D's in Glossary Flashcards
debriefing
the post-experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants
deep processing
encoding semantically, based on the meaning of the words; tends to yield the best retention
defense mechanisms
in psychoanalytic theory, the ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality
deindividuation
the loss of self-awareness and self-restraint occurring in group situations that foster arousal and anonymity
deja vu
that eerie sense of “I’ve experienced this before”
delta waves
the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep
delusions
false beliefs that may accompany psychotic disorders
dendrites
a neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
dependent variable
the outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.
depressants
drugs that reduce neural activity and slow body functions
depth perception
the ability to objects in three dimensions although images that strike the retina are two-dimensional; allows us to judge distance
developmental psychology
a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.
difference threshold
the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time.
discrimination (classical conditioning)
the learned ability to distinguish between a conditioned stimulus and stimuli that do not signal an unconditioned stimulus
discrimination
unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members
dissociation
a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others.
dissociative disorders
disorders in which conscious awareness becomes separated from previous memories, thoughts, and feelings
dissociate identity disorder (DID)
a rare dissociative disorder in which a person exhibits two or more distinct and alternating personalities
DNA (deoxyribonculeic acid)
a complex molecule containing the genetic info that makes up the chromosomes
double-blind procedure
an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo.
down syndrome
a condition of mild to severe intellectual disability and associated physical disorders caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21
`dream
a sequence of images, emotions, and thoughts passing through a sleeping person’s mind.
drive-reduction theory
the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state that motivates an organism to satisfy the need
DSM-5
a widely used system for classifying psychological disorders.
dual processing
the principle that info is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
