test 3 (ch 14-20) Flashcards
gestalt
the german word meaning “configuration” “pattern” or “whole”; whole is greater than the sum of its parts
law of pragnanz
fields and forces that organize data in particular way, simple and symmetrical; because of the tendencies of the force fields that occur in the brain, mental events will always tend to be organized, simple and regular. according to the law of pragnanz, cognitive experience will always reflect the essence of ones experience instead of its disorganized, fragmented aspects
psychophysical isomorphism
the gestaltists contention that the patterns of activity produced by the brain, rather than sensory experience, causes mental experiences
continuity
perceive things as continuous; lines and patterns continue
proximity
group things that are close in distance
similarity
group things by how similar they are
closure
we complete incomplete objects
constancy
the contention that there is a strict one to one correspondence between physical stimuli and sensations, in the sense that the same stimulation will always result in the same sensation regardless of circumstances. the gestaltists argued against this contention, saying instead that what sensation a stimulus elicits is relative to existing patterns of activity in the brain and to the totality of stimulating conditions.
insightful learning
learning that involves perceiving the solution to a problem after a period of cognitive trial and error
transference
the process by which a patient responds to the therapist as if the therapist were a relevant person in the patients life
countertransference
the process by which a therapist becomes emotionally involved with a patient
anticathexis
the expenditure of psychic energy to prevent the association between needs and the ideas of anxiety provoking objects or events
conservation of energy
psychic energy remains constant throughout lifetime; finite amount of energy, can only put it towards so many things at once
objective anxiety
when there is an objective threat to the persons well being
neurotic anxiety
when the ego feels that it is going to be overwhelmed by the id; when the needs of the id become so powerful that the ego feels that it will be unable to control them and that the irrationality of the id will manifest itself in the persons thought and behavior
moral anxiety
when an internalized value is or is about to be violated
rationalization
giving a rational and logical, but false, reason for a failure or shortcoming rather than the true reason for it
sublimination
when a displacement involves substituting a nonsexual goal for a sexual one
projection
way to deal with an anxiety provoking thought is to attribute it to someone or something other than ones self
reaction formation
expressing the opposite reaction of your true feelings
pleasure principle
id; seeks immediate gratification;
reality principle
ego; can’t always get what you want
libido
collective energy associated with the life instincts
id
unconscious, instincts, pleasure principle; powerful, entirely unconscious portion of the personality that contains all instincts and is therefore the driving force for the entire personality
ego
reality principl, delayed gratification, 2-3 years old, self; component of the personality that is responsible for locating events in the environment that will satisfy the needs of the id without violating the values of the superego
superego
ego ideal, conscience, 5 years; internalized values that act as a guide for a persons conduct
preconscious
freuds iceberg theory; long term memory, pull stuf fout and bring to conscious
conscious
frueds iceberg theory; working memory (7+-2)
unconscious
freuds iceberg theory; instincts/drives, repressed memories
third force psychology
humanistic psychology; assumes that humans are basically good. if negative environmental factors do not stifle human development, humans will live humane lives. concerned with examining the more positive aspects of human nature that behaviorism and psychoanalysis had neglected
personal unconscious
each individual has an unconscious mind; place that stores material from ones lifetime of which one is currently not unconscious
collective unconscious
some aspects of our unconscious mind are shared with everyone, archetypes; reflects universal human experience through the ages, most powerful component of the personality
pesona
public self, what other people see
animus
masculine side
anima
feminine side