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MCAT Behavioral Science > Vocabulary > Flashcards

Vocabulary Flashcards

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1
Q

Absolute Poverty

A

Poverty wherein people do not have enough resources to acquire basic life necessities such as shelter, food, and clothing

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2
Q

Absolute Threshold

A

The minimum of stimulus energy needed to activate a sensory system

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3
Q

Accomodation

A

The process by which existing schemata (organized patterns of thoughts and behaviors) are modified to encompass new information

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4
Q

Acetylcholine

A

A neurotransmitter associated with voluntary muscle control

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5
Q

Achieved Status

A

A status gained as a result of direct, individual action

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6
Q

Acquisition

A

In classical conditioning, the process of taking advantage of reflexive responses to turn a neutral stimulus into a conditioned stimulus

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7
Q

Adaptation

perception

A

A decrease in stimulus perception after a long duration of exposure

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8
Q

Adaptation

learning

A

The process by which new information is processed consisting of assimilation and accommodation

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9
Q

Adaptive Value

A

The extent to which a trait benefits a species by influencing its evolutionary fitness

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10
Q

Affect

A

The experience and display of emotion

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11
Q

Ageism

A

Prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person’s age

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12
Q

Aggression

A

A behavior with the intention to cause harm or increase relative social dominance; can be physical or verbal

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13
Q

Alcohol Myopia

A

The inability to consider the consequences and possible outcomes of one’s actions due to alcohol intoxication

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14
Q

Alertness

A

A state of consciousness in which one is aware, able to think, and able to respond to the environment; nearly synonymous with arousal

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15
Q

Aligning Actions

A

An impression management strategy in which one makes questionable behavior acceptable through excuses

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16
Q

Alter-Casting

A

An impression management strategy in which one imposes an identity onto another person

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17
Q

Altruism

A

A form of helping behavior in which one’s intent is to benefit someone else at a cost to oneself

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18
Q

Amphetamine

A

A central nervous stimulant that increases activity of both dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain

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19
Q

Amygdala

A

A portion of the limbic system that is importation for memory and emotion (especially fear)

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20
Q

Anomie

A

The breakdown of social bonds between an individual and society; anomic conditions can result in the erosion of social solidarity by means of excessive individualism, social inequality, and isolation

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21
Q

Anxiety Disorders

A

Disorders that involve worry, unease, fear, and/or apprehension about future uncertainties based on real or imagined events that can impair physical and psychological health

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22
Q

Appraisal Model

A

A theory of emotional expression that posits that:

  • There are biologically-predetermined expressions once an emotion is experienced
  • There is a cognitive antecedent to emotional expression
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23
Q

Archetype

A

In Jungian psychoanalysis, a thought or image that has an emotional element and is a part of the collective unconsciousness

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24
Q

Arcuate Fasciculus

A

A bundle of axons that connects Wernicke’s area (language comprehension) with Broca’s area (speech production)
-Damage (conduction aphasia) results in inability to repeat things

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25
Q

Arousal

A

A psychological and physiological state of being awake or reactive to stimuli; nearly synonymous with alertness

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26
Q

Arousal Theory

A

A theory of motivation that states there is a particular level of arousal required in order to perform actions optimally; summarized by Yerkes-Dodson Law

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27
Q

Ascribed Status

A

A status that one is given at birth, such as race, ethnicity, or sex

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28
Q

Assimilation

psychology

A

The process by which new information is interpreted in terms of existing schemata

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29
Q

Assimilation

sociology

A

The process by which the behavior and culture of a group or an individual begins to merge with that of another group

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30
Q

Associative Learning

A

The process by which a connection is made between two stimuli or a stimulus in response (i.e. classical conditioning, operative conditioning)

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31
Q

Attachment

A

A very deep emotional bond to another person, particularly a parent or caregiver

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32
Q

Attitude

A

A tendency toward expression of positive or negative feelings or evaluations of a person, place, thing, or situation

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33
Q

Attribute Substitution

A

A phenomenon observed when individuals must make judgements that are complex but instead substitute a simpler solution

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34
Q

Attibution Theory

A

A theory that focuses on the tendency for individuals to infer the causes of other people’s behavior

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35
Q

Authentic Self

A

Who someone actually is, including both positive and negative attributes

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36
Q

Automatic Processing

A

The brain process most closely resembling autopilot, enabling performance of multiple activities at the same time

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37
Q

Autonomic Nervous System

A

The involuntary branch of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, bronchial dilation, temperature, and digestion

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38
Q

Autonomy

A

The ethical tenet that the physician has the responsibility to respect patients’ choices about their own healthcare

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39
Q

Availability Heuristic

A

A shortcut in decision making that relies on the information that is most readily available, rather than the total body of information on a subject

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40
Q

Avoidance Learning

A

A form of negative reinforcement in which one avoids the unpleasantness of something that has yet to happen

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41
Q

Back Stage

A

In the dramaturgical approach, the setting in which players are free from their role requirements and not in front of the audience; behaviors may not be deemed appropriate or acceptable and are thus kept invisible from the audience

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42
Q

Barbiturate

A

A drug that acts as a central nervous system depressant; often used for anxiety, insomnia, and as an antiseizure medication

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43
Q

Basal Ganglia

A

A portion of the forebrain that coordinates the muscle movement and routes information form the cortex to the brain and spinal cord

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44
Q

Basic Model

A

First established by Charles Darwin, a theory that states that emotional expression involves a number of systems, including facial expression as well as behavioral and psychological responses; claims that emotions are universal and should be similar across cultures

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45
Q

Belief

A

An acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists

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46
Q

Beneficence

A

The ethical tenet that states that the physician has a responsibility to act in the patient’s best interest

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47
Q

Benzodiazepine

A

A central nervous system depressant that is often used to reduce anxiety or promote sleep

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48
Q

Biomedical Approach

A

An approach to psychological disorders that considers only the pathophysiological causes and offers pharmaceutical and medical solutions for symptom alleviation

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49
Q

Biopsychosocial Approach

A

An approach to psychological disorders that considers conditions and treatments to be dependent on biological, psychological, and social causes

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50
Q

Birth Rate

A

The number of births per population in a period of time; usually the number of birth per 1000 people per year

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51
Q

Bisexual

A

A sexual orientation wherein individuals are attracted to members of both sexes

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52
Q

Brainstem

A

The most primitive portion of the brain, which includes the midbrain and hindbrain; controls the autonomic nervous system and communication between the spinal cord, cranial nerves, and brain

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53
Q

Broca’s Aphasia

A

Loss of the motor function of speech, resulting in intact understanding with an inability to coherently produce spoken language

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54
Q

Broca’s Area

A

A brain region located in the inferior frontal gyrus of the frontal lobe (usually in the left hemisphere) that is largely responsible for the motor function of speech

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55
Q

Bureaucracy

A

A formal organization with the goral of performing complex tasks as efficiently as possible by dividing the work among a number of bureaus

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56
Q

Bystander Effect

A

The observation that, when in a group, individuals are less likely to respond to a person in need

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57
Q

Cannon-Bard Theory

A

A theory of emotion that states that a stimulus is first received and is then simultaneously processed physiologically and cognitively, allowing for the conscious emotion to be experienced

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58
Q

Cataplexy

A

Loss of muscle control with intrusion of REM sleep during waking hours, usually in response to an emotional trigger

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59
Q

Catatonia

A

Disorganized motor behavior characterized by various unusual physical movements or stillness

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60
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

The portion of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord

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61
Q

Cerebellum

A

A portion of the hindbrain that maintains posture and balance and coordinate body movements

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62
Q

Cerebral Cortex

A

The outermost layer of the cerebrum, responsible for complex perceptual, behavioral, and cognitive processes

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63
Q

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)

A

An aqueous solution in the brain and spinal cord rest; produced by cells lining the ventricles of the brain

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64
Q

Cerebrum

A

A portion of the brain that contains the cerebral cortex

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65
Q

Characteristic Institution

A

The social structure or institution about which societies are organized

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66
Q

Circadian Rhythm

A

The alignment of physiological processes with the 24-hour day, including sleep-wake cycles and some elements of the endocrine system

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67
Q

Circular Reaction

A

A repetitive action that achieves a desired response; seen during Piaget’s sensorimotor stage

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68
Q

Classical Conditioning

A

A form of associative learning in which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus such that the neutral stimulus alone produces the same response as the unconditioned stimulus; the neutral stimulus this becomes a conditioned stimulus

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69
Q

Cognitive Dissonance

A

The simultaneous presence of two opposing thoughts or opinions

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70
Q

Collective Unconsciousness

A

In Jungian psychoanalysis, the part of the unconscious mind that is shared among all humans and is a result of our common ancestry

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71
Q

Colliculi

A

Two structures in the midbrain involved in sensorimotor reflexes; the superior colliculus receives visual sensory input, and the inferior colliculus receives auditory sensory input

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72
Q

Compliance

A

A change of behavior of an individual at the request of another

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73
Q

Conduction Aphasia

A

A speech disorder characterized by the inability to repeat words with intact spontaneous speech production and comprehension; usually due to injury to the arcuate fasciculis

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74
Q

Confirmation Bias

A

A cognitive bias in which one focuses on information that supports a given solution, belief, or hypothesis, and ignores evidence against it

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75
Q

Conflict Theory

A

A theoretical framework that emphasizes the roles of power differentials in producing social order

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76
Q

Conformity

A

The changing of beliefs or behaviors in order to fit into a group or society

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77
Q

Consciousness

A

Awareness of oneself; can be used to describe varying levels of awareness that occur with wakefulness, sleep, dreaming, and drug-induced states

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78
Q

Conservation

A

Concept seen in quantitative analysis performed by a child; develops when a child is able to identify the difference between quantity by number and actual amount, especially when faced with identical quantities separated into varying pieces

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79
Q

Context Effect

A

A retrieval cue by which memory is aided when a person is in the location where encoding took place

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80
Q

Contralateral

A

On the opposite side of the body, relative to something else (usually a side of the brain)

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81
Q

Controlled (Conscious) Processing

A

Processing method used when a task requires complete attention

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82
Q

Correspondent Inference Theory

A

A theory that states that people pay closer attention to intentional behavior than accidental behavior when making attributions, especially if the behavior is unexpected

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83
Q

Critical Period

A

A time during development during which exposure to language is essential for eventual development of the effective use of language; occurs between two years of age and puberty

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84
Q

Crystallized Intelligence

A

The cognitive capacity to understand relationships or solve problems using information acquired using schooling and other experiences

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85
Q

Cultural Relativism

A

The theory that social groups and cultures must be studied on their own terms to be fully understood

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86
Q

Cultural Sensitivity

A

Recognizing and respecting differences between cultures

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87
Q

Cultural Syndrome

A

A shared set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, values, and behaviors organized around a central theme and found among people who speak the same language and share a geographic region

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88
Q

Deductive Reasoning

A

A form of cognition that starts with general information and narrows down that information to create a conclusion

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89
Q

Defense Mechanism

A

In Freudian psychoanalysis, a technique used by the ego that denies, falsifies, or distorts reality in order to resolve anxiety caused by undesirable urges of the id and superego

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90
Q

Deindividuation

A

The idea that people will lose a sense of self-awareness and can act dramatically differently based on the influence of a group

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91
Q

Delusions

A

Fixed, false beliefs that are discordant with reality and not shared by one’s culture, and are maintained in spite of strong evidence to the contrary

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92
Q

Demographic Transition

A

The transition from high to lower birth and mortality rates seen as a country develops from a pre-industrial to an industrialized economic system

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93
Q

Demographics

A

The statistical arm of sociology, which attempts to characterize and explain populations by quantitative analysis

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94
Q

Depressant

A

Any substance that reduced nervous system function

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95
Q

Depressive Episode

A

A period of at least two weeks in which there is a prominent and persistent depressed mood or lack of interest and at least four other depressive symptoms

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96
Q

Deviance

A

The violation of norms, rules, or expectations within a society

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97
Q

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

A

The guide by which most psychological disorders are characterized, described, and diagnosed; currently in its fifth edition (DSM-5, published May 2013)

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98
Q

Diencephalon

A

A portion of the prosencephalon that becomes the thalamus, hypothalamus, posterior pituitary gland, and pineal gland

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99
Q

Disconfirmation Principle

A

The idea that a hypothesis is discarded or revised if it is not confirmed by evidence obtained during testing

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100
Q

Discrimination

classical conditioning

A

The process by which two similar but distinct conditioned stimuli produce different responses

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101
Q

Discrimination

sociology

A

When individuals of a particular group are treated differently than other based on their group

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102
Q

Dishabituation

A

A sudden increase in response to a stimulus, usually due to a change in the stimulus or addition of another stimulus; also known as resensitization

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103
Q

Displacement

A

A defense mechanism by which undesired urges are transferred from one target to another, more acceptable one

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104
Q

Display Rules

A

Cultural expectations of how emotions can be expressed

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105
Q

Dispositional (Internal) Attributions

A

Attributions that relate to the decisions or personality of the person whose behavior is being considered

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106
Q

Dissociative Disorders

A

Disorders that involve a perceived separations from identity or the environment

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107
Q

Distant Networks

A

Networks that are looser and composed of weaker ties

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108
Q

Distress

A

The stress response to unpleasant stressors

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109
Q

Divided Attention

A

The ability to attend to multiple stimuli simultaneously and to perform multiple tasks at the same time

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110
Q

Dominant Hemisphere

A

The side of the brain (left in most individuals) that provides analytic, language, logic, and math skills

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111
Q

Dopamine

A

A neurotransmitter associated with smooth movements, steady posture, the reward pathway, and psychosis

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112
Q

Dramaturgical Approach

A

An impression management theory that represents the world as a stage and individuals as actors performing to an audience

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113
Q

Drive Reduction Theory

A

A theory that explains motivations as being based on the goal of eliminating uncomfortable internal states

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114
Q

Drives

A

Deficiencies that activate particular behaviors focused on a goal

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115
Q

Dyssomnia

A

A sleep disorder in which one has difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or avoiding sleep

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116
Q

Ecstasy

A

The common name for MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine), a central nervous system stimulant with effects similar to both amphetamines and hallucinogens

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117
Q

Ego

A

In Freudian psychology, the part of the unconscious mind that mediates the urges of the id and superego and operates under the reality principle

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118
Q

Egocentrism

A

A self-centered view of the world seen in Piaget’s preoperational stage in which one is not necessarily able to understand the experience of another person

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119
Q

Elaboration Liklihood Model

A

A theory in which attitudes are formed and changed through different routes of information processing based on the degree of deep though given to persuasive information

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120
Q

Elaborative Rehearsal

A

The association of information in short-term memory to information already stored in long-term memory; aids in long-term storage

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121
Q

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A

A test used to study the electrical patterns of the brain under varying conditions, consisting of multiple electrodes placed on the scalp

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122
Q

Emotion

A

A feeling and state of mind derived from circumstances, mood, or relationships

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123
Q

Emotional Support

A

Listening to, affirming, and empathizing with someone’s feelings as part of social support

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124
Q

Empathy

A

The ability to vicariously experience the emotions of others

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125
Q

Encoding

A

The process of receiving information and preparing it for storage; can be automatic or effortful

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126
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural painkillers produced by the brain

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127
Q

Epinephrine

A

A neurotransmitter associated with the fight-or-flight response

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128
Q

Errors of Growth

A

A misuse of grammar seen during language development in children characterized by universal application of a rule, regardless of exceptions

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129
Q

Escape Learning

A

A form of negative reinforcement in which one reduces the unpleasantness of something that already exists

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130
Q

Esteem Support

A

Affirming qualities and skills of the persona as part of social support

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131
Q

Ethnicity

A

A social construct that sorts people by cultural factors, including language, nationality, religion, and other factors

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132
Q

Ethnocentrism

A

The practice of making judgements about other culture based on the values and beliefs of one’s own culture

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133
Q

Eustress

A

The stress response to positive conditions

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134
Q

Explicit Memory

A

Memory that requires conscious recall, divided into facts (semantic memory) and experiences (episodic memory); also known as declarative memory

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135
Q

Extinction

A

In classical conditioning, the decrease in response resulting from repeated presentation of the conditioned stimulus without the presence of the unconditioned stimulus

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136
Q

Extraversion

A

In trait theory, the degree to which an individual is able to tolerate social interaction and stimulation

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137
Q

Extrinsic Motivation

A

Motivation that is external, or outside the self, including rewards and punishments

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138
Q

Family Group

A

A group determined by birth, adoption, and marriage rather than self-selection (as in a peer group)

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139
Q

Fertility Rate

A

The average number of children born to a woman during her lifetime in a population

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140
Q

Fixation

A

In Freudian psychology, the result of overindulgence or frustration during a psychosexual stage causing a neurotic pattern of personality based on that stage

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141
Q

Flat Affect

A

Behavior characterized by showing virtually no signs of emotion or affective expression

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142
Q

Fluid Intelligence

A

The ability to quickly identify relationships and connections and then use those relationships to make accurate deductions

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143
Q

Foraging

A

The act of searching for and exploiting food resources

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144
Q

Forebrain

A

A portion of the brain that is associated with complex perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral processes such as emotion and memory

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145
Q

Fornix

A

A long projection from the hippocampus that connects to other nuclei in the limbic system

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146
Q

Front Stage

A

In the dramaturgical approach, the setting where players are in front of an audience and perform roles that are in keeping with the image they hope to project about themselves

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147
Q

Frontal Lobe

A

A portion of the cerebral cortex that controls motor processing, executive function, and the integration of cognitive and behavioral processes

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148
Q

Functional Fixedness

A

The inability to identify uses of an object beyond its usual purpose

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149
Q

Functionalism

A

A theoretical framework that explains how parts of society fit together to create a cohesive whole

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150
Q

Fundamental Attribution Error

A

The general bias towards making dispositional attributions rather than situational attributions when analyzing another person’s behavior

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151
Q

Game Theory

A

A model that explains social interaction and decision-making as a game, including strategies, incentives, and punishments

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152
Q

γ-aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

A

A neurotransmitter associated with stabilizing and quelling brain activity

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153
Q

Ganglia

A

Collections of neuron cell bodies found outside the central nervous system

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154
Q

Gemeinschaft und Gesellschaft

A

A theory that distinguishes between two major types of groups:

  • Communities (Gemeinschaft): share beliefs, ancestry, or geography
  • Societies (Gesellschaft): which work together toward a common goal
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155
Q

Gender

A

The set of behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with a biological sex

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156
Q

Generalization

A

In classical conditioning, the process by which two distinct but similar stimuli come to produce the same response

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157
Q

Genotype

A

The genetic makeup of an individual

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158
Q

Gestault Princples

A

Ways for the brain to infer missing parts of an incomplete picture

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159
Q

Globalization

A

The process of integrating the global economy with free trade and tapping of foreign labor markets

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160
Q

Group

A

A social entity that involves at least two people, usually those sharing common characteristics

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161
Q

Group Conformity

A

Compliance with a group’s goals, even when the groups goals may be in direct opposition to an individual’s goals

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162
Q

Group Polarization

A

The tendency toward decisions that are more extreme than the individual inclination of the group members

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163
Q

Groupthink

A

The tendency for groups to make decisions based on ideas and solutions that arise within the group without considering outside ideas and ethics; based on pressure to conform and remain loyal to the group

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164
Q

Gyrus

A

A ridge of the cerebral cortex

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165
Q

Habituation

A

A decrease in response caused by repeated exposure to a stimulus

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166
Q

Hallucination

A

A decrease in response caused by repeated exposure to a stimulus

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167
Q

Hallucinogens

A

A group of drugs that cause distortions of reality in users, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin-containing mushrooms

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168
Q

Halo Effect

A

A cognitive bias in which judgements of an individual’s character can be affected by the overall impression of the individual

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169
Q

Heterosexual

A

A sexual orientation wherein individuals are attracted to members of the opposite sex

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170
Q

Heuristic

A

A rule of thumb or shortcut that is used to make decisions

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171
Q

Hindbrain

A

A portion of the brain that controls balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, and general arousal processes

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172
Q

Hippocampus

A

A portion of the limbic system that is important for memory and learning

173
Q

Homosexual

A

A sexual orientation wherein individuals are attracted to members of the same sex

174
Q

Hypnagogic Hallucinations

A

Hallucinations that occur when going to sleep; seen in narcolepsy

175
Q

Hypnopompic Hallucinations

A

Hallucinations that occur when awakening from sleep; seen in narcolepsy

176
Q

Hypnosis

A

An altered state of consciousness in which a person appears to be awake but is, in fact, in a highly suggestible state in which another person or event may trigger action by the person

177
Q

Hypothalamus

A

A portion of the forebrain that controls homeostatic and endocrine functions by controlling the release of pituitary hormones

178
Q

Id

A

In Freudian psychoanalysis, the part of the unconscious resulting from basic, instinctual urges for sexuality and survival; operates under the pleasure principle and seeks instant gratification

179
Q

Ideal Self

A

The person one would optimally like to be

180
Q

Identity

A

A piece of an individual’s self-concept based on the groups to which that person belongs and his or her relationships to others

181
Q

Immediate Networks

A

Networks that are dense with strong ties; generally overlap with distant networks

182
Q

Implicit Memory

A

Memory that does not require conscious recall; consists of skills and conditioned behaviors

183
Q

Implicit Personality Theory

A

A theory that states that people tend to associate traits and behavior in others, and that people have the tendency to attribute their own beliefs, opinions, and ideas onto others

184
Q

Impression Management

A

Behaviors that are intended to influence the perceptions of other people about a person, object, or event

185
Q

Incentive

A

A reward intended to motivate particular behaviors

186
Q

Incidence

A

The number of new cases of a disease per population at risk in a given period of time; usually, new cases per 1000 at-risk people per year

187
Q

Inclusive Fitness

A

A measure of reproductive success; depends on the number of offspring an individual has, how well they support their offspring, and how well their offspring can support others

188
Q

Individual Discrimination

A

One person discriminating against a particular person or group

189
Q

Inductive Reasoning

A

A form of cognition that utilizes generalizations to develop a theory

190
Q

Ingratiation

A

An impression management strategy that uses flattery to increase social acceptance

191
Q

In-Group

A

A social group to which a person experiences a sense of belonging or one in which he or she identifies as a member

192
Q

Innate Behavior

A

A behavior that is genetically programmed or instinctive

193
Q

Insomnia

A

Sleep disorder characterized by either an inability to fal asleep or difficulty staying asleep

194
Q

Instinct

A

An innate behavioral response to stimuli

195
Q

Instinctive Drift

A

The tendency of animals to resist learning when a conditioned behavior conflicts with an animal’s instinctive behaviors

196
Q

Institutional Discrimination

A

Discrimination against a particular person or group by an entire institution

197
Q

Intelligence Quotient

A

Numerical measurement of intelligence, usually accomplished by some form of standardized testing

198
Q

Interaction Process Analysis

A

A technique of observing and immediately classifying the activities of small groups

199
Q

Interference

A

A retrieval error caused by the learning of information; can be proactive (old information causes difficulty learning new information) or retroactive (new information interferes with older learning

200
Q

Interneuron

A

A neuron found between sensory and motor neurons; involved in reflex arcs

201
Q

Interpersonal Attraction

A

The force that makes people like each other

202
Q

Intrinsic Motivation

A

Motivation that is internal or that comes from within

203
Q

Intuition

A

Perceptions about a situation that may or may not be supported by available evidence, but nonetheless perceived as information that may or may not be used to make a decision

204
Q

Ipsilateral

A

On the same side of the body, relative to something else (usually a side of the brain)

205
Q

James-Lange Theory

A

A theory of emotion that states that a stimulus results in psychological arousal, which then leads to a secondary response in which emotion is consciously experienced

206
Q

Just-Noticeable Difference (JND)

A

The minimum noticeable difference in magnitude before one can perceive this difference; also called a difference threshold

207
Q

Just-World Hypothesis

A

The cognitive bias that good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people

208
Q

Justice

A

In medical ethics, the tenet that the physician has a responsibility to treat similar patients with similar care, and to distribute healthcare resources fairly

209
Q

Language

A

Spoken (verbal) or written (nonverbal) symbols, which are regulated according to certain rules of conduct or social norms and used for communication

210
Q

Language Acquisition Device (LAD)

A

An innate capacity for language acquisition that is triggered by exposure to language; part of the nativist (biological) perspective of language acquisition

211
Q

Learned Helplessness

A

A state of hopelessness and resignation resulting from being unable to avoid repeated negative stimuli; often used as a model of depression

212
Q

Learning (Behaviorist) Theory

A

A theory that attitudes are developed through forms of learning (direct contact, direct interaction, direct instruction, and conditioning)

213
Q

Libido

A

In Freudian psychoanalysis, the sex or life drive

214
Q

Limbic System

A

A portion of the cerebrum that is associated with emotion and memory and includes the amygdala and hippocampus

215
Q

Linguistic Relativity (Whorfian) Hypothesis

A

A hypothesis suggesting that one’s perception of reality is largely determined by the content, form, and structure of language

216
Q

Locus of Control

A

The characterization of the source of influence on the events in one’s life; can be internal or external

217
Q

Long-Term Potentiation

A

The strengthening of neural connections due to rehearsal or relearning; thought to be the neuropsychological basis of long-term memory

218
Q

Maitenance Rehearsal

A

Repetition of a piece of information to either keep it within working memory or to store it

219
Q

Managing Appearances

A

An impression management strategy in which one uses props, appearance, emotional expression, or associations with others to create a positive image

220
Q

Manic Episode

A

A period of at least one week with prominent and persistent elevated or expansive mood and at least two other manic symptoms

221
Q

Master status

A

The status with which a person is best identified

222
Q

Mate Choice

A

The intersexual selection of a mate based on attraction and traits

223
Q

Material Culture

A

The physical items one associates with a given cultural group

224
Q

Material Support

A

Providing economic or other physical resources to aid a person as part of social support

225
Q

Mating System

A

The way in which a group organizes its sexual behavior and sexual relationships

226
Q

Meditation

A

A state of consciousness entered voluntarily, characterized by a decreased level of physiological arousal and a quieting of the mind

227
Q

Medulla Oblongata

A

A portion of the brainstem that regulate vital functions, including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure

228
Q

Melatonin

A

A serotonin derivative secreted by the pineal gland that is associated with sleepiness

229
Q

Meninges

A

A thick layer of connective tissue that covers and protects the brain; composed of the dura matter, arachnoid matter, and pia matter

230
Q

Mental Set

A

A tendency to repeat solutions that have yielded positive results at some point in the past

231
Q

Meritocracy

A

A society in which advancement up the social ladder is based on intellectual talent and acheivement

232
Q

Mesencephalon

A

The embryonic portion of the brain that becomes the midbrain

233
Q

Metencephalon

A

The embryonic portion of the brain that becomes the pons and cerebellum

234
Q

Midbrain

A

A portion of the brainstem that manages sensorimotor reflexes to visual and auditory stimuli and gives rise to some cranial nerves

235
Q

Misinformation Effect

A

A phenomenon in which memories are altered by misleading information provided at the point of encoding or recall

236
Q

Mneumonic

A

A technique that aids in memory recall

237
Q

Monogamy

A

An exclusive mating relationship

238
Q

Morbidity

A

The burden or degree of illness associated with a given disease

239
Q

Morphology

A

The structure of words, including their building blocks (prefixes, suffixes, and so on)

240
Q

Mortality Rate

A

The number of deaths in a population per unit time

241
Q

Motivation

A

The process of psychological and physical requirements, goals, or desires causing behavior

242
Q

Motor Neuron

A

A neuron that transmits motor information from the spinal cord and brain to the periphery

243
Q

Multiculturalism

A

The encouragement of multiple cultures in a society to enhance diversity

244
Q

Multiple Intelligences

A

The idea that intelligence may exist in multiple areas, not just in the areas typically assessed by traditional intelligence quotient tests

245
Q

Myencephalon

A

The embryonic portion of the brain that becomes the medulla oblangata

246
Q

Narcolepsy

A

A sleep disorder characterized by a lack of voluntary control over the onset of sleep; also involves cataplexy and hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations

247
Q

Needs

A

Physiological and psychological requirements that motivate and influence behavior

248
Q

Neologism

A

Coining a new word; seen in schizophrenia

249
Q

Network

A

A term used to describe the observable pattern of social relationships among individual units of analysis

250
Q

Network Support

A

Providing a sense of belonging as part of social support

251
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

Change in neural connection caused by learning or a response to injury

252
Q

Neuropsychology

A

The study of the functions and behaviors associated with specific regions of the brain

253
Q

Neuroticism

A

In trait theory, the degree to which an individual is prone to emotional arousal in stressful situations

254
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

A chemical that transmits signals from a neuron to a target cell across a synapse

255
Q

Night Terror

A

An experience of intense anxiety during sleep, causing the sleeper to scream in terror with no recall of the event in the morning; occurs during slow-wave sleep

256
Q

Nondominant Hemisphere

A

The side of the brain associated with sensitivity to the emotional tone of language, intuition, creativity, music, and spatial processing; the right hemisphere in most individuals

257
Q

Nonmaleficence

A

The ethical tenet that the physician has a responsibility to avoid interventions in which the potential for harm outweighs the potential for benefit

258
Q

Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) Sleep

A

Stages 1 through 4 of sleep; contains ever-slowing brain waves as one gets deeper into sleep

259
Q

Nonverbal Communication

A

How people communicate, intentionally or unintentionally, without using words; examples include body language, gestures, and facial expressions

260
Q

Norepinephrine

A

A neurotransmitter associated with wakefulness and alertness

261
Q

Norms

A

Societal rules that define the boundaries of acceptable behavior

262
Q

Obedience

A

The changing of behavior of an individual based on a command from someone seen as an authority figure

263
Q

Object Permanence

A

Knowledge that an object does not cease to exist even when the object cannot be seen; a milestone in cognitive development

264
Q

Observational Learning

A

A form of learning in which behavior is modified as a result of watching others

265
Q

Occipital Lobe

A

A portion of the cerebral cortex that controls visual processing

266
Q

Operant Conditioning

A

A form of associative learning in which the frequency of behavior is modified using reinforcement or punishment

267
Q

Opiates

A

A drug family consisting of naturally occurring, highly addictive, pain-reducing drugs used in both medical and recreational settings; opioids are synthetic versions of theses drugs

268
Q

Opponent-Process Theory

A

A theory that states that the body will adapt to counteract repeated exposure to stimuli (or drug), such as seeing afterimages or ramping up the synthetic nervous system in response to a depressant

269
Q

Organization

A

A specific type of group characterized by five traits: formality, hierarchy of ranked positions, large size, complex division of labor, and continuity beyond its members

270
Q

Ought Self

A

The representation of the way others think one should be

271
Q

Out-Group

A

A social group with which an individual does not identify

272
Q

Overconfidence

A

A tendency to interpret one’s decisions, knowledge, or beliefs as infallible

273
Q

Parallel Processing

A

The ability to simultaneously analyze and combine information regarding multiple aspects of a stimulus, such as color, shape, and motion

274
Q

Parasomnia

A

A sleep disorder characterized by abnormal movement or behaviors during sleep

275
Q

Parasympatheric Nervous System

A

A branch of the autonomic nervous system that promotes resting and digesting; associated with relaxed states, reductions in heart and respiration rates, and promotion of digestion

276
Q

Parietal Lobe

A

A portion of the cerebral cortex that controls somatosensory and spatial processing

277
Q

Parkinson’s Disease

A

A disease characterized by slowness in movement, resting tremor, pill-rolling tremor, masklike faces, cogwheel rigidity, and a shuffling gate; caused by destruction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra

278
Q

Peer Group

A

A group of self-selected equals that forms around common interests, ideas, preferences, and beliefs

279
Q

Peer Pressure

A

The social influence place on individuals by other individuals who are considered equals

280
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

The portion of the nervous system composed of nerve tissues and fibers outside the central nervous system

281
Q

Personality Disorders

A

Disorders that involve patterns of behavior that are inflexible and maladaptive, causing distress or impaired function in at least two of the following: cognition, emotion, interpersonal functioning, or impulse control

282
Q

Phenotype

A

The expressed traits of an individual based on their genotype

283
Q

Phonology

A

The set of sounds that compose a language

284
Q

Pineal Gland

A

A brain structure located near the thalamus that secretes melatonin

285
Q

Pituitary Gland

A

The “master gland” of the endocrine system that triggers hormone release in other endocrine glands

286
Q

Polyandry

A

A mating system in which females have exclusive relationships with multiple males

287
Q

Polygamy

A

A mating system in which one member of a sex has multiple exclusive opposite-sex relationships

288
Q

Polygyny

A

A mating system in which a male has exclusive relationships with multiple females

289
Q

Pons

A

A portion of the brainstem that relays information between the cortex and the medulla, regulates sleep, and carries some motor and sensory information from the face and neck

290
Q

Poverty

A

A socioeconomic condition of low resource availability; in the United States, the poverty line is determined by the governments calculation of the minimum income requirements for families to acquire the minimum necessities of life

291
Q

Power

A

The capacity to influence People through the real or threatened use of rewards and punishments; often based on unequal distribution of valued resources

292
Q

Pragmatics

A

The ways in which use of language can be altered, depending on social context

293
Q

Prejudice

A

An irrational positive or negative attitude toward a person, group, or thing, formed prior to actual experience

294
Q

Prevalence

A

The number of cases of a disease per population in a given period of time; usually, cases per 1000 people per year

295
Q

Primacy Effect

A

The phenomenon of first impressions of person becoming more important than subsequent impressions

296
Q

Primary Group

A

A group wherein interactions are direct, with close bonds, providing relationships to members that are very warm, personal, and intimate

297
Q

Primary Stress Appraisal

A

An initial evaluation of the environment to determine if there is an associated threat

298
Q

Priming

A

A retrieval cue by which recall is aided by a word or phrase that is semantically related to the desired memory

299
Q

Projection

A

A defense mechanism by which individuals attribute their undesired feeling to others

300
Q

Projection Area

A

A portion of the cerebral cortex that analyzes sensory input

301
Q

Promiscuity

A

A mating system in which a member of one sex mates with any member of the opposite sex

302
Q

Proprioception

A

The ability tell where one’s body is in space

303
Q

Prosencephalon

A

The embryonic portion of the brain that becomes the forebrain

304
Q

Prosody

A

The rhythm, cadence, and inflection of speech

305
Q

Proximity

A

An aspect of interpersonal attraction based on being physically close to someone

306
Q

Psychological Disorders

A

A set of thoughts, feelings, or actions which are considered deviant by the culture at hand and which cause noticeable distress to the sufferer

307
Q

Psychoticism

A

In trait theory, the measure of nonconformity or social deviance of an individual

308
Q

Punishment

A

In operative conditioning, the use of an aversive stimulus designed to decrease the frequency of an undesired behavior

309
Q

Race

A

A social construct based on phenotypic differences between groups of people; there may be either real or perceived differences

310
Q

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep

A

Sleep stage in which eyes move rapidly back and forth and psychological arousal levels are more similar to wakefulness than sleep; dreaming occurs during this stage

311
Q

Rationalization

A

A defense mechanism by which individuals explain undesirable behaviors in a way that is self-justifying and socially acceptable

312
Q

Reaction Formation

A

A defense mechanism by which individuals suppress urges by unconsciously converting them into their exact opposites

313
Q

Recency Effect

A

The phenomenon in which the most recent information we have about an individual is most important in forming our impressions

314
Q

Reciprocal Determinism

A

In the social cognitive perspective, the notion that thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and environment interact to determine behavior in a given situation

315
Q

Reciprocity

A

An aspect of interpersonal attraction based on the idea that we like people who we think like us

316
Q

Recognition-Primed Decision Model

A

A decision-making model in which experience and recognition of similar situations on has already experience play a large role in decision-making and actions; also one of the explanations for the experience of intuition

317
Q

Reference Group

A

The group to which an individual compares themself for a given identity

318
Q

Reflex Arc

A

A neural pathway that controls reflexive actions

319
Q

Regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF)

A

A technique used to record patterns of neural activity based on blood flow to different areas of the brain measured using detection of inhaled radioactive markers

320
Q

Regression

A

A defense mechanism by which an individual deals with stress by reverting to an earlier developmental state

321
Q

Reinforcement

A

In operant conditioning, the use of a stimulus designed to increase the frequency of a desired behavior

322
Q

Relative Poverty

A

Poverty wherein one is poor in comparison to the larger population

323
Q

Reliance on Central Traits

A

The tendency to organize the perception of others based on traits and personal characteristics of the target to matter most to the perceiver

324
Q

REM Rebound

A

A phenomenon in which one spends an increased time in REM sleep following a period of sleep deprivation

325
Q

Representative Heuristic

A

A shortcut in decision making that relies on categorizing items of the basis of whether they fit the prototypical, stereotypical, or representative image of the category

326
Q

Repression

A

A defense mechanism by which the ego forces undesired thoughts and urges to the unconscious mind

327
Q

Response Bias

A

The tendency of subjects to respond systematically to a stimulus in a particular way due to nonsensory factors

328
Q

Reticular Formation

A

A structure in the brainstem that is responsible for alertness

329
Q

Retrieval

A

The process of demonstrating that information has been retained in memory; includes recall recognition, and relearning

330
Q

Rhombencephalon

A

The embryonic portion of the brain that becomes the hindbrain

331
Q

Ritual

A

A formalized ceremony that usually involves specific material objects, symbolism, and additional mandates on acceptable behavior

332
Q

Role

A

A set of beliefs, values, attitudes, and norms that define expectations for behavior associated with a given status

333
Q

Role Conflict

A

A difficulty in satisfying role requirements or expectations among various roles

334
Q

Role Partner

A

The person with whom one interacts while playing a particular role; each partner provides a different set of behavioral expectations

335
Q

Role Performance

A

Carrying out the behaviors associated with a given role

336
Q

Role Set

A

A group of role partners relative to a given status

337
Q

Role-Taking

A

Roleplaying, by which children come to understand the perspectives of others and the ways in which these perspective may differ from their own

338
Q

Schachter-Singer Theory

A

A theory of emotion that states that both physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal must occur before an emotion is consciously experienced

339
Q

Schema

A

An organized pattern of thought and behavior; one of the central concepts of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development

340
Q

Schizophrenia

A

A psychotic disorder characterized by gross distortions of reality and disturbances in the content and form of thought

341
Q

Secondary Group

A

Groups wherein interaction are based on weaker, impersonal bonds

342
Q

Secondary Stress Appraisal

A

The interpretation of primary stress appraisal to determine emotional response to a given threat

343
Q

Selective Attention

A

The ability to focus on a single stimulus even while other stimuli are occurring simultaneously

344
Q

Self-Concept

A

The sum of thoughts and feelings about oneself; includes self-schemata and appraisal of one’s past and future self

345
Q

Self-Disclosure

A

An aspect of interpersonal attraction or impression management in which one shares his or her fears, thoughts, and goals with another person in the hopes of being met with empathy and nonjudgement

346
Q

Self Efficacy

A

The degree to which an individual sees him- or herself as being capable at a given skill or in a particular situation

347
Q

Self-Esteem

A

An individual’s feelings of self-worth

348
Q

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A

The phenomenon of a stereotype creating an expectation of a particular group, which creates conditions that lead to confirmation of this stereotype

349
Q

Self-Handicapping

A

An impression management strategy wherein one creates obstacles to avoid self-blame when he or she does not meet expectations

350
Q

Self-Presentation

A

The process of displaying oneself to society through culturally accepted actions and behaviors

351
Q

Self-Reference Effect

A

The tendency for individual to best recall information that they can relate to their own experiences

352
Q

Self-Serving Bias

A

The idea that individuals will view their own success as being based on internal factors, while viewing failures as being based on external factors

353
Q

Semantic Network

A

The organization of information int he brain by linking concepts with similar characteristics and meaning

354
Q

Semantics

A

The association of meaning with a word

355
Q

Sensation

A

Transduction of physical stimuli into neurological signals

356
Q

Sensitive Period

A

A time during which environmental input has a maximal impact on the development of a particular ability

357
Q

Sensory memory

A

Visual (iconic) and auditory (echoic) stimuli briefly stored in memory; fades very quickly unless attention is paid to the information

358
Q

Sensory Neuron

A

A neuron that transmits information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system

359
Q

Serial Position Effect

A

The tendency to better remember items presented at the beginning or end of a list; related to the primacy and recency effects

360
Q

Serotonin

A

A neurotransmitter associated with mood, sleep, eating, and dreaming

361
Q

Sexual Orientation

A

The direction of one’s sexual interest toward members of the same, opposite, or both sexes

362
Q

Shaping

A

In operant conditioning, the process of conditioning a complicated behavior by rewarding successive approximations of the behavior

363
Q

Signal Detection Theory

A

A theory of perception in which internal (psychological) and external (environmental) context play a role in the perception of stimuli

364
Q

Similarity

A

An aspect of interpersonal attraction based on being alike in attitudes, intelligence, education, height, age, religion, appearance, or socioeconomic status

365
Q

Situational (External) Attributions

A

Attributions that relate to the features of the surroundings, such as threats, money, social norms, and peer pressure, rather than to features of the individual

366
Q

Sleep Apnea

A

A sleep disorder in which a person may cease to breathe while sleeping; may be due to obstruction or a central (neurological) cause

367
Q

Sleep Cycle

A

A single complete progression through each stage of sleep

368
Q

Slow-Wave Sleep

A

Consists of NREM sleep stages 3 and 4; also called delta-wave sleep

369
Q

Social Action

A

Actions and Behaviors that individuals are conscious of and performing because others are around

370
Q

Social Capital

A

The investments people make in their society in return for economic or collective rewards

371
Q

Social Class

A

A category of people with a shared socioeconomic background that exhibit similar lifestyles, job opportunities, attitudes, and behaviors

372
Q

Social Cognitive Theory

A

A theory that attitudes are formed through observation of behavior, cognition, and the environment

373
Q

Social Construction Model

A

A theory of emotional expression that assumes there are no biologically wired emotions; rather, they are based on experiences and situational context alone

374
Q

Social Constructionism

A

A theoretical approach that uncovers the ways in which individuals and groups participate in the formation of their perceived social reality

375
Q

Social Facilitation

A

The tendency of people to perform at a different level based on the fact that others are around

376
Q

Social Mobility

A

The movement of individuals in the social hierarchy through changes in income, education, or occupation

377
Q

Social Movements

A

Philosophies that drive large numbers of people to organize to promote or resist social change

378
Q

Social Perception/Cognition

A

Understanding the thoughts and motives of other people present in the social world

379
Q

Social Stratification

A

Organization of societies into a hierarchical system, usually based on socioeconomic status and social class

380
Q

Social Support

A

The perception or reality that one is cared for by a social network

381
Q

Socialization

A

The process of developing and spreading norms, customs, and beliefs

382
Q

Somatic Nervous System

A

The voluntary branch of the peripheral nervous system, which consists of sensory and motor neurons used to control bodily movements

383
Q

Somatosensation

A

The sense of touch, which contains multiple modalities; pressure, vibration, pain, and temperature

384
Q

Somnambulism

A

A sleep disorder in which one carries out actions in their sleep; also known as sleep walking

385
Q

Source-Monitoring Error

A

A memory error by which a person remembers the details of an event but confuses the context by which the details were gained; often causes a person to remember events that happened to someone else as having happened to themself

386
Q

Spacing Effect

A

The phenomenon of retaining large amounts of information when the amount of time between sessions of relearning is increased

387
Q

Spatial Inequality

A

A form of social stratification across territories and population that can involve residential, environmental, or global components

388
Q

Spreading Activation

A

The unconscious activation of closely linked nodes of a semantic network

389
Q

State-Dependent Memory

A

A retrieval cue by which memory is aided when a person is in the same state of emotion or intoxication as when encoding took place

390
Q

Status

A

A position in society used to classify individuals

391
Q

Stereotype Threat

A

A feeling of anxiety about confirming a negative stereotype about one’s social group

392
Q

Stereotypes

A

Attitudes and impressions that are made based on limited and superficial information about a person or a group of individuals

393
Q

Stigma

A

The extreme disapproval or dislike of a person or group based on perceived differences in social characteristics from the rest of society

394
Q

Stimulant

A

A drug that causes an increase in central nervous system arousal

395
Q

Stimulus

A

Any energy pattern that is sensed in some way by the body; includes visual, auditory, and physical sensations, among others

396
Q

Storage

A

The retention of encoded information; divided into sensory, short-term, and long-term memory

397
Q

Stressors

A

Biological elements, external conditions, or events that lead to a stress response

398
Q

Subcultures

A

Groups of people within a culture that distinguish themselves from the primary culture to which they belong

399
Q

Sublimation

A

A defense mechanism by which unacceptable urges are transformed into socially acceptable behaviors

400
Q

Subliminal Perception

A

Perception of a stimulus below a threshold (usually the threshold of conscious perception)

401
Q

Sulcus

A

A fold in the cerebral cortex

402
Q

Superego

A

In Freudian psychoanalysis, the part of the unconscious mind focused on idealism, perfectionism, and societal norms

403
Q

Symbolic Culture

A

The nonmaterial culture that represents a group of people; expressed through ideas and concepts

404
Q

Symbolic Ethnicity

A

An ethnic identity that is only relevant on special occasions or in specific circumstances and that does no impact everyday life

405
Q

Symbolic Interactionism

A

A theoretical framework that studies the way individuals interact through a shared understanding of words, gestures, and other symbols

406
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

The branch of the autonomic nervous system that controls the fight-or-flight response; associated with stressful situation that increase heart and respiration rates and decrease digestion

407
Q

Syntax

A

The way in which words are organized to create meaning

408
Q

System for Multiple Level Observation of Groups (SYMLOG)

A

A method for studying group dynamics; focuses on three fundamental dimensions of interaction:

  • Dominance vs submission
  • Friendliness vs unfriendliness
  • Instrumentally controlled vs emotionally expressive
409
Q

Tactical Self

A

In impression management, the person one markets him- or herself to be when adhering to others’ expectations

410
Q

Telencephalon

A

A portion of the prosencephalon that becomes the cerebrum

411
Q

Temporal Lobe

A

A portion of the cerebral cortex that controls auditory processing, memory processing, emotional control, and language

412
Q

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

A

The main active ingredient in marijuana

413
Q

Thalamus

A

A portion of the forebrain that serves as a relay and sorting station for sensory information, and then transmits the information to the cerebral cortex

414
Q

Theory of Mind

A

The ability to see how another’s mind works

415
Q

Tolerance

A

Decreased response to a drug after physiological adaptation

416
Q

Transduction

A

Conversion of physical, electromagnetic, auditory, and other stimuli to electrical signals in the nervous system

417
Q

Transformational Grammar

A

A linguistic theory that focuses on how changes in word order affect meaning

418
Q

Two-Point Threshold

A

The minimum distance necessary between two points of stimulation on the skin such that the points will be felt as two distinct stimuli

419
Q

Universal Emotions

A

Emotions that are recognized by all cultures; include happiness, sadness, contempt, surprise, fear, disgust, and anger

420
Q

Urbanization

A

The process whereby large numbers of people migrate to and establish residence in relatively dense areas of population

421
Q

Value

A

What one deems important in life

422
Q

Ventricle

A

An internal cavity within the brain; cells lining it produce cerebrospinal fluid

423
Q

Verbal Communication

A

The use of spoken or verbal language

424
Q

Weber’s Law

A

A theory of perception that states that there is a constant ratio between the change in stimulus magnitude needed to produce a just noticeable difference and the magnitude of the original stimulus

425
Q

Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndorme

A

A condition resulting from chronic thiamine (B1) deficiency, which is common in alcoholics; characterized by severe memory impairment with changes in mental status and loss of coordination

426
Q

Wernicke’s Aphasia

A

The loss of language comprehension, resulting in fluid production of language without meaning

427
Q

Wernicke’s Area

A

A brain region located in the superior temporal gyrus of the temporal lobe (usually in the left hemisphere); largely responsible for language comprehension

428
Q

Zone of Proximal Development

A

Those skills which a child has not yet master but can accomplish with the help of a more knowledgable other

MCAT Behavioral Science (1 decks)

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