Glossary

lapses in memory that are caused by breaks in attention or our focus being somewhere else

minimum amount of stimulus energy that must be present for the stimulus to be detected 50% of the time

adjustment of a schema by changing a scheme to accommodate new information different from what was already known

input of sounds, words, and music

period of initial learning in classical conditioning in which a human or an animal begins to connect a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus will begin to elicit the conditioned response

electrical signal that moves down the neuron’s axon

phenomenon of explaining other people’s behaviors are due to internal factors and our own behaviors are due to situational forces

period of development that begins at puberty and ends at early adulthood

sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response

maturing of the adrenal glands

a written legal document that details specific interventions a person wants (see living will)

continuation of a visual sensation after removal of the stimulus

prejudice and discrimination toward individuals based solely on their age

seeking to cause harm or pain to another person

drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter

anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear, anxiety, and avoidance of situations in which it might be difficult to escape if one experiences symptoms of a panic attack

first stage of the general adaptation syndrome; characterized as the body’s immediate physiological reaction to a threatening situation or some other emergency; analogous to the fight-or-flight response

problem-solving strategy characterized by a specific set of instructions

phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation

type of brain wave characteristic during the early part of NREM stage 1 sleep, which has fairly low amplitude and a frequency of 8–12 Hz

humans’ desire to help others even if the costs outweigh the benefits of helping

professional organization representing psychologists in the United States

loss of long-term memory that occurs as the result of disease, physical trauma, or psychological trauma

height of a wave

structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories

psychosexual stage in which children experience pleasure in their bowel and bladder movements

aligned with academic problem solving and computations

Jung’s theory focusing on the balance of opposing forces within one’s personality and the significance of the collective unconscious

faulty heuristic in which you fixate on a single aspect of a problem to find a solution

eating disorder characterized by an individual maintaining body weight that is well below average through starvation and/or excessive exercise

drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter

loss of memory for events that occur after the brain trauma

characterized by a lack of regard for others’ rights, impulsivity, deceitfulness, irresponsibility, and lack of remorse over misdeeds

characterized by excessive and persistent fear and anxiety, and by related disturbances in behavior

pattern that exists in our collective unconscious across cultures and societies

method of research using past records or data sets to answer various research questions, or to search for interesting patterns or relationships

strong emotions trigger the formation of strong memories and weaker emotional experiences form weaker memories

concept that is defined by a very specific set of characteristics

group majority influences an individual’s judgment, even when that judgment is inaccurate

adjustment of a schema by adding information similar to what is already known

form of learning that involves connecting certain stimuli or events that occur together in the environment (classical and operant conditioning)

psychophysiological disorder in which the airways of the respiratory system become obstructed, leading to great difficulty expelling air from the lungs

institution created for the specific purpose of housing people with psychological disorders

long-standing connection or bond with others

childhood disorder characterized by inattentiveness and/or hyperactive, impulsive behavior

evaluations of or feelings toward a person, idea, or object that are typically positive or negative

explanation for the behavior of other people

reduction in number of research participants as some drop out of the study over time

strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information

parents place a high value on conformity and obedience, are often rigid, and express little warmth to the child

parents give children reasonable demands and consistent limits, express warmth and affection, and listen to the child’s point of view

childhood disorder characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, and repetitive patterns of behavior or interests

encoding of informational details like time, space, frequency, and the meaning of words

faulty heuristic in which you make a decision based on information readily available to you

counterconditioning technique that pairs an unpleasant stimulant with an undesirable behavior

characterized by child’s unresponsiveness to parent, does not use the parent as a secure base, and does not care if parent leaves

major extension of the soma

type of surgery that modifies the gastrointestinal system to reduce the amount of food that can be eaten and/or limiting how much of the digested food can be absorbed

thin strip of tissue within the cochlea that contains the hair cells which serve as the sensory receptors for the auditory system

part of the brain with dense connections with a variety of sensory areas of the brain; it is critical for classical conditioning and attaching emotional value to memory

therapeutic orientation that employs principles of learning to help clients change undesirable behaviors

focus on observing and controlling behavior

type of brain wave characteristic during wakefulness, which has a very low amplitude and a frequency of 13–30 Hz

how feelings and view of the world distort memory of past events

two-eared cue to localize sound

type of eating disorder characterized by binge eating and associated distress

cue that relies on the use of both eyes

slightly different view of the world that each eye receives

stress-reduction technique using electronic equipment to measure a person’s involuntary (neuromuscular and autonomic) activity and provide feedback to help the person gain a level of voluntary control over these processes

view that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems

internal cycle of biological activity

treatment that involves medication and/or medical procedures to treat psychological disorders

study of how biology influences behavior

perspective that asserts that biology, psychology, and social factors interact to determine an individual’s health

group of mood disorders in which mania is the defining feature

mood disorder characterized by mood states that vacillate between depression and mania

point where we cannot respond to visual information in that portion of the visual field

memory error in which you cannot access stored information

involves excessive preoccupation with an imagined defect in physical appearance

instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and mood, as well as impulsivity; key features include intolerance of being alone and fear of abandonment, unstable relationships, unpredictable behavior and moods, and intense and inappropriate anger

system in which perceptions are built from sensory input

type of eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging

a person, often an adolescent, being treated negatively repeatedly and over time

situation in which a witness or bystander does not volunteer to help a victim or person in distress

physiological arousal and emotional experience occur at the same time

disorders that involve the heart and blood circulation system

lack of muscle tone or muscle weakness, and in some cases complete paralysis of the voluntary muscles

decreased reactivity to the environment; includes posturing and catatonic stupor

changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable; can be determined only through an experimental research design

changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable; can be determined only through an experimental research design

part of the brain involved in attention and has connections with the hypothalamus and various brainstem areas to regulate the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems’ activity

logic-driven arguments using data and facts to convince people of an argument’s worthiness

hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory

surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities

organizing information into manageable bits or chunks

biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours

non-directive form of humanistic psychotherapy developed by Carl Rogers that emphasizes unconditional positive regard and self-acceptance

observational research study focusing on one or a few people

area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior

fluid-filled, snail-shaped structure that contains the sensory receptor cells of the auditory system

electronic device that consists of a microphone, a speech processor, and an electrode array to directly stimulate the auditory nerve to transmit information to the brain

opiate with relatively low potency often prescribed for minor pain

thinking, including perception, learning, problem solving, judgment, and memory

domain of lifespan development that examines learning, attention, memory, language, thinking, reasoning, and creativity

psychological discomfort that arises from a conflict in a person’s behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs that runs counter to one’s positive self-perception

ability to take the perspective of others and to feel concern for others

mental picture of the layout of the environment

study of cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to experiences and actions

set of behaviors that are performed the same way each time; also referred to as an event schema

form of psychotherapy that focuses on how a person’s thoughts lead to feelings of distress, with the aim of helping them change these irrational thoughts

psychotherapy that focuses on cognitive processes and problem behaviors that is sometimes used to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia

form of psychotherapy that aims to change cognitive distortions and self-defeating behaviors

our emotions are determined by our appraisal of the stimulus

theoretical repository of information shared by all people across cultures, as described by Carl Jung

culture that focuses on communal relationships with others such as family, friends, and community

individual who has two or more diagnoses, which often includes a substance abuse diagnosis and another psychiatric diagnosis, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia

co-occurrence of two disorders in the same individual

type of love consisting of intimacy and commitment, but not passion; associated with close friendships and family relationships

physiological arousal, psychological appraisal, and subjective experience

imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area

when a sperm fertilizes an egg and forms a zygote

category or grouping of linguistic information, objects, ideas, or life experiences

third stage in Piaget’s theory of cognitive development; from about 7 to 11 years old, children can think logically about real (concrete) events

response caused by the conditioned stimulus

stimulus that elicits a response due to its being paired with an unconditioned stimulus

failure in the vibration of the eardrum and/or movement of the ossicles

specialized photoreceptor that works best in bright light conditions and detects color

person who works for a researcher and is aware of the experiment, but who acts as a participant; used to manipulate social situations as part of the research design

therapist cannot disclose confidential communications to any third party, unless mandated or permitted by law

tendency to ignore evidence that disproves ideas or beliefs

when individuals change their behavior to go along with the group even if they do not agree with the group

unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest, often giving the false impression that changes in one variable causes changes in the other variable, when, in actuality, the outside factor causes changes in both variables

deafness from birth

genetic disorder that results in the inability to experience pain

state of being in which our thoughts about our real and ideal selves are very similar

mental activity (thoughts, feelings, and memories) that we can access at any time

awareness of internal and external stimuli

formulation of new memories

type of love occurring when intimacy, passion, and commitment are all present

projective test designed to be culturally relevant to African Americans, using images that relate to African-American culture

view that development is a cumulative process: gradually improving on existing skills

device used to treat sleep apnea; includes a mask that fits over the sleeper’s nose and mouth, which is connected to a pump that pumps air into the person’s airways, forcing them to remain open

rewarding a behavior every time it occurs

serves as a basis for comparison and controls for chance factors that might influence the results of the study—by holding such factors constant across groups so that the experimental manipulation is the only difference between groups

providing correct or established answers to problems

mental or behavioral efforts used to manage problems relating to stress, including its cause and the unpleasant feelings and emotions it produces

transparent covering over the eye

thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres

relationship between two or more variables; when two variables are correlated, one variable changes as the other does

number from -1 to +1, indicating the strength and direction of the relationship between variables, and usually represented by r

stress hormone released by the adrenal glands when encountering a stressor; helps to provide a boost of energy, thereby preparing the individual to take action

area of psychology that focuses on improving emotional, social, vocational, and other aspects of the lives of psychologically healthy individuals

classical conditioning therapeutic technique in which a client learns a new response to a stimulus that has previously elicited an undesirable behavior

two people in an intimate relationship, such as husband and wife, who are having difficulties and are trying to resolve them with therapy

ability to produce new products, ideas, or inventing a new, novel solution to a problem

ability to generate, create, or discover new ideas, solutions, and possibilities

time during fetal growth when specific parts or organs develop

compares multiple segments of a population at a single time

characterized by acquired knowledge and the ability to retrieve it

therapist’s understanding and attention to issues of race, culture, and ethnicity in providing treatment

one of the culturally specific standards that govern the types and frequencies of emotions that are acceptable

ability with which people can understand and relate to those in another culture

all of the beliefs, customs, art, and traditions of a particular society

repeated behavior that is intended to cause psychological or emotional harm to another person and that takes place online

minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives and are capable of producing stress

partial or complete inability to hear

when an experiment involved deception, participants are told complete and truthful information about the experiment at its conclusion

purposely misleading experiment participants in order to maintain the integrity of the experiment

logarithmic unit of sound intensity

results are predicted based on a general premise

process of closing large asylums and integrating people back into the community where they can be treated locally

type of brain wave characteristic during stage 3 NREM sleep, which has a high amplitude and low frequency of less than 3 Hz

belief that is contrary to reality and is firmly held, despite contradictory evidence

branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons

variable that the researcher measures to see how much effect the independent variable had

dissociative disorder in which people feel detached from the self (depersonalization), and the world feels artificial and unreal (derealization)

drug that tends to suppress central nervous system activity

one of a group of mood disorders in which depression is the defining feature

ability to perceive depth

approximate ages at which children reach specific normative events

scientific study of development across a lifespan

disease related to insufficient insulin production

determination of which disorder a set of symptoms represents

authoritative index of mental disorders and the criteria for their diagnosis; published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA)

suggests that people with a predisposition for a disorder (a diathesis) are more likely to develop the disorder when faced with stress; model of psychopathology

tendency for no one in a group to help because the responsibility to help is spread throughout the group

discontinuous

negative actions toward individuals as a result of their membership in a particular group

characterized by the child’s odd behavior when faced with the parent; type of attachment seen most often with kids that are abused

highly unusual behaviors and movements (such as child-like behaviors), repeated and purposeless movements, and displaying odd facial expressions and gestures

disjointed and incoherent thought processes, usually detected by what a person says

ego defense mechanism in which a person transfers inappropriate urges or behaviors toward a more acceptable or less threatening target

describes a perspective common to personality psychologists, which asserts that our behavior is determined by internal factors, such as personality traits and temperament

long research paper about research that was conducted as a part of the candidate’s doctoral training

group of DSM-5 disorders in which the primary feature is that a person becomes dissociated, or split off, from their core sense of self, resulting in disturbances in identity and memory

symptom of dissociative amnesia in which a person suddenly wanders away from one’s home and experiences confusion about their identity

individuals view themselves as overweight even though they are not

bad form of stress; usually high in intensity; often leads to exhaustion, fatigue, feeling burned out; associated with erosions in performance and health

ability to think “outside the box” to arrive at novel solutions to a problem

a legal document stating that if a person stops breathing or their heart stops, medical personnel such as doctors and nurses are not to take steps to revive or resuscitate the patient

allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele

theory of schizophrenia that proposes that an overabundance of dopamine or dopamine receptors is responsible for the onset and maintenance of schizophrenia

experiment in which both the researchers and the participants are blind to group assignments

technique in psychoanalysis in which patients recall their dreams and the psychoanalyst interprets them to reveal unconscious desires or struggles

deviations from homeostasis create physiological needs that result in psychological drive states that direct behavior to meet the need and ultimately bring the system back to homeostasis

learning disability that causes difficulty in learning or comprehending mathematics

learning disability that causes extreme difficulty in writing legibly

common learning disability in which letters are not processed properly by the brain

encoding of information that takes effort and attention

aspect of personality that represents the self, or the part of one’s personality that is visible to others

preoperational child’s difficulty in taking the perspective of others

thinking about the meaning of new information and its relation to knowledge already stored in your memory

type of biomedical therapy that involves using an electrical current to induce seizures in a person to help alleviate the effects of severe depression

recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp

all the electromagnetic radiation that occurs in our environment

multi-cellular organism in its early stages of development

newly defined period of lifespan development from 18 years old to the mid-20s; young people are taking longer to complete college, get a job, get married, and start a family

subjective state of being often described as feelings

ability to understand emotions and motivations in yourself and others

capacity to understand another person’s perspective—to feel what they feel

grounded in objective, tangible evidence that can be observed time and time again, regardless of who is observing

method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities

input of information into the memory system

series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

physical trace of memory

study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes

type of declarative memory that contains information about events we have personally experienced, also known as autobiographical memory

some parts of the brain can take over for damaged parts in forming and storing memories

cause or causes of a psychological disorder

feelings of intense elation and pleasure from drug use

good form of stress; low to moderate in intensity; associated with positive feelings, as well as optimal health and performance

set of behaviors that are performed the same way each time; also referred to as a cognitive script

discipline that studies how universal patterns of behavior and cognitive processes have evolved over time as a result of natural selection

phase of the sexual response cycle that involves sexual arousal

group designed to answer the research question; experimental manipulation is the only difference between the experimental and control groups, so any differences between the two are due to experimental manipulation rather than chance

researcher expectations skew the results of the study

memories we consciously try to remember and recall

counterconditioning technique in which a therapist seeks to treat a client’s fear or anxiety by presenting the feared object or situation with the idea that the person will eventually get used to it

decrease in the conditioned response when the unconditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the conditioned stimulus

motivation that arises from external factors or rewards

objective and verifiable observation, established using evidence collected through empirical research

recall of false autobiographical memories

able to be disproven by experimental results

special form of group therapy consisting of one or more families

set of physiological reactions (increases in blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and sweat) that occur when an individual encounters a perceived threat; these reactions are produced by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system

segmenting our visual world into figure and ground

use of muscles in fingers, toes, and eyes to coordinate small actions

theory that personality is composed of five factors, including openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism

behavior is rewarded after a set amount of time

set number of responses must occur before a behavior is rewarded

psychological state lasting from a few seconds to several days, during which one relives a traumatic event and behaves as though the event were occurring at that moment

exceptionally clear recollection of an important event

symptom of mania that involves an abruptly switching in conversation from one topic to another

state involving intense engagement in an activity; usually is experienced when participating in creative, work, and leisure endeavors

ability to see complex relationships and solve problems

observation that each generation has a significantly higher IQ than the previous generation

persuasion of one person by another person, encouraging a person to agree to a small favor, or to buy a small item, only to later request a larger favor or purchase of a larger item

largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system, among other structures

area of psychology that applies the science and practice of psychology to issues within and related to the justice system

loss of information from long-term memory

final stage in Piaget’s theory of cognitive development; from age 11 and up, children are able to deal with abstract ideas and hypothetical situations

small indentation in the retina that contains cones

twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic material varies the same as in non-twin siblings

technique in psychoanalysis in which the patient says whatever comes to mind at the moment

number of waves that pass a given point in a given time period

inability to see an object as useful for any other use other than the one for which it was intended

MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time

focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment

tendency to overemphasize internal factors as attributions for behavior and underestimate the power of the situation

diagnostic category in DSM-5 for individuals who experience enduring distress as a result of their gender identity not aligning with their sex assigned at birth

individual’s sense of being male, female, neither of these, both of these, or another gender

Hans Selye’s three-stage model of the body’s physiological reactions to stress and the process of stress adaptation: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion

characterized by a continuous state of excessive, uncontrollable, and pointless worry and apprehension

inferring that the results for a sample apply to the larger population

view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes

field of psychology based on the idea that the whole is different from the sum of its parts

nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport

maturing of the sex glands

secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior

set of rules that are used to convey meaning through the use of a lexicon

characterized by beliefs that one holds special power, unique knowledge, or is extremely important

use of large muscle groups to control arms and legs for large body movements

strengthening of the original group attitude after discussing views within the group

treatment modality in which 5–10 people with the same issue or concern meet together with a trained clinician

group members modify their opinions to match what they believe is the group consensus

(plural: gyri) bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex

pattern of behavior in which we regularly engage

auditory receptor cell of the inner ear

perceptual experience that occurs in the absence of external stimulation, such as the auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) common to schizophrenia

one of a class of drugs that results in profound alterations in sensory and perceptual experiences, often with vivid hallucinations

enduring state of mind consisting of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions; the sense that one’s life has meaning and value

model of psychological disorders resulting from the inability of an internal mechanism to perform its natural function

a legal document that appoints a specific person to make medical decisions for a patient if they are unable to speak for themselves

subfield of psychology devoted to studying psychological influences on health, illness, and how people respond when they become ill

several types of adverse heart conditions, including those that involve the heart’s arteries or valves or those involving the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs; can include heart attack and stroke

left or right half of the brain

proportion of difference among people that is attributed to genetics

cycles per second; measure of frequency

consisting of two different alleles

mental shortcut that saves time when solving a problem

spectrum of needs ranging from basic biological needs to social needs to self-actualization

(also, second-order conditioning) using a conditioned stimulus to condition a neutral stimulus

division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum

belief that the event just experienced was predictable, even though it really wasn’t

structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory

characterized by persistent difficulty in parting with possessions, regardless of their actual value or usefulness

tendency to maintain a balance, or optimal level, within a biological system

prejudice and discrimination against individuals based solely on their sexual orientation

consisting of two identical alleles

cognitive theory of depression proposing that a style of thinking that perceives negative life events as having stable and global causes leads to a sense of hopelessness and then to depression

chemical messenger released by endocrine glands

service that provides a death with dignity; pain management in a humane and comfortable environment; usually outside of a hospital setting

aggression motivated by feelings of anger with intent to cause pain

perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans

therapeutic orientation aimed at helping people become more self-aware and accepting of themselves

high blood pressure

state of extreme self-focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli

set of structures found in both the limbic system (hypothalamus) and the endocrine system (pituitary gland and adrenal glands) that regulate many of the body’s physiological reactions to stress through the release of hormones

forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation and behavior and a number of homeostatic processes; serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system

(plural: hypotheses) a testable prediction about how the world will behave if an idea is correct, often worded as an if-then statement

aspect of personality that consists of our most primitive drives or urges, including impulses for hunger, thirst, and sex

person we would like to be

twins that develop from the same sperm and egg

seeing relationships between two things when in reality no such relationship exists

various structures, cells, and mechanisms that protect the body from foreign substances that can damage the body’s tissues and organs

decreased effectiveness of the immune system

memories that are not part of our consciousness

group that we identify with or see ourselves as belonging to

preference for our own group over other groups

failure to notice something that is completely visible because of a lack of attention

state of being in which there is a great discrepancy between our real and ideal selves

middle ear ossicle; also known as the anvil

variable that is influenced or controlled by the experimenter; in a sound experimental study, the independent variable is the only important difference between the experimental and control group.

school of psychology proposed by Adler that focuses on our drive to compensate for feelings of inferiority

treatment modality in which the client and clinician meet one-on-one

culture that focuses on individual achievement and autonomy

conclusions are drawn from observations

refers to a person’s feelings that they lack worth and don’t measure up to others’ or to society’s standards

signal that some type of tissue damage has occurred

conformity to a group norm prompted by the belief that the group is competent and has the correct information

process of informing a research participant about what to expect during an experiment, any risks involved, and the implications of the research, and then obtaining the person’s consent to participate

consistent difficulty in falling or staying asleep for at least three nights a week over a month’s time

species-specific pattern of behavior that is unlearned

unlearned knowledge, involving complex patterns of behavior; instincts are thought to be more prevalent in lower animals than in humans

committee of administrators, scientists, veterinarians, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving non-human animals

committee of administrators, scientists, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving human participants

aggression motivated by achieving a goal and does not necessarily involve intent to cause pain

therapist’s first meeting with the client in which the therapist gathers specific information to address the client’s immediate needs

(also, IQ) score on a test designed to measure intelligence

measure of agreement among observers on how they record and classify a particular event

sound coming from one side of the body is more intense at the closest ear because of the attenuation of the sound wave as it passes through the head

small difference in the time at which a given sound wave arrives at each ear

internal attribute of a person, such as personality traits or temperament

authoritative index of mental and physical diseases, including infectious diseases, and the criteria for their diagnosis; published by the World Health Organization (WHO)

motivation based on internal feelings rather than external rewards

process by which someone examines their own conscious experience in an attempt to break it into its component parts

therapy that is mandated by the courts or other systems

colored portion of the eye

emotions arise from physiological arousal

collection of symptoms brought on by travel from one time zone to another that results from the mismatch between our internal circadian cycles and our environment

general sense of emotional exhaustion and cynicism in relation to one’s job; consists of three dimensions: exhaustion, depersonalization, and sense of diminished personal accomplishment

work situation involving the combination of excessive job demands and workload with little decision making latitude or job control

difference in stimuli required to detect a difference between the stimuli

ideology common in the United States that people get the outcomes they deserve

theory that people value goals and achievements more when they have put more effort into them

very high amplitude pattern of brain activity associated with stage 2 sleep that may occur in response to environmental stimuli

perception of the body’s movement through space

communication system that involves using words to transmit information from one individual to another

psychosexual stage in which sexual feelings are dormant

hidden meaning of a dream, per Sigmund Freud’s view of the function of dreams

learning that occurs, but it may not be evident until there is a reason to demonstrate it

concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions

behavior that is followed by consequences satisfying to the organism will be repeated and behaviors that are followed by unpleasant consequences will be discouraged

curved, transparent structure that provides additional focus for light entering the eye

satiety hormone

the words of a given language

collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory

perceive depth in an image when two parallel lines seem to converge

a written legal document that details specific interventions a person wants; may include health care proxy

area of the brainstem that contains norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response; has been implicated in panic disorder

beliefs about the power we have over our lives; an external locus of control is the belief that our outcomes are outside of our control; an internal locus of control is the belief that we control our own outcomes

continuous storage of information

deep groove in the brain’s cortex

studies in which the same group of individuals is surveyed or measured repeatedly over an extended period of time

people become aware that they are dreaming and can control the dream’s content

white blood cells that circulate in the body’s fluids and are especially important in the body’s immune response

magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged

commonly referred to as “depression” or “major depression,” characterized by sadness or loss of pleasure in usual activities, as well other symptoms

middle ear ossicle; also known as the hammer

state of extreme elation and agitation

period in which an individual experiences mania, characterized by extremely cheerful and euphoric mood, excessive talkativeness, irritability, increased activity levels, and other symptoms

storyline of events that occur during a dream, per Sigmund Freud’s view of the function of dreams

clearing the mind in order to achieve a state of relaxed awareness and focus

hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate

touch receptor that responds to pressure and lower frequency vibrations

hormone secreted by the endocrine gland that serves as an important regulator of the sleep-wake cycle

difference in charge across the neuronal membrane

set of processes used to encode, store, and retrieve information over different periods of time

technique to help make sure information goes from short-term memory to long-term memory

beginning of menstrual period; around 12–13 years old

results in a degeneration of inner ear structures that can lead to hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, and an increase in pressure within the inner ear

continually using an old solution to a problem without results

touch receptor that responds to light touch

study that combines the results of several related studies

amount of energy that is expended in a given period of time

synthetic opioid that is less euphorigenic than heroin and similar drugs; used to manage withdrawal symptoms in opiate users

uses methadone to treat withdrawal symptoms in opiate users

type of amphetamine that can be made from pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter drug; widely manufactured and abused

division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular formation

personality test composed of a series of true/false questions in order to establish a clinical profile of an individual

memory error in which you confuse the source of your information

after exposure to additional and possibly inaccurate information, a person may misremember the original event

process of cell division

memory aids that help organize information for encoding

person who performs a behavior that serves as an example (in observational learning)

one-eared cue to localize sound

cue that requires only one eye

one of a group of disorders characterized by severe disturbances in mood and emotions; the categories of mood disorders listed in the DSM-5 are bipolar and related disorders and depressive disorders

smallest unit of language that conveys some type of meaning

wants or needs that direct behavior toward some goal

ability to move our body and manipulate objects

Gardner’s theory that each person possesses at least eight types of intelligence

sudden, permanent change in a gene

fatty substance that insulates axons

sleep disorder in which the sufferer cannot resist falling to sleep at inopportune times

mental groupings that are created “naturally” through your experiences

observation of behavior in its natural setting

genes and biology

tendency to experience distressed emotional states involving anger, contempt, disgust, guilt, fear, and nervousness

two variables change in different directions, with one becoming larger as the other becomes smaller; a negative correlation is not the same thing as no correlation

taking away a pleasant stimulus to decrease or stop a behavior

taking away an undesirable stimulus to increase a behavior

characterized by decreases and absences in certain normal behaviors, emotions, or drives, such as an expressionless face, lack of motivation to engage in activities, reduced speech, lack of social engagement, and inability to experience pleasure

made up of billions of neurons and controls our thoughts, responses, and movements; divided into the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)

one of the disorders that are first diagnosed in childhood and involve developmental problems in academic, intellectual, social functioning

cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors, which are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system

pain from damage to neurons of either the peripheral or central nervous system

nervous system's ability to change

tendency to experience negative emotions

chemical messenger of the nervous system

stimulus that does not initially elicit a response

inborn automatic response to a particular form of stimulation that all healthy babies are born with

sleep disorder in which the sleeper experiences a sense of panic and may scream or attempt to escape from the immediate environment

sensory signal indicating potential harm and maybe pain

open spaces that are found in the myelin sheath that encases the axon

period of sleep outside periods of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

therapeutic approach in which the therapist does not give advice or provide interpretations but helps the person identify conflicts and understand feelings

study of development using norms, or average ages, when most children reach specific developmental milestones

conformity to a group norm to fit in, feel good, and be accepted by the group

administering a test to a large population so data can be collected to reference the normal scores for a population and its groups

environment and culture

change of behavior to please an authority figure or to avoid aversive consequences

adult with a BMI of 30 or higher

idea that even if something is out of sight, it still exists

type of learning that occurs by watching others

when observations may be skewed to align with observer expectations

group of overlapping disorders listed in the DSM-5 that involves intrusive, unpleasant thoughts and/or repetitive behaviors

characterized by the tendency to experience intrusive and unwanted thoughts and urges (obsession) and/or the need to engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) in response to the unwanted thoughts and urges

sleep disorder defined by episodes when breathing stops during sleep as a result of blockage of the airway

part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex

bulb-like structure at the tip of the frontal lobe, where the olfactory nerves begin

form of learning in which the stimulus/experience happens after the behavior is demonstrated

description of what actions and operations will be used to measure the dependent variables and manipulate the independent variables

one of a category of drugs that has strong analgesic properties; opiates are produced from the resin of the opium poppy; includes heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine

personal judgments, conclusions, or attitudes that may or may not be accurate

one of a category of drugs that has strong analgesic properties; opiates are produced from the resin of the opium poppy; includes heroin, morphine, methadone, and codeine

color is coded in opponent pairs: black-white, yellow-blue, and red-green

X-shaped structure that sits just below the brain’s ventral surface; represents the merging of the optic nerves from the two eyes and the separation of information from the two sides of the visual field to the opposite side of the brain

carries visual information from the retina to the brain

tendency toward a positive outlook and positive expectations

psychosexual stage in which an infant’s pleasure is focused on the mouth

area of the frontal lobe involved in learning and decision-making

peak phase of the sexual response cycle associated with rhythmic muscle contractions (and ejaculation)

three tiny bones in the middle ear consisting of the malleus, incus, and stapes

group that we don’t belong to—one that we view as fundamentally different from us

extension of a rule that exists in a given language to an exception to the rule

adult with a BMI between 25 and 29.9

touch receptor that detects transient pressure and higher frequency vibrations

secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar

period of extreme fear or discomfort that develops abruptly; symptoms of panic attacks are both physiological and psychological

anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected panic attacks, along with at least one month of worry about panic attacks or self-defeating behavior related to the attacks

characterized by decreases and absences in certain normal behaviors, emotions, or drives, such as an expressionless face, lack of motivation to engage in activities, reduced speech, lack of social engagement, and inability to experience pleasure.

one of a group of sleep disorders characterized by unwanted, disruptive motor activity and/or experiences during sleep

part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex

rewarding behavior only some of the time

subjects of psychological research

ability to discriminate among different figures and shapes

article read by several other scientists (usually anonymously) with expertise in the subject matter, who provide feedback regarding the quality of the manuscript before it is accepted for publication

peoples’ beliefs concerning their capacity to influence and shape outcomes in their lives

way that sensory information is interpreted and consciously experienced

educated guess used to interpret sensory information

subtype of depression that applies to people who experience an episode of major depression either during pregnancy or in the four weeks following childbirth

one person persuades another person; an indirect route that relies on association of peripheral cues (such as positive emotions and celebrity endorsement) to associate positivity with a message

parents make few demands and rarely use punishment

failure of the memory system that involves the involuntary recall of unwanted memories, particularly unpleasant ones

depressive disorder characterized by a chronically sad and melancholy mood

long-standing traits and patterns that propel individuals to consistently think, feel, and behave in specific ways

group of DSM-5 disorders characterized by an inflexible and pervasive personality style that differs markedly from the expectations of one’s culture and causes distress and impairment; people with these disorders have a personality style that frequently brings them into conflict with others and disrupts their ability to develop and maintain social relationships

study of patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make each individual unique

consistent pattern of thought and behavior

process of changing our attitude toward something based on some form of communication

psychosexual stage in which the focus is on the genitals

(doctor of philosophy) doctoral degree conferred in many disciplinary perspectives housed in a traditional college of liberal arts and sciences

chemical message sent by another individual

basic sound unit of a given language

light-detecting cell

changes in normal bodily functions that cause a drug user to experience withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use

domain of lifespan development that examines growth and changes in the body and brain, the senses, motor skills, and health and wellness

endocrine structure located inside the brain that releases melatonin

visible part of the ear that protrudes from the head

perception of a sound’s frequency

secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body, and a number of messenger hormones, which direct the activity of other glands in the endocrine system

different portions of the basilar membrane are sensitive to sounds of different frequencies

people's expectations or beliefs influencing or determining their experience in a given situation

structure connected to the uterus that provides nourishment and oxygen to the developing baby

phase of the sexual response cycle that falls between excitement and orgasm

therapeutic process, often used with children, that employs toys to help them resolve psychological problems

multiple genes affecting a given trait

lie detector test that measures physiological arousal of individuals as they answer a series of questions

hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep

overall group of individuals that the researchers are interested in

state or a trait that involves pleasurable engagement with the environment, the dimensions of which include happiness, joy, enthusiasm, alertness, and excitement

two variables change in the same direction, both becoming either larger or smaller

scientific area of study seeking to identify and promote those qualities that lead to happy, fulfilled, and contented lives

adding an undesirable stimulus to stop or decrease a behavior

adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior

involves injecting individuals with a mildly radioactive substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to different regions of the brain

allows young scientists to further develop their research programs and broaden their research skills under the supervision of other professionals in the field

experiencing a profoundly traumatic event leads to a constellation of symptoms that include intrusive and distressing memories of the event, avoidance of stimuli connected to the event, negative emotional states, feelings of detachment from others, irritability, proneness toward outbursts, hypervigilance, and a tendency to startle easily; these symptoms must occur for at least one month

aka “street smarts”

negative attitudes and feelings toward individuals based solely on their membership in a particular group

medical care during pregnancy that monitors the health of both the mother and the fetus

judgment about the degree of potential harm or threat to well-being that a stressor might entail

has innate reinforcing qualities (e.g., food, water, shelter, sex)

organs specifically needed for reproduction

old information hinders the recall of newly learned information

method for solving problems

type of long-term memory for making skilled actions, such as how to brush your teeth, how to drive a car, and how to swim

in schizophrenia, one of the early minor symptoms of psychosis

ego defense mechanism in which a person confronted with anxiety disguises their unacceptable urges or behaviors by attributing them to other people

personality assessment in which a person responds to ambiguous stimuli, revealing hidden feelings, impulses, and desires

perception of body position

voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people

best representation of a concept

therapeutic orientation developed by Sigmund Freud that employs free association, dream analysis, and transference to uncover repressed feelings

focus on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior

emotional, rather than a physical, need for a drug which may be used to relieve psychological distress

condition characterized by abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

scientific study of the mind and behavior

field that studies how psychological factors (such as stress) influence the immune system and immune functioning

study of psychological disorders, including their symptoms, causes, and treatment; manifestation of a psychological disorder

physical disorders or diseases in which symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress and emotional factors

process proposed by Freud in which pleasure-seeking urges focus on different erogenous zones of the body as humans move through five stages of life

stages of child development in which a child’s pleasure-seeking urges are focused on specific areas of the body called erogenous zones

domain of lifespan development that examines emotions, personality, and social relationships

process proposed by Erikson in which social tasks are mastered as humans move through eight stages of life from infancy to adulthood

(also, psychodynamic psychotherapy) psychological treatment that employs various methods to help someone overcome personal problems, or to attain personal growth

drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance

(doctor of psychology) doctoral degree that places less emphasis on research-oriented skills and focuses more on application of psychological principles in the clinical context

implementation of a consequence in order to decrease a behavior

small opening in the eye through which light passes

prejudice and discrimination toward individuals based solely on their race

staunch form of behaviorism developed by B. F. Skinner that suggested that even complex higher mental functions like human language are nothing more than stimulus-outcome associations

method of experimental group assignment in which all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to either group

subset of a larger population in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected

asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall

period of sleep characterized by brain waves very similar to those during wakefulness and by darting movements of the eyes under closed eyelids

form of cognitive-behavioral therapy

ego defense mechanism in which a person confronted with anxiety makes excuses to justify behavior

ego defense mechanism in which a person confronted with anxiety swaps unacceptable urges or behaviors for their opposites

person who we actually are

accessing information without cues

protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach

belief that one’s environment can determine behavior, but at the same time, people can influence the environment with both their thoughts and behaviors

give and take in relationships

identifying previously learned information after encountering it again, usually in response to a cue

process of bringing up old memories that might be distorted by new information

unlearned, automatic response by an organism to a stimulus in the environment

time immediately following an orgasm during which an individual is incapable of experiencing another orgasm

ego defense mechanism in which a person confronted with anxiety returns to a more immature behavioral state

repetition of information to be remembered

repeated drug use and/or alcohol use after a period of improvement from substance abuse

stress reduction technique combining elements of relaxation and meditation

learning information that was previously learned

consistency and reproducibility of a given result

sleep disorder in which the muscle paralysis associated with the REM sleep phase does not occur; sleepers have high levels of physical activity during REM sleep, especially during disturbing dreams

repeating an experiment using different samples to determine the research’s reliability

faulty heuristic in which you stereotype someone or something without a valid basis for your judgment

subset of the population that accurately represents the general population

ego defense mechanism in which anxiety-related thoughts and memories are kept in the unconscious

characterized by the child’s tendency to show clingy behavior and rejection of the parent when they attempt to interact with the child

phase of the sexual response cycle following orgasm during which the body returns to its unaroused state

the state of readiness of a neuron membrane’s potential between signals

sleep disorder in which the sufferer has uncomfortable sensations in the legs when trying to fall asleep that are relieved by moving the legs

midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity

light-sensitive lining of the eye

act of getting information out of long-term memory storage and back into conscious awareness

information learned more recently hinders the recall of older information

loss of memory for events that occurred prior to brain trauma

neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it

principle that objects can be changed, but then returned back to their original form or condition

specialized photoreceptor that works well in low light conditions

set of expectations that define the behaviors of a person occupying a particular role

type of love consisting of intimacy and passion, but no commitment

projective test that employs a series of symmetrical inkblot cards that are presented to a client by a psychologist in an effort to reveal the person’s unconscious desires, fears, and struggles

work schedule that changes from early to late on a daily or weekly basis

touch receptor that detects stretch

in depression, tendency to repetitively and passively dwell on one’s depressed symptoms, their meanings, and their consequences

mental and behavior acts designed to reduce anxiety in social situations by reducing the chance of negative social outcomes; common in social anxiety disorder

subset of individuals selected from the larger population

fullness; satisfaction

act of blaming an out-group when the in-group experiences frustration or is blocked from obtaining a goal

emotions consist of two factors: physiological and cognitive

(plural = schemata) mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts

(plural = schemata) concept (mental model) that is used to help us categorize and interpret information

severe disorder characterized by major disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior with symptoms that include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking and behavior, and negative symptoms

person’s knowledge about the sequence of events in a specific setting

subtype of depression in which a person experiences the symptoms of major depressive disorder only during a particular time of year

judgment of options available to cope with a stressor and their potential effectiveness

has no inherent value unto itself and only has reinforcing qualities when linked with something else (e.g., money, gold stars, poker chips)

physical signs of sexual maturation that do not directly involve sex organs

characterized by the child using the parent as a secure base from which to explore

parental presence that gives the infant/toddler a sense of safety as they explore their surroundings

concept that people choose to move to places that are compatible with their personalities and needs

our thoughts and feelings about ourselves

sharing personal information in relationships

individual’s belief in their own capabilities or capacities to complete a task

treating stereotyped group members according to our biased expectations only to have this treatment influence the individual to act according to our stereotypic expectations, thus confirming our stereotypic beliefs

tendency for an individual to have better memory for information that relates to oneself in comparison to material that has less personal relevance

tendency for individuals to take credit by making dispositional or internal attributions for positive outcomes and situational or external attributions for negative outcomes

input of words and their meaning

input of words and their meaning

process by which we derive meaning from morphemes and words

cell membrane that allows smaller molecules or molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules

what happens when sensory information is detected by a sensory receptor

first stage in Piaget’s theory of cognitive development; from birth through age 2, a child learns about the world through senses and motor behavior

failure to transmit neural signals from the cochlea to the brain

not perceiving stimuli that remain relatively constant over prolonged periods of time

storage of brief sensory events, such as sights, sounds, and tastes

assertion that each individual has an ideal body weight, or set point, that is resistant to change

adult with a BMI over 40

divided into 4 phases including excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution

rewarding successive approximations toward a target behavior

holds about seven bits of information before it is forgotten or stored, as well as information that has been retrieved and is being used

change in stimulus detection as a function of current mental state

things that are alike tend to be grouped together

experiment in which the researcher knows which participants are in the experimental group and which are in the control group

describes a perspective that behavior and actions are determined by the immediate environment and surroundings; a view promoted by social psychologists

state marked by relatively low levels of physical activity and reduced sensory awareness that is distinct from periods of rest that occur during wakefulness

sleep disorder defined by episodes during which breathing stops during sleep

result of insufficient sleep on a chronic basis

sleep-deprived individuals will experience shorter sleep latencies during subsequent opportunities for sleep

brain’s control of switching between sleep and wakefulness as well as coordinating this cycle with the outside world

rapid burst of high frequency brain waves during stage 2 sleep that may be important for learning and memory

(also, somnambulism) sleep disorder in which the sleeper engages in relatively complex behaviors

characterized by extreme and persistent fear or anxiety and avoidance of social situations in which one could potentially be evaluated negatively by others

humans act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintain a relationship, with the goal to maximize benefits and minimize costs

exertion of less effort by a person working in a group because individual performance cannot be evaluated separately from the group, thus causing performance decline on easy tasks

group’s expectations regarding what is appropriate and acceptable for the thoughts and behavior of its members

field of psychology that examines how people impact or affect each other, with particular focus on the power of the situation

popular scale designed to measure stress; consists of 43 potentially stressful events, each of which has a numerical value quantifying how much readjustment is associated with the event

socially defined pattern of behavior that is expected of a person in a given setting or group

soothing and often beneficial support of others; can take different forms, such as advice, guidance, encouragement, acceptance, emotional comfort, and tangible assistance

Bandura’s theory of personality that emphasizes both cognition and learning as sources of individual differences in personality

social support/friendships dwindle in number, but remain as close, if not more close than in earlier years

cell body

belief that something highly unusual is happening to one’s body or internal organs

essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain

anxiety disorder characterized by excessive, distressing, and persistent fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation

first male ejaculation

return of a previously extinguished conditioned response

area of psychology that focuses on the interactions between mental and emotional factors and physical performance in sports, exercise, and other activities

first stage of sleep; transitional phase that occurs between wakefulness and sleep; the period during which a person drifts off to sleep

second stage of sleep; the body goes into deep relaxation; characterized by the appearance of sleep spindles

third stage of sleep; deep sleep characterized by low frequency, high amplitude delta waves

third stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body’s ability to resist stress becomes depleted; illness, disease, and even death may occur

second stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body adapts to a stressor for a period of time

process proposed by Kohlberg; humans move through three stages of moral development

measure of variability that describes the difference between a set of scores and their mean

method of testing in which administration, scoring, and interpretation of results are consistent

Stanford University conducted an experiment in a mock prison that demonstrated the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts

middle ear ossicle; also known as the stirrup

determines how likely any difference between experimental groups is due to chance

specific beliefs or assumptions about individuals based solely on their membership in a group, regardless of their individual characteristics

drug that tends to increase overall levels of neural activity; includes caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine

ability to respond differently to similar stimuli

demonstrating the conditioned response to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus

creation of a permanent record of information

therapist guides the therapy sessions and develops treatment plans for each family member for specific problems that can addressed in a short amount of time

process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that one appraises as overwhelming or threatening to one’s well-being

environmental events that may be judged as threatening or demanding; stimuli that initiate the stress process

therapist examines and discusses with the family the boundaries and structure of the family: who makes the rules, who sleeps in the bed with whom, how decisions are made, and what are the boundaries within the family

understanding the conscious experience through introspection

ego defense mechanism in which unacceptable urges are channeled into more appropriate activities

message presented below the threshold of conscious awareness

midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement

infant (one year old or younger) with no apparent medical condition suddenly dies during sleep

effects of misinformation from external sources that leads to the creation of false memories

thoughts of death by suicide, thinking about or planning suicide, or making a suicide attempt

(plural: sulci) depressions or grooves in the cerebral cortex

aspect of the personality that serves as one’s moral compass, or conscience

area of the hypothalamus in which the body’s biological clock is located

list of questions to be answered by research participants—given as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally—allowing researchers to collect data from a large number of people

small gap between two neurons where communication occurs

storage site for neurotransmitters

manner by which words are organized into sentences

grouping of taste receptor cells with hair-like extensions that protrude into the central pore of the taste bud

projective test designed to be culturally relevant to minority groups, especially Hispanic youths, using images and storytelling that relate to minority culture

innate traits that influence how one thinks, behaves, and reacts with the environment

part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language; contains primary auditory cortex

sound’s frequency is coded by the activity level of a sensory neuron

biological, chemical, or physical environmental agent that causes damage to the developing embryo or fetus

axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles

sensory relay for the brain

projective test in which people are presented with ambiguous images, and they then make up stories to go with the images in an effort to uncover their unconscious desires, fears, and struggles

well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena

states that organisms that are better suited for their environments will survive and reproduce compared to those that are poorly suited for their environments

temperature perception

type of brain wave characteristic of the end of stage 1 NREM sleep, which has a moderately low amplitude and a frequency of 4–7 Hz

level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active

secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite

descriptive term which refers to a sound’s quality; impacted by the interplay of frequency, amplitude, and timing of sound waves

controlled setting where individuals are reinforced for desirable behaviors with tokens (e.g., poker chip) that be exchanged for items or privileges

state of requiring increasing quantities of the drug to gain the desired effect

interpretation of sensations is influenced by available knowledge, experiences, and thoughts

characteristic ways of behaving

conversion from sensory stimulus energy to action potential

process in psychoanalysis in which the patient transfers all of the positive or negative emotions associated with the patient’s other relationships to the psychoanalyst

memory error in which unused memories fade with the passage of time

problem-solving strategy in which multiple solutions are attempted until the correct one is found

model of love based on three components: intimacy, passion, and commitment; several types of love exist, depending on the presence or absence of each of these components

Sternberg’s theory of intelligence; three facets of intelligence: practical, creative, and analytical

color vision is mediated by the activity across the three groups of cones

eardrum

psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by individuals who tend to be extremely competitive, impatient, rushed, and hostile toward others

psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by a person who is relaxed and laid back

taste for monosodium glutamate

fundamental acceptance of a person regardless of what they say or do; term associated with humanistic psychology

natural (unlearned) behavior to a given stimulus

stimulus that elicits a reflexive response

mental activity of which we are unaware and unable to access

parents are indifferent, uninvolved, and sometimes referred to as neglectful; they don’t respond to the child’s needs and make relatively few demands

accuracy of a given result in measuring what it is designed to measure

behavior is rewarded after unpredictable amounts of time have passed

number of responses differ before a behavior is rewarded

midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood, reward, and addiction

one of the fluid-filled cavities within the brain

spinning sensation

contributes to our ability to maintain balance and body posture

process where the observer sees the model punished, making the observer less likely to imitate the model’s behavior

process where the observer sees the model rewarded, making the observer more likely to imitate the model’s behavior

uses a simulation rather than the actual feared object or situation to help people conquer their fears

portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that we can see

input of images

therapy that a person chooses to attend in order to obtain relief from her symptoms

characterized by high levels of sensory awareness, thought, and behavior

length of a wave from one peak to the next peak

important for speech comprehension

variety of negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued

heuristic in which you begin to solve a problem by focusing on the end result

simple tasks are performed best when arousal levels are relatively high, while complex tasks are best performed when arousal is lower

structure created when a sperm and egg merge at conception; begins as a single cell and rapidly divides to form the embryo and placenta