Set 5 - Psych-Socio Quizlet Export Flashcards
Analogies
Allow a new problem to be reduced to a previously known problem, where prior knowledge of how to determine the solution can be applied.
Trial and Error Method
Method of problem solving characterized by repeated, unsystematic attempts to solve a problem until the desired outcome is achieved.
Heuristics
Mental shortcuts or “rules of thumb” that often lead to a solution (but not always).
Intuition
Personal perception or feeling used to solve a problem (as opposed to logic).
Belief Perseverance
People hold on to their initial beliefs, even when rational argument would suggest they are incorrect.
Overconfidence
An example of belief perseverance. Information that should logically undermine confidence to some extent is overlooked.
Emotion
A multifaceted experience that is connected to thought, physiology, and behavior.
Cognitive (Emotion)
A component of emotion that includes a personal assessment of the significance of the particular situation, which leads to the subjective experience of the emotion.
Physiological (Emotion)
A component of emotion associated with activation of the autonomic nervous system.
Behavioral (Emotion)
A component of emotion that occurs when emotion leads to urges to act in a certain way and thereby leads to actions.
Limbic System
Connects the hypothalamus with structures in the temporal lobe.
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions that are not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.
Amygdala
Part of the limbic system, responsible for the emotional reactions of fear and anger.
Prefrontal Cortex
Part of the limbic system, involved in conscious regulation of emotional states.
Hypothalamus
Part of the limbic system, regulates the autonomic nervous system’s sympathetic and parasympathetic functions.
James-Lange Theory of Emotion
Theory of emotion that states that people experience emotion because they perceive their bodies’ physiological responses to external events.
Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion
Theory of emotion that states that the experience of emotion happens at the same time that physiological arousal happens.
Schacter-Singer Theory of Emotion
Theory of emotion that stats that people’s experience of emotion depends on two factors: physiological arousal and the cognitive interpretation of that arousal. When people perceive physiological symptoms of arousal, they look for an environmental explanation of this arousal. The label people give an emotion depends on what they find in their environment.
Motivation
A psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.
Instinct
A biological, innate tendency to perform a certain behavior that leads to the fulfillment of a need.
Arousal
Physiological and psychological tension.
Drives
Urges to perform certain behaviors in order to resolve physiological arousal.
Negative Feedback System
A reaction that causes a decrease in function in response to some kind of stimulus.
Drive Reduction Theory
A theory that states that people are motivated to take action in order to lessen the state of arousal caused by a physiological need.
Incentive Theory
A theory that states that people are motivated by external rewards.
Cognitive Theories of Motivation
Theories that suggest that people behave based on their expectations. People behave in a way that they predict will yield the most favorable outcome.
Need-Based Theories of Motivation
Theories that state that people are motivated by the desire to fulfill unmet needs (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs).
Affective Component (Attitude)
A person’s feelings or emotions about an object, person, or event.
Behavioral Component (Attitude)
The influence that attitudes have on behavior.
Cognitive Component (Attitude)
Beliefs or knowledge about a specific object of interest.
Foot-in-the-Door Phenomenon
People are more likely to agree to a large request if they first agree to a smaller one.
Cognitive Dissonance
The conflict or inconsistency between internal attitudes and external behaviors.
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Theory that people have an inherent desire to avoid the internal discomfort associated with a mismatch between attitudes and behaviors.
Elaboration Likelihood Model
A dual process theory model of persuasion, describing the interaction between an argument and relevant psychological factors of the person who receives the argument.
Peripheral Route Processing
One of the ELM routes. Occurs when a listener decides whether to agree with the message based on other cues besides the strength of the arguments or ideas in the message.
Central Route Processing
One of the ELM routes. Occurs when a listener is persuaded by the arguments or the content of the message
Factors Affecting Attitude Change
Behavior change (foot-in-the-door, role-playing), characteristics of the message (strong, persuasive argument is better than a weaker one), characteristics of the target, social factors.
Stress
The strain that is experienced when an organism’s equilibrium is disrupted and it must adapt.
Stressor
Source of stress.
Cognitive Appraisals
Personal interpretations of the situations that trigger stress.
Physiological Fight-or-Flight Response
The sympathetic division of the ANS releases adrenaline and noradrenaline, adrenal glands release the same chemicals as a hormonal response, adrenal glands release cortisol (increases blood glucose).
Regulatory Genes
Genes that are involved in controlling the expression of one or more other genes.
Adaptive Values
The extent to which genes contribute to survival in a given environment.
Sensation
The conversion of physical stimuli into electrical signals that are transferred through the nervous system by neurons.
Perception
The use of sensory information and pre-existing knowledge to create a functional representation of the world.
Absolute Threshold
The lowest intensity of a stimulus that can be sensed.
Difference Threshold
The smallest difference that is sufficient for a change in stimulus to be noticed
Weber’s Law
The change required to meet the difference threshold is a certain fraction of the originally presented stimulus.
Signal Detection Theory
Theory that focuses on how an organism differentiates important stimuli (signals) from meaningless stimuli (noise) in an environment where the distinction is ambiguous.
Attention
Selects sensory information for perceptual processing.
Selective Attention
The focus of attention on one particular stimulus or task at the exclusion of other stimuli.
