Positive Psychology Flashcards
A hard to define term, most definitions of which include behaviors that are atypical or aberrant, maladaptive, or accompanied by psychological distress
- It is also important to consider a person’s context and culture when deciding whether their behavior is abnormal
Abnormal Behaviors
Parents’ appropriate responsiveness to a child’s behavioral cues (eg; smiling)
Adaptive Parental Behaviors
A person’s instinctive response to a stimulus; characterized by a sense of arousal
- It is considered the most basic element of feeling and often involves evaluation of a stimulus as good or bad
Affect
The bestowal of love by the divine
Agape
The requisite motivations to use routes to desired goals
Agency Thinking
Actions or behaviors that are intended to benefit another person
Altruism
The promotion of positive relationship behaviors
Appetitive Processes
Western philosophical tradition focused on the writings and teachings of Plato and Aristotle
Athenian Tradition
The sum of emotional and physical proximity seeking behaviors toward the caregiver, developed by the child as a result of adaptive and maladaptive parent behaviors
- Regulates the pattern of attachment characteristics of the child
Attachment System
A supervisor who is one of “those individuals who are deeply aware of how they think and behave and are perceived by others as being aware of their own and others’ values/morals perspective, knowledge, and strengths; aware of the context in which they operate; and who are confident, hopeful, optimistic, resilient, and high on moral character”
Authentic Boss
A dimension of courage in the Values in Action classification system
- It involves acknowledging and representing one’s true self, values, beliefs, and behaviors to oneself and others
Authenticity
A cluster of traits exhibited by a person who enjoys life and who “generally does things for [their] own sake, rather than in order to achieve some later external goal”
- From the Greek words autos, meaning “self” and telos, meaning “end”
Autotelic Personality
The eliminating of negative relationship behaviors
Aversive Processes
A theory developed by Sternberg (1998) that specifies the processes used to balance personal interests with environmental context to achieve a common good
- The processes involve using tacit knowledge and personal values to form a judgement of or resolution for competing interests
Balance Theory of Wisdom
A theory developed by Baltes et al suggesting that wisdom requires knowledge and insight into the self and others within a cultural context and is “the ways and means of planning, managing, and understanding a good life”
- The paradigm addresses life span contextualism, relativism of values, and managing uncertainty
Berlin Wisdom Paradigm
Confidence in one’s ability to navigate both one’s culture of origin and a second culture
- May include a comfort with language in both cultures (eg; translation), appropriate social interaction (understanding cultural norms), and an ability to understand both worldviews
Bicultural Self Efficacy
Model developed by Frederickson (2000) that suggests positive emotions expand what an individual feels like doing at any given time
- Frederickson calls this expansion broadening of an individual’s momentary thought - action repertoire
- Positive emotions also allow people to build resources through the increasing of creative problem solving and recognition of personal resources
Broaden and Build Model of Positive Emotions
A philosophical and religious system based on the teachings of Buddha: life is dominated by suffering caused by desire, suffering ends when we end desire, and enlightenment obtained through right conduct, wisdom, and meditation releases one from desire, suffering, and rebirth
Buddhism
An employee’s feeling that, despite working hard, they are unable to do everything that needs to be done
- The employee is tired and perceives a lack of reward from their job
Burnout
A strong motivation in which a person repeatedly takes a course of action that is intrinsically satisfying
- For example, a person who experiences a calling to teach teaches because the job is personally fulfilling, not just because of the paycheck
Calling
Altruism thought to be motivated because of feelings of empathy (or care) for the recipient of the help offered
Care Based Altruism
A life task that requires the development of a social identity and engagement in a career characterized by contentment, compensation, competence, and commitment
Career Consolidation
Personal confidence in one’s capacity to handle career development and work related activities
Career Self Efficacy
Described by Greitemeyer, Osswald, Fischer, and Frey (2007) as “brave behavior accompanied by anger and indignation that intends to enforce societal and ethical norms without considering one’s own social costs”
Civil Courage
Goal directed thinking in which a group of people have the perceived capacity to find routes to desired goals and the requisite motivations to use those routes
Collective Hope
The degree to which a group of people believe they can work together to accomplish shared goals
Collective Self Efficacy
A cultural value that prizes the concepts of sharing, cooperation, interdependence, and duty to the group
- A perspective in which the needs of the group are placed above the needs of the individual
Collectivism
The amount of psychological attachment a worker feels toward the organization for which they work
Commitment
A form of romantic love characterized by the soothing and steady warmth that sustains a relationship
Companionate Love
An aspect of humanity that involves looking outside oneself and thinking about others as we care for and identify with them
- In positive psychology, this requires (1) that the difficulty of the recipient be serious, (2) that the recipient’s difficulties are not self inflicted, and (3) that we, as observers, are able to identify with the recipient’s suffering
Compassion
An attitude toward another containing feelings, cognitions, and behaviors that are focused on caring, concern, tenderness, and an orientation toward supporting, helping, and understanding the other
Compassionate Love
Model developed by Keyes and Lopez (2002) in which mental health is defined as high levels of emotional, psychological, and social well being and the absence of mental illness symptoms; the model acknowledges that well being and mental illness symptomatology change over time
Complete State Model
A philosophical and religious system developed from the teachings of Confucius
- It values love for humanity, duty, etiquette, and truthfulness
- Devotion to family, including ancestors, is also emphasized
Confucianism
The extent to which a particular construct or concept has the same definition in two different cultures
Construct Equivalence
The extent to which a scale measures the underlying attributes it intends to measure
- It can be achieved by comparing your measure to other measures that assess a similar construct
Construct Validity
The most durable type of love, manifested when all three components (passion, intimacy, commitment) are present at high levels and in balance across both partners
Consummate Love
The extent to which scores on a scale can predict actual behavior or performance on another, related measure
Criterion Validity
The perception of one’s own capability to mobilize motivation, cognitive resources, and courses of action necessary in situations characterized by diversity
Cultural Self Efficacy
A view that identifies a host of environmental, nutritional, linguistic, and interpersonal factors (namely, those factors that differ most from European American values) that supposedly explain the physical and psychological growth of members of selected groups
Culturally Deficient Perspective
A view of human diversity that recognizes the potential of each culture to engender unique strengths
Culturally Different Perspective
Explanations that recognize distinct cultural entities and adopt some values of the majority group
Culturally Pluralistic
Explanations that interpret behaviors within the context of cultures
Culturally Relativistic
A common heritage or set of beliefs, norms, and values
Culture
Sets of symptoms much more common in some societies than in others
Culture Bound Syndromes
One of Chickering’s developmental goals of college students; involves going from low level competence in intellectual, physical, and interpersonal domains to high competence in each area
Developing Competence
One of Chickering’s developmental goals of college students; developed when a person changes from unclear beliefs and values to clear and humanizing values
Developing Integrity
One of Chickering’s developmental goals of college students; involves growing from intolerance of differences and few relationships to an appreciation of differences and healthy relationships
Developing Mature Interpersonal Relationships
One of Chickering’s developmental goals of college students; involves transitioning from unclear vocational goals and distracting self interests to clear goals and more communal activities
Developing Purpose
Ivey and Ivey’s theory of counseling, in which the here and now is examined and information gathered about a variety of contextual dimensions in the process of conceptualizing clients’ situations
- In this theory, pathological behaviors are understood as logical responses to life events
Developmental Counseling and Therapy
An attempt, based on attachment theory, at socialization that involves building caring and trusting relationships with students who have insecure attachments with their primary caregivers
Developmental Discipline
The use of logical argumentation, discussion, and reasoning as a method of intellectual investigation
- Dialectical thinking involves examining and resolving opposing or contradictory ideas and integrating subjective information, motivation, and life experiences
Dialectical Operations
The tendency of some to expect good things about the future in a general sense
Dispositional Optimism
The motive to pursue some sort of personal gain or benefit through targeted behavior
Egotism
A feeling state resulting from the appraisal of an external object as salient to our own well being
- An emotion has a specific, “sharpened” quality, as it always has an object
Emotion
Active movement toward, rather than away from, a stressful or emotional encounter
Emotional Approach
Active movement away from, rather than toward, a stressful or emotional encounter
Emotional Avoidance
Free and intentional display of feeling
Emotional Expression
According to Salovey and Mayer’s four branch ability model, the skills (1) to perceive and express feelings; (2) to use emotions and emotional understanding to facilitate thinking; (3) to understand complex emotions, relationships among emotions, and relationships between emotions and behavioral consequences, and (4) to manage emotions
Emotional Intelligence
The attempt to understand one’s emotions
Emotional Processing
Written disclosure of emotional upheaval
Emotional Storytelling
A type of well being consisting of perceptions of affirmed happiness and satisfaction with life, along with a balance of positive and negative affect
Emotional Well Being
An emotional response to the perceived plight of another person
- It may entail the ability to experience emotions similar to the other person’s or a sense of tenderheartedness toward that person
Empathy
The view, borne out by Batson’s (1991) findings, that empathy for another person leads to a greater likelihood of helping that person
Empathy - Altruism Hypothesis
Developed using available research knowledge
Empirically Based
An employee’s involvement with their work
- It often depends on employees knowing what is expected of them, having what they need to to their work, having a chance to improve and develop, and having opportunities to develop relationships with coworkers
Engagement
A human’s capacity to transcend desire and suffering and to see things clearly for what they are
Enlightenment
A dimension of courage in the Values in Action classification system
- It involves thriving, or having motivation, in challenging situations or tasks
Enthusiasm/Zest
Romantic love, including the search for and possession of the beautiful
Eros
One of Chickering’s developmental goals of college students; involves changing from personal confusion and low self confidence to a self concept clarified through lifestyle and self acceptance
Establishing Identity
The cause, origin, or a reason for something
Etiology
Enhancements that increase well being through the setting and reaching of goals
- These enhancements are the desirable result of the goal pursuit process, which results in effective functioning and happiness
Eudaemonic Primary Enhancements
Human flourishing, or happiness associated with living a life of virtue
Eudaimonia
The study of methods of reducing “genetic inferiority” by selective breeding, especially as applied to human reproduction
Eugenics
A research method used to study flow experiences
- Participants are signaled via watches, phones, or handheld computers and asked to answer questions about their experiences at each moment they are paged
Experience Sampling Method
Explicit theories examine the externally visible aspects of a construct
- For example, in the study of wisdom, explicit theories examine behaviors thought to demonstrate wisdom, such as problem solving ability
- These theories focus on the observable characteristics of a construct
Explicit Theories
A person’s ability to meet the social, education, and occupational expectations of society
External Adaptation
A term pertaining to individuals who have simultaneously high levels of social, emotional, and psychological well being
Flourishing
Good relationships that continue to get better due to the concerted effort of both partners
Flourishing Relationships
According to Csikszentmihalyi (1990), the pleasurable experience resulting from engagement in an interesting activity that properly matches or challenges a person’s skills and abilities
Flow
A freeing from a negative attachment to the source of the transgression
- This definition of forgiveness allows the target of forgiveness to be oneself, another person, or a situation
Forgiveness (as defined by Thompson and colleagues)
An increase in prosocial motivation such that there is less desire to avoid or seek revenge against the transgressor and an increased desire to act positively toward the transgressing person
- This theory of forgiveness is applicable only when another person is the target of the transgression
Forgiveness (as defined by McCullough and colleagues)
The willingness to give up resentment, negative judgement, and indifference toward the transgressor and to give undeserved compassion, generosity, and benevolence to him or her
- Enright and colleagues also limit their definition of forgiveness to people and do not include situations
Forgiveness (as defined by Enright and colleagues)
A process involving “(1) [C]ognitive - affective transformation following a transgression in which (2) the victim makes a realistic assessment of the harm done and acknowledges the perpetrator’s responsibility, but (3) freely chooses to ‘cancel the debt,’ giving up the need for revenge or deserved punishments and any quest for restitution
- This ‘canceling of the debt’ also involves (4) a ‘cancellation of negative emotions’ directly related to the transgression
- In particular, in forgiving, the victim overcomes his or her feelings of resentment and anger for the act
- In short, by forgiving, the harmed individual (5) essentially removes himself or herself from the victim role”
Forgiveness (as defined by Tangney and colleagues)
A diagnostic approach that encourages assessment of a person’s strengths as well as weakness
- Observers using this approach gather information on (1) deficiencies and undermining characteristics of the person, (2) strengths and assets of the person, (3) lacks and destructive factors in the environment, and (4) resources and opportunities in the environment
Four Front Approach
The tendency to ignore external situational or environmental factors and instead attribute the behavior of another to that person’s internal characteristics (ie, personality or abilities)
- In contrast, people are likely to explain their own behavior in terms of situational or environmental influences rather than personal characteristics
Fundamental Attribution Error
The tendency to perceive as negative behavior that which stands out, is considered negative, and occurs in a vague context
- Behavior is remembered according to its saliency (stands out versus doesn’t stand out), its value (negative versus positive), and its context (vague versus well defined)
Fundamental Negative Bias
Perspectives in which one emphasizes future events and the consequences of one’s actions
- Future oriented people focus on planning for things to come
Future Orientations
Work that contributes to a healthy life by providing variety, a safe working environment, sufficient income, a sense of purpose in work done, happiness and satisfaction, engagement and involvement, a sense of performing well and meeting goals, and companionship and loyalty to coworkers, bosses, and companies
Gainful Employment
A life task that requires one to “give the self away” and expand one’s social circle
- This may include mentoring the next generation of adults
Generativity
Theories of happiness suggesting that happiness may be a more stable personality trait or a characteristic that is genetically based
Genetic/Personality Predisposition Theories
A view of human diversity that suggests that biological difference explains perceived gaps in intellectual capabilities among racial groups
- Proponents of this perspective believe that those of interior intelligence cannot benefit from growth opportunities and do not contribute to the advancement of society
Genetically Deficient Perspective
Being thankful for and appreciating the actions of another
- This emerges upon recognizing that one has received a positive outcome from another person who behaved in a manner that was costly to him or her, valuable to the recipient, and intentionally rendered
Gratitude
A state of consensus or balance
- Eastern traditions view this as essential to happiness
Harmony
Enhancements that increase well being by maximizing pleasure
- This often involves the satisfaction of appetites
Hedonic Primary Enhancements
A diverse body of religion, philosophy, and cultural practice native to and predominant in India
- It is characterized by a belief in the interconnectedness of all things and emphasizes personal improvement with the goal of transcending the cycle of reincarnation
Hinduism
As defined by Snyder, goal directed thinking in which the person uses pathways thinking (the perceived capacity to find routes to desired goals) and agency thinking (the requisite motivations to use those routes)
Hope
The skills, knowledge, education, experience, ideas, and abilities of employees that are assets to a company
Human Capital
A life task that requires one to develop one’s own views, values, and interests instead of simply reflecting the beliefs of one’s parents or others
Identity
The common belief that, in the future, good things will happen to oneself but bad things will happen to other people
- This belief is also called unique invulnerability
Illusion of Uniqueness
Theories that examine the nature or essence of a construct, such as courage, that cannot be directly seen or revealed
- Implicit theories or “folk theories” seek to explain through describing characteristics, qualities, and/or dimensions of the desired construct
Implicit Theories
A cultural value that emphasizes individual achievement, competition, personal freedom, and autonomy
- A perspective in which the needs of the individual are placed above the needs of the group
Individualism
A dimension of courage in the Values in Action classification system
- It involves undertaking tasks or having initiative and determination to start and complete challenges
Industry/Perseverance
In the strange situation assessment, an attachment pattern characterized by a tension between the caregiver and child, resulting in the child’s avoidance of the caregiver when reintroduced
Insecure - Avoidant Attachment
In the strange situation assessment, an attachment pattern characterized by a tension between the caregiver and child, resulting in the child’s passive or active demonstration of hostility toward the caregiver while simultaneously wanting to be held and comforted
Insecure - Resistant/Ambivalence Attachment
Support that involves giving assistance or help when needed
Instrumental Support
A life task that requires one to cultivate contentment with life and a sense of peace
- Often accompanied by increased spirituality
Integrity
A person’s ability to achieve emotional and psychological well being
Internal Adaptation
A life task that requires one to develop an interdependent, committed, and close relationship with another person
Intimacy
A philosophical and religious tradition based on the teachings of Muhammad that emphasizes duty to one’s fellow man
- Followers believe in Allah as the creator and benefactor in all things
Islam
Western religious tradition emphasizing Christianity and Judaism
Judeo - Christian Tradition
A life task that engenders perspective on the workings of the world and of people and that is characterized by a willingness to share this wisdom with others
- The keeper of meaning is seen as linking the present and the past by protecting traditions and rituals and passing them on to the next generation
Keeper of Meaning
Similar to care based altruism in that a connection exists between helper and helpee, but this type of altruism is relegated only to altruism directed toward family
Kin Based Altruism
A term pertaining to individuals who do not have a mental illness but who are low in social, emotional, and psychological well being
Languishing
Characteristic use of a flexible explanatory style in which one has learned to make external (outside oneself), variable (not consistent), and specific (limited to a specific situation) attributions for one’s failures
- In contrast, pessimists have learned to view failures as due to internal (characteristics of the self), stable (consistent), and global (not limited to a specific situation) attributions
Learned Optimism
A sense of contentment and peace stemming from small gaps between wants and needs
Life Satisfaction
A component of the Berlin Wisdom Paradigm that requires understanding a problem in terms of its context
- These contexts can be aspects of life, such as love, work, and play, as well as cultural and temporal contexts (time and place in society)
Life Span Contextualism
The extent to which a measure has been appropriately translated from its original language into another; items on the measure must have the same linguistic meaning in both languages, meaning that various idioms, vocabulary, and so on must be examined carefully
Linguistic Equivalence
Parents’ chaotic or unplanned attempts to meet a child’s needs
Maladaptive Parental Behaviors
One of Chickering’s developmental goals of college students; involves going from little awareness of feelings and limited control over disruptive emotions to increased understanding of feelings, flexible control, and constructive expression
Managing Emotions
A component of the Berlin Wisdom Paradigm
- Using this skill means understanding that any problem solving strategy or solution involves limitations and requires decision making flexibility
Managing Uncertainty
A collection of techniques aimed at focusing the attention in a nonanalytic way that avoids ruminative, rambling, or digressive thought
Meditation
Within the pathology psychological approach, refers to a variety of problems that people may have
- A catch all term for someone having severe psychological problems, as in “he is suffering from mental illness”
Mental Illness
The extent to which scales of measurement used on various tests are equivalent; one issue with this type of equivalence is even if two scales contain the same metrics visually, different cultures may not use them in an equivalent manner
Metric Equivalence
Openness to novelty and sensitivity to context and perspective
- It involves cultivating an awareness of everyday happenings and physiological and psychological sensations, overcoming the desire to reduce uncertainty in everyday life, overriding the tendency to engage in automatic behavior, and engaging less frequently in evaluating oneself, others, and situations
Mindfulness
A form of relationship maintenance that includes knowing and being known, making relationship enhancing attributions for behaviors, accepting and respecting, and maintaining reciprocity and continuity
Minding
Suggestion by Frederickson (2000), the broadening of a specific action tendency to include cognitive as well as physical responses to an emotion
- Frederickson suggests that specific action tendencies associated with negative emotions fail to consider responses to positive emotions, which often are more cognitive than physical
Momentary Thought Action Repertoire
General, free floating feelings that last longer than an emotion
- It is thought to be tied to expectations of future positive or negative affect
Mood
Part of O’Byrne, Lopez, and Petersen’s (2000) classification of courage; the authentic expression of one’s beliefs or values in pursuit of justice or the common good despite power differentials, dissent, disapproval, or rejection
Moral Courage
One of Chickering’s developmental goals of college students; involves moving from poor self direction and emotional dependence to instrumental independence and limited need for reassurance
Moving through Autonomy toward Interdependence
” A strength based cluster of personality dispositions that… Is hypothesized to predict cultural adjustment and quality of life outcomes in culturally heterogenous societies”
Multicultural Personality
The pursuit of individualistic goals to produce a sense of specialness
Need for Uniqueness
Theories of happiness suggesting that happiness lies in the reduction of tension though the satisfaction of goals and needs
Need/Goal Satisfaction Theories
A state in which the self is freed from desire
- This is the final destination in the Buddhist philosophy
Nirvana
A type of love characterized by submission and obedience to the divine
Nomos
One’s expectancy that good things rather than bad will happen
- It is a stable trait in some people and is independent of self efficacy
Optimism
Prosocial behavior that is shown toward members of an ingroup that preferences and values then over any outgroup members despite potential detriment to the self
Parochial Altruism
A form of romantic love characterized by the intense arousal that fuels a romantic union
Passionate Love
A perspective in which one emphasizes past occurrences, pleasurable experiences, or previous relationships when thinking about time
Past Orientation
The percieved capacity to find routes to desired goals
Pathways Thinking
Systematic written disclosure of emotional upheaval, often involving several timed sessions
Pennebaker Paradigm
Pertaining to a nonenduring characteristic, a quality that is subject to change depending on the situation, context, or when it is needed
Phasic
A type of love characterized by affection and friendship
Philia
Part of O’Byrne, Lopez, and Petersen’s (2000) classification of courage; an attempted physical behavior or action that seeks to uphold the values of a society or the common good
Physical Courage
Freud’s idea that humans seek to reduce tension by gratifying instinctive needs
- He believed that well being was the result of satisfied biological and psychological needs and that humans will seek gratification regardless of the consequences
Pleasure Principle
Mixed emotions related to an ending or to losing something meaningful
Poignancy
Assets to a company that result from employees’ efficacy (confidence in one’s ability to reach desired goals), hope (the capacity to find pathways to desired goals, along with the motivation to use those pathways), optimism (the attribution of good outcomes to internal, stable, and pervasive causes), and resiliency (the capacity to endure and succeed in adversity)
Positive Psychological Capital
The science and applications related to the study of psychological strengths and positive emotions
Positive Psychology
An approach to education that consists of a foundation of care, trust, and respect for diversity, where teachers develop tailored goals for each student to engender learning and then work with that student to develop the plans and motivation to reach their goals
- Positive schooling includes the agendas of instilling hope in students and contribution to the larger society
Positive Schooling
Positive, healthy youth development is marked by the attainment of nine outcomes: (1) bonding; (2) social, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and moral competencies; (3) self determination; (4) spirituality; (5) clear and positive identity; (6) belief in the future; (7) positive behavior; (8) prosocial development; and (9) prosocial norms
Positive Youth Development (PYD)
Professionals who put the findings of resilience researchers and other positive psychologists into action and create opportunities for growth by developing and conducting programs that help youth capitalize on their personal assets and environmental resources
Positive Youth Developmentalists
A perspective in which one emphasizes the here and now, looking to the present to experience pleasure and satisfy needs
Present Orientation
A state in which employees may be physically at work but, because of mental health problems resulting from aversive and repetitive work experiences, are unproductive and unhappy
Presenteeism
Enhancements made to establish optimal functioning and satisfaction
Primary Enhancements
Actions intended to stop or lessen the likelihood of physical or psychological problems before they appear
Primary Preventions
Moral integrity; may be viewed as a potential contributor to some altruistic actions
Principlism
Theories of happiness suggesting that happiness is produced by engaging in certain activities or working toward a goal
Process/Activity Theories
Described by Putman (1997) as a form of vital courage that involves the strength to acknowledge and face personal weaknesses, destructive habits, or threats to one’s own psychological stability
Psychological Courage
A type of well being that consists of six elements: self acceptance, personal growth, purpose in life, environmental mastery, autonomy, and positive relations with others
Psychological Well Being
The measurement characteristics of a scale that include its reliability, validity, and statistics on items of the measure
Psychometric Properties
The ongoing processes by which people arrive at agreed upon worldviews or definitions
Reality Negotiation
Involves the type of helping behavior motivated by the likelihood that one might need future help from the person in need, who might feel the need to reciprocate in that circumstance (ie; help the helper)
Reciprocity Based Altruism
A component of the Berlin Wisdom Paradigm; involves understanding that values and priorities are different across people, societies, and time
- The value of any idea may vary depending on the context in which it is presented
Relativism of Values
The ability of a scale to produce consistent and reliable results over a number of administrations or after the passage of time
Reliability
The ability to bounce back or positively adapt in the face of significant adversity or risk
Resilience
Professionals who study resilience and identify the naturally occurring personal and environmental resources that help children and adolescents overcome life challenges
Resilience Researchers
A type of rehabilitation that focuses on the offender or transgressor repairing the harm done to their victim and/or the victim’s community
Restorative Justice
Thoughts and actions aimed at appreciating and perhaps amplifying a positive experience
Savoring
Enhancements that build upon already optimal functioning and satisfaction to achieve peak experiences
Secondary Enhancements
Actions that lessen, eliminate, or contain problems after they appear
Secondary Preventions
In the Strange Situation assessment, a form of attachment that involves a balance between exploration of the environment and contact with the caregiver
Secure Attachment
Primary prevention focused on a particular at risk population
Selective Prevention
Belief that one’s skills and capabilities are enough to accomplish one’s desired goals in a specific situation
Self Efficacy
A theory developed by Arthur and Elaine Aron suggesting that humans have a basic motivation to expand the self
- The Arons hypothesize that the emotions, cognitions, and behaviors of love fuel such self expansion
Self Expansion Theory of Romantic Love
A view of psychological concepts (such as self efficacy) as situationally, or context, specific - that is, that the specific setting influences how a psychological phenomenon is manifested
- As the situation varies, the concept varies in turn
Situational Perspective
Assets of a company or person that result from their social relationships, network of contacts, and friends (ie; assets based on “who you know”)
Social Capital
A theory suggesting that people’s self efficacy (confidence in their abilities) influences their actions and thoughts in such a way that it shapes their environment
- For example, a young girl who thinks she might be good at basketball tries out for the team
- Trying out for the basketball team, in turn, gives the child opportunities to develop her skills and gain confidence in her abilities
- Then the child thinks more positively about her ability to do a variety of sports
- Therefore, the child’s beliefs influenced the type of environment in which she pursued goals
Social Cognitive Theory
Perspectives or definitions that are agreed upon by many people to constitute reality (rather than some objectively defined “truth” that resides in objects, situations, and people)
Social Constructions
A type of well being that consists of coherence, integration, actualization, contribution, and acceptance by others
Social Well Being
Carstensen’s theory that, as compared to younger adults, older adults are more able to focus less on negative emotions, to engage more deeply with emotional content, and to savor the positive in life
Socioemotional Selectivity Theory
Support that involves providing friendship, kindness, and love for others
Socioemotional Support
Suggested by most models of emotion, the tendency to act in a specific manner that follows an emotion
- The most famous specific action tendency is the “fight or flight” response, the theory of which suggests that, when confronted with a situation that elicits a negative emotion, humans and animals will act either by approaching (fight) or by retreating (flight) from the situation
Specific Action Tendency
As commonly defined, the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that fuel and arise from the search for the sacred
Spirituality
An assessment strategy first used by Mary Ainsworth to study children’s attachment styles
- The strange situation exposes a child to a novel situation in the company of their caregiver; the caregiver is then removed and reintroduced to the situation twice while the researcher assesses the child participant’s reactions
Strange Situation
A capacity for feeling, thinking, and behaving in a way that allows optimal functioning in the pursuit of valued outcomes
Strength
The strengths based approach to employment involves increasing an employee’s awareness of their natural and learned talents, integration of these talents into the employee’s self image, and behavioral change in which the employee learns to attribute successes to their talents
Strengths Based Approach to Gainful Employment
Reasonably challenging goals in which the student seeks a slightly more difficult learning goal than attained previously
Stretch Goals
A person’s individual judgement about their current status in the world
- Often used synonymously with happiness
Subjective Well Being
A lifestyle defined by avoiding disease, engaging in life, and maintaining high cognitive and physical functioning in one’s later years
Successful Aging
Naturally recurring patterns of thought, feeling, or behavior that can be productively applied and manifested in life experiences characterized by yearnings, rapid learning, satisfaction, and timelessness
Talent
A philosophical and religious system developed by Lao-Tzu that advocates a simple, honest life and noninterference in the course of natural events
Taoism
Pertaining to an enduring characteristic or trait like quality
Tonic
The physical facilities and assets of a company, such as plants and buildings, equipment, data, patents, and technology
Traditional Economic Capital
An approach to understanding a psychological concept (such as self efficacy) as part of the enduring characteristics of a person - a part of their disposition that is evident across situations
Trait Perspective
Robert Sternberg’s theory that all types of love are made up of different combinations of passion, intimacy, and commitment
Triangular Theory of Love
Primary prevention aimed at an entire community
Universal Prevention
The assumption that what is deemed true for one group can be considered true for other people, irrespective of cultural differences
Universality Assumption
The direction of affect: positive (pleasant) or negative (unpleasant)
Valence
The ability of a scale to measure what it is intended to measure
Validity
A dimension of courage in the Values in Action classification system
- It involves taking a physical, emotional, or intellectual stance in the face of danger or fear
Valor
Part of O’Byrne, Lopez, and PeterSen’s (2000) classification of courage, formerly health/change courage; a person’s persistence and perseverance through a disease, illness, or disability despite an uncertain outcome
Vital Courage
People so engaged in and obsessed by work that they are unable to disengage from it and attend to responsibilities of families and friends
Workaholics
“Ways of describing the universe and life within it, both in terms of what is and what ought to be”
Worldview
