Psychology Final Exam Flashcards
personality
a person’s distinctive way of thinking, feeling, and behaving
behavioral genetics
the study of the impact of genes (nature) and environment (nurture) on personality and behavior
id
animalistic part of the mind that generates our impulses such as sex and aggression (pleasure principle)
superego
part of the mind that imposes the id and enforces rules and restrictions (similar to conscience)
ego
part of the mind that serves as a mediator between the id and ego (reality principle)
repression
hides your id impulse in the unconscious to keep you unaware
denial
blocks external events from the consciousness that are too threatening
regression
retreats to an earlier time in your life when the current stressor is absent
projection
“projects” your id impulse onto others so that it appears they have it rather than you
rationalization
comes up with acceptable explanations for behaviors based on your id impulses
reaction formation
overreacts against the id by doing the exact opposite, overcompensating
displacement
redirects the id impulses towards a safer target to minimize consequences to you
self-actualization
fully becoming the person you have the potential to be requires positive regard (warmth, love, acceptance)
conditions of worth
requirements you must meet to earn others’ positive regard
incongruence
mismatch between real self and ideal self (leads to unhappiness, mental illness)
congruence
match between real self and ideal self (mental wellness)
creator of self-actualization
abraham maslow
OCEAN
-openness to experience
-conscientiousness
-extraversion
-agreeableness
-neuroticism
openness to experience
high score: curious about new ideas, considers the unfamiliar
low score: traditional, conventional
conscientiousness
high score: organized, methodical, disciplined
low score: spontaneous, laid-back, tendency to not execute plans
extraversion
high score: outgoing, sociable, talkative
low score: introverted, shy, prefers to be alone
agreeableness
high score: cooperative, sympathetic
low score: hardheaded, competitive
neuroticism
high score: anxiety, sadness, negative
low score: emotional stability, security in stressful situations
social psychology
the scientific study of how people think, influence, and relate to each other
social norms
expected standards of conduct, which influence behavior
conformity
altering of one’s behaviors and opinions to match those of other people or to match others’ expectations
what did sherif study?
how norms develop in small groups
what was learned from sherif’s study?
-participatns turned to each other for guidance
-when faced with uncertainty, others served as a valuable source of information
why do people conform?
-need to be right
-fear of ostracism
majority influence
factors that influence feelings of pressure and insecurity that lead to conformity
compliance
tendency to agree to do things requested by others
what factors increase compliance?
-being in a good mood
-complying to requests you barely pay attention to
norm of reciprocity
dictates that we treat others the way they have treated us
foot in the door effect
the idea that if people agree to small request, they become more likely to comply with larger request
door in the face
people are more likely to agree to small request after they refuse large requests
obedience
when a person follows the orders of a person of authority
egoistic
motivated by the desire to improve one’s own welfare
altruistic
motivated by the desire to improve another’s welfare
reciprocal altruism
involves an individual helping another and becoming more likely to receive help from the other in return
indirect reciprocity
an individual who helps someone becomes more likely to receive help from someone else
bystander effect
the failure to offer help by those who observe someone in need when other people are present
social cognition
a person’s thoughts about other people and the social world
attribution theory
theory that behavior is caused either by traits within the individual or by the situation surrounding the individual
fundamental attribution error
explaining other people’s behavior, the tendency to overemphasize personality traits and underestimate factors
mere exposure effect
idea that greater exposure to a stimulus leads to greater liking for it
cognitive dissonance
an uncomfy mental state resulting from a contradiction between two attitude or between an attitude and a behavior
