Vocabulary #9 | 4

Question 1

Psychodynamic Perspective

Answer 1

The influence of unconscious drives and early childhood experiences on personality and behavior, suggesting that past experiences and internal conflicts shape current thoughts, feelings, and actions.

focuses on the dynamics between conscious and unconscious forces in motivating behaviour

Question 2

Unconscious Processes

Answer 2

Mental activities that occur without conscious awareness or intention, yet can still influence behavior and thought.

Question 3

Ego Defense Mechanisms

Answer 3

Unconscious psychological strategies used to cope with anxiety and protect the ego from conflicting thoughts or impulses, often distorting reality to reduce stress.

Question 4

Denial

Answer 4

A defense mechanism in psychology where a person refuses to acknowledge or accept a painful or threatening reality.

Question 5

Displacement

Answer 5

A defense mechanism where an individual redirects their emotions, often negative ones like anger or frustration, from the original source to a less threatening target.

Question 6

Projection

Answer 6

Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or motives to another person or group, effectively avoiding self-awareness and reducing anxiety.

Question 7

Rationalization

Answer 7

A defense mechanism where an individual attempts to justify their own or others’ actions, thoughts, or feelings by creating seemingly logical explanations that avoid confronting the true underlying causes.

Question 8

Reaction Formation

Answer 8

A defense mechanism where an individual unconsciously substitutes an unacceptable thought, feeling, or impulse with its opposite, often expressed in behavior.

Question 9

Regression

Answer 9

A defense mechanism where an individual reverts to earlier, often immature, behaviors or developmental stages in response to stress or anxiety.

Question 10

Repression

Answer 10

A defense mechanism where individuals unconsciously push painful or unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or memories out of conscious awareness, often into the unconscious mind.

Question 11

Sublimation

Answer 11

A defense mechanism where unacceptable or harmful impulses or desires are transformed into socially acceptable and productive behaviors. It involves redirecting negative energy or emotions into constructive outlets.

Question 12

Projection Tests

Answer 12

A type of personality assessment that uses ambiguous stimuli to elicit responses from the test taker.

Question 13

Unconditional (positive) Regard

Answer 13

Accepting and valuing someone without judgment or conditions, fostering a safe space for exploration and growth.

Question 14

Humanistic Perspective

Answer 14

A perspective that emphasizes looking at the the whole person, and the uniqueness of each individual. Begins with the existential assumptions that people have free will and are motivated to acheive their potential and self-actualize.

Question 15

Self-Actualizing Tendency

Answer 15

The process of realizing one’s fullest potential by pursuing personal growth, creativity, and self-fulfillment.

Question 16

Social Cognitive Theory

Answer 16

A psychological framework that explains how people learn and change their behaviors through interactions with their environment and others.

Question 17

Reciprocal Determinism

Answer 17

Posits that behavior, personal factors (like thoughts, beliefs, and emotions), and the environment all interact and influence one another in a continuous cycle.

Question 18

Self-Efficacy

Answer 18

An individual’s belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance outcomes, influencing their motivation, behavior, and social environment.

Question 19

Self-Esteem

Answer 19

An individual’s overall subjective sense of their own worth or value, encompassing their confidence in their abilities and attributes.

Question 20

Self-Concept

Answer 20

An individual’s overall perception and understanding of themselves, encompassing their beliefs, values, and identities, essentially answering the question “Who am I?”.

Question 21

Trait Theories

Answer 21

Posits that personality is characterized by enduring, stable traits that influence behavior, and that people vary in the strength of these traits.

Question 22

Big 5 Theory of Personality (OCEAN)

Answer 22

A widely used model of personality structure that identifies five broad, bipolar trait dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.

Question 23

Personality Inventory

Answer 23

A standardized, self-report questionnaire designed to assess an individual’s personality traits, behaviors, and characteristics, often used for clinical assessment or research purposes.

Aka a Standardized Personality Test

Question 24

Factor Analysis

Answer 24

A statistical method used to identify underlying relationships or “factors” within a set of observed variables,

Question 25

Drive-Reduction Theory

Answer 25

Posits that our behaviors are driven by the need to reduce internal tension or arousal caused by unmet physiological needs, with reinforcement playing a crucial role in shaping future behaviors.

Question 26

Homeostasis

Answer 26

Psychological and physiological balance achieved when one's needs and desires have been met.

Question 27

Arousal Theory

Answer 27

People are driven to perform actions in order to maintain an optimum level of physiological arousal.

Question 28

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Answer 28

Posits that performance increases with arousal (stress/motivation) but only up to a certain point, after which performance declines as arousal becomes excessive.

Question 29

Self-Determination Theory

Answer 29

Posits that humans have innate psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and that fulfilling these needs is crucial for motivation, well-being, and psychological growth.

Question 30

Intrinsic Motivation

Answer 30

The drive to engage in an activity for its inherent satisfaction, pleasure, or enjoyment, rather than for external rewards or pressures.

Question 31

Extrinsic Motivation

Answer 31

Engaging in an activity or behavior primarily to gain external rewards or avoid negative consequences, rather than for the inherent enjoyment or satisfaction of the activity itself.

Question 32

Incentive Theory

Answer 32

Posits that behavior is primarily driven by external rewards (positive incentives) and punishments (negative incentives), suggesting people are motivated to engage in actions that lead to desired outcomes or avoid those that lead to undesirable ones.

Question 33

Instincts

Answer 33

An inborn impulse or motivation to action typically performed in response to specific external stimuli.

Question 34

Lewin's Motivational Conflicts Theory

Answer 34

A psychological framework that explains how individuals make decisions when faced with competing motivations. It identifies three main types of conflicts. (approach-approach, avoidance-avoidance, approach-avoidance)

Question 35

Approach-Approach Theory

Answer 35

Occurs when an individual must choose between two equally desirable options, such as deciding between two job offers.

Question 36

Avoidance-Avoidance Theory

Answer 36

Occurs when an individual must choose between two equally undesirable options, such as deciding between studying for an exam or writing an essay.

Question 37

Approach-Avoidance Theory

Answer 37

Occurs when an option has both positive and negative aspects, making it difficult to decide. For example, accepting a new job that offers a higher salary but requires relocating to a less desirable city.

Question 38

Sensation Seeking

Answer 38

A trait coined by the tendency to pursue new and different sensations, feelings, and experiences.

Question 39

Eating Motivation

Answer 39

Factors that drive individuals to seek and consume food, encompassing both the physiological need for sustenance and the influence of learned behaviors, emotions, and environmental cues.

Question 40

Ghrelin

Answer 40

A hormone that is known as an appetite increaser. It is released in the stomach and stimulates the hypothalamus to increase appetite.

Question 41

Leptin

Answer 41

A protein, manufactured and secreted by fat cells, that may communicate to the brain the amount of body fat stored and may help to regulate food intake.

Question 42

Hypothalmus

Answer 42

A structure deep in your brain, acts as your body's smart control coordinating center. Its main function is to keep your body in homeostasis. It does its job by directly influencing your autonomic nervous system or by managing hormones.

Question 43

Pituitary Gland

Answer 43

Endocrine gland located at the base of the brain that produces and releases hormones, influencing various bodily functions by regulating other parts of the endocrine system.

Question 44

External Factors Motivating Hunger

Answer 44

Situational or environmental cues that trigger eating, such as the presence of food, social settings, and time of day, rather than internal physiological needs.

Question 45

Internal Factors Affecting Emotion

Answer 45

Physiological responses like heart rate variability and the autonomic nervous system, along with cognitive processes like beliefs, perceptions, and past experiences, all of which can influence emotional regulation and identification.

Question 46

External Factors Affecting Emotion

Answer 46

Physiological responses, cognitive appraisals, and individual differences that shape how we experience and express emotions.

Question 47

Physiological & Cognitive Experiences of Emotion

Answer 47

Physiological experiences of emotion refer to the body's physical reactions (like increased heart rate or sweating), while cognitive experiences of emotion involve the thoughts and interpretations we have about those feelings and the situations we are in.

Question 48

Cognitive Label

Answer 48

The mental interpretation or explanation we give to a physiological arousal or emotional experience.

Question 49

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Answer 49

Suggests that facial expressions can influence and even trigger emotions, meaning that expressing a particular emotion through facial movements can lead to experiencing that emotion.

Question 50

Facial Expressions

Answer 50

The nonverbal communication of emotions through the movements and positioning of facial muscles.

Question 51

Cognitive Appraisal

Answer 51

The individual's subjective interpretation or evaluation of a situation or event, which ultimately influences their emotional and behavioral responses.

Question 52

Broaden & Build Theory

Answer 52

Posits that positive emotions broaden an individual's momentary thought-action repertoire, ultimately building enduring personal resources like resilience and well-being. ## Footnote Positive moods allow you to accomplish more.

Question 53

Negative Emotions

Answer 53

Feelings that cause distress, sadness, or discomfort, such as anger, sadness, fear, and anxiety, and can negatively impact overall well-being.

Question 54

Emotions as Universally Common

Answer 54

The idea that certain basic emotions, like happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust, are experienced and expressed similarly across cultures, regardless of background or upbringing.

Question 55

Anger

Answer 55

A strong, uncomfortable, and often non-cooperative emotional state arising from a perceived provocation, hurt, or threat, potentially triggering the "fight or flight" response and leading to both physical and mental consequences.

Question 56

Disgust

Answer 56

A negative emotional state characterized by a strong aversion, revulsion, or repulsion towards something perceived as offensive or morally repugnant, often involving a physical or psychological reaction.

Question 57

Sadness

Answer 57

An emotional state characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, grief, helplessness, disappointment, and sorrow, often leading to withdrawal or lethargy.

Question 58

Happiness

Answer 58

A state of emotional well-being, encompassing feelings of joy, satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment, often described as subjective well-being.

Question 59

Suprise

Answer 59

A basic emotion, a reaction to an unexpected event that is of subjective importance, and a bridge between cognition and emotion.

Question 60

Fear

Answer 60

A basic, intense emotion aroused by the detection of an imminent threat, triggering an immediate alarm reaction and mobilizing the organism through a set of physiological changes.