodies found outside the central nervous system.

138
Q

Extinction

A

In classical conditioning, the decrease in response resulting from repeated presentation of the conditioned stimulus without the presence of the unconditioned stimulus.

139
Q

Fornix

A

A long projection from the hippocampus that connects to other nuclei in the limbic system.

140
Q

Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft

A

Theory that distinguishes between two major types of groups: communities (Gemeinschaften), which share beliefs, ancestry, or geography; and societies (Gesellschaften), which work together toward a common goal.

141
Q

Extraversion

A

In trait theory, the degree to which an individual is able to tolerate social interaction and stimulation.

142
Q

Front stage

A

In the dramaturgical approach, the setting where players are in front of an audience and perform roles that are in keeping with the image they hope to project about themselves.

143
Q

Extrinsic motivation

A

Motivation that is external, or outside the self, including rewards and punishments.

144
Q

Frontal lobe

A

A portion of the cerebral cortex that controls motor processing, executive function, and the integration of cognitive and behavioral processes.

145
Q

Generalization

A

In classical conditioning, the process by which two distinct but similar stimuli come to produce the same response.

146
Q

Genotype

A

The genetic makeup of an individual.

147
Q

Hallucinogens

A

A group of drugs that cause distortions of reality in users, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin-containing mushrooms.

148
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A portion of the forebrain that controls homeostatic and endocrine functions by controlling the release of pituitary hormones.

149
Q

Gestalt principles

A

Ways for the brain to infer missing parts of a picture when a picture is incomplete.

150
Q

Halo effect

A

A cognitive bias in which judgments of an individual’s character can be affected by the overall impression of the individual.

151
Q

Id

A

In Freudian psychoanalysis, the part of the unconscious resulting from basic, instinctual urges for sexuality and survival; operates under the pleasure principle and seeks instant gratification.

152
Q

Globalization

A

The process of integrating the global economy with free trade and tapping of foreign labor markets.

153
Q

Heterosexual

A

A sexual orientation wherein individuals are attracted to members of the opposite sex.

154
Q

Group

A

A social entity that involves at least two people, usually those sharing common characteristics.

155
Q

Heuristic

A

A rule of thumb or shortcut that is used to make decisions.

156
Q

Ideal self

A

The person one would optimally like to be.

157
Q

Group conformity

A

Compliance with a group’s goals, even when the group’s goals may be in direct contrast to an individual’s goals.

158
Q

Hindbrain

A

A portion of the brain that controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, and general arousal processes.

159
Q

Identity

A

A piece of an individual’s self-concept based on the groups to which that person belongs and his or her relationships to other.

160
Q

Group polarization

A

The tendency toward decisions that are more extreme than the individual inclinations of the group members.

161
Q

Hippocampus

A

A portion of the limbic system that is important for memory and learning.

162
Q

Immediate networks

A

Networks that are dense with strong ties; generally overlap with distant networks.

163
Q

Groupthink

A

The tendency for groups to make decisions based on ideas and solutions that arise within the group without considering outside ideas and ethics; based on pressure to conform and remain loyal to the group.

164
Q

Homosexual

A

A sexual orientation wherein individuals are attracted to members of the same sex.

165
Q

Hypnagogic hallucinations

A

Hallucinations that occur when going to sleep; seen in narcolepsy.

166
Q

Hypnopompic hallucinations

A

Hallucinations that occur when awakening from sleep; seen in narcolepsy.

167
Q

Gyrus

A

A ridge of the cerebral cortex.

168
Q

Implicit memory

A

Memory that does not require conscious recall; consists of skills and conditioned behaviors.

169
Q

Implicit personality theory

A

A theory that states that people tend to associate traits and behavior in others, and that people have the tendency to attribute their own beliefs, opinions, and ideas onto others.

170
Q

Habituation

A

A decrease in response caused by repeated exposure to a stimulus.

171
Q

Hallucinations

A

Perceptions that are not due to external stimuli but have a compelling sense of reality.

172
Q

Hypnosis

A

An altered state of consciousness in which a person appears to be awake is, in fact, in a highly suggestible state in which another person or event may trigger action by the person.

173
Q

Impression management

A

Behaviors that are intended to influence the perceptions of other people about a person, object, or event.

174
Q

Incentive

A

A reward intended to motivate particular behaviors.

175
Q

Incidence

A

The number of new cases of a disease per population at risk in a given period of time; usually, new cases per 1000 at-risk people per year.

176
Q

Institutional discrimination

A

Discrimination against a particular person or group by an entire institution.

177
Q

Inclusive fitness

A

A measure of reproductive success; depends on the number of offspring an individual has, how well they support their offspring, and how well their offspring can support others.

178
Q

Intelligence quotient

A

Numerical measurement of intelligence, usually accomplished by some form of standardized testing.

179
Q

Just-noticeable difference (jnd)

A

The minimum difference in magnitude between two stimuli before one can perceive this difference; also called a different threshold.

180
Q

Interaction process analysis

A

A technique of observing and immediately classifying the activities of small groups.

181
Q

Just-world hypothesis

A

The cognitive bias that good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people.

182
Q

Individual discrimination

A

One person discriminating against a particular person or group.

183
Q

Interference

A

A retrieval error caused by the learning of information; can be proactive (old information causes difficulty learning new information) or retroactive (new information interferes with older learning).

184
Q

Inductive reasoning

A

A form of cognition that utilizes generalizations to develop a theory.

185
Q

Justice

A

In medical ethics, the tenet that the physician has a responsibility to treat similar patients with similar care, and to distribute healthcare resources fairly.

186
Q

Ingratiation

A

An impression management strategy that uses flattery to increase social acceptance.

187
Q

Interneuron

A

A neuron found between sensory and motor neurons; involved in the reflex arc.

188
Q

Language

A

Spoken or written symbols (verbal and nonverbal symbols), which are regulated according to certain rules or conduct or social norms and used for communication.

189
Q

In-group

A

A social group to which a person experiences a sense of belonging or one in which he or she identifies as a member.

190
Q

Interpersonal attraction

A

The force that makes people like each other.

191
Q

Innate behavior

A

A behavior that is genetically programmed or instinctive.

192
Q

Intrinsic motivation

A

Motivation that is internal or that comes from within.

193
Q

Insomnia

A

Sleep disorder characterized by either an inability to fall asleep or difficulty staying asleep.

194
Q

Intuition

A

Perceptions about a situation that may or may not be supported by available evidence, but are nonetheless perceived as information that may be used to make a decision.

195
Q

Language acquisition device (LAD)

A

An innate capacity for language acquisition that is triggered by exposure to language; part of the nativist (biological) perspective of language acquisition.

196
Q

Instinct

A

An innate behavioral response to stimuli.

197
Q

Instinctive drift

A

The tendency of animals to resist learning when a conditioned behavior conflicts with the animal’s instinctive behaviors.

198
Q

Ipsilateral

A

On the same side of the body, relative to something else (usually a side of the brain).

199
Q

Learned helplessness

A

A state of hopelessness and resignation resulting from being unable to avoid repeated negative stimuli; often used as a model of depression.

200
Q

Learning (behaviorist) theory

A

A theory that attitudes are developed through forms of learning (direct contact, direct interaction, direct instruction, and conditioning).

201
Q

James-Lange theory

A

A theory of emotion that states that a stimulus results in physiological arousal, which then leads to a secondary response in which emotion is consciously experienced.

202
Q

Master status

A

A status with which a person is most identified.

203
Q

Mesencephalon

A

The embryonic portion of the brain that becomes the midbrain.

204
Q

Libido

A

In Freudian psychoanalysis, the sex or life drive.

205
Q

Mate choice

A

The intersexual selection of a mate based on attraction and traits.

206
Q

Limbic system

A

A portion of the cerebrum that is associated with emotion and memory and includes the amygdala and hippocampus.

207
Q

Material culture

A

The physical items one associates with a given cultural group.

208
Q

Midbrain

A

A portion of the brainstem that manages sensorimotor reflexes to visual and auditory stimuli and gives rise to some cranial nerves.

209
Q

Material support

A

Providing economic or other physical resources to aid a person as part of social support.

210
Q

Linguistic relativity hypothesis

A

A hypothesis suggesting that one’s perception of reality is largely determined by the content, form, and structure of language; also known as the Whorfian hypothesis.

211
Q

Mating system

A

The way in which a group organizes its sexual behavior and sexual relationships.

212
Q

Misinformation effect

A

A phenomenon in which memories are altered by misleading information provided at the point of encoding or recall.

213
Q

Mnemonic

A

A technique that airs in memory recall

214
Q

Monogamy

A

An exclusive mating relationship

215
Q

Morbidity

A

The burden or degree of illness associated with a given disease

216
Q

Morphology

A

The structure of words, including their building blocks (prefixes, suffixes, and so on)

217
Q

Mortality rate

A

The number of deaths in a population per unit time

218
Q

Motivation

A

The process of psychological and physical requirements, goals, or desires causing behaviors

219
Q

Motor neuron

A

A neuron that transmits motor information from the spinal cord and brain to the periphery

220
Q

Multiculturalism

A

The encouragement of multiple cultures in a society to enhance diversity

221
Q

Multiple intelligences

A

The idea that intelligence may exist in multiple areas, not just in the areas typically assessed by traditional intelligence quotient tests

222
Q

Myelencephalon

A

The embryonic portion of the brain that becomes the medulla oblongata

223
Q

Narcolepsy

A

A sleep disorder characterized by a lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep; also involves cataplexy and hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations

224
Q

Needs:

A

Physiological and psychological requirements that motivate and influence behavior

Vocabulary for MCAT (11 decks)

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