PSY101 Glossary

 Accommodation

The creation of new cognitive schemas when objects, experiences, or other information does not fit with existing schemas.

 Acetycholine

A neurotransmitter associated with voluntary movement, sleep and wakefulness.

 Action Potential

The firing on a neuron. Occurs when the charge inside the neuron becomes more positive than the charge outside.

 Aggressive

An interpersonal style where only the immediate needs of the self are considered rather than the needs of others. (As opposed to passive or assertive)

 Agoraphobia

An anxiety disorder characterized by an intense fear of leaving one's home.

 All or None Law

Either a neuron completely fires or it does not fire at all.

 Altruism

Behavior that is unselfish and may even be detrimental but which benefits others.

 Amnesia

Loss of memory. Usually only a partial loss such as for a period of time or biographical information.

 Anal Expulsive Personality · PSY101 · Glossary

Stemming from the Anal stage, a child who becomes fixated due to over control transfers his or her unresolved anal (or control) issues into characteristics such as cruelty, pushiness, messiness, or disorganization.

 Anal Retentive Personality

Stemming from the Anal stage, a child who becomes fixated due to under control transfers his or her unresolved anal (or control) issues into characteristics such as compulsivity, stinginess, cleanliness, organization, and obstinance.

 Anal Stage

Freud's second stage of psychosexual development where the primary sexual focus is on the elimination or holding onto feces. The stage is often thought of as representing a child's ability to control his or her own world.

 Analytical intelligence

Analytical intelligence involves conscious direction of our mental processes to find thoughtful solutions to problems.

 Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterised a misperception of body image. Individuals with anorexia nervosa often believe they are overweight even when they are grossly underweight.

 Anxiety

The physiological and psychological reaction to an expected danger, whether real or imagined.

 Aphasia

The impairment of the ability to communicate either through oral or written discourse as a result of brain damage.

 Assertive

Style of interpersonal interaction where both the needs of the self and others are considered. (As opposed to passive or aggressive)

 Associations

The phenomenon in learning that states we are better able to remember information if it is paired with something we are familiar with or otherwise stands out.

 Attachment

The strong bond a child forms with his or her primary caregiver.

 Attribution

An idea or belief about the etiology of a certain behavior.

 Attribution Theory

The theory that argues people look for explanation of behavior, associating either dispositional (internal) attributes or situational (external) attributes.

 Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates the involuntary actions of the body (e.g., breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, pupil dilation). Also regulates the Fight or Flight Phenomenon.

 Availability Heuristic

A rule of thumb stating that information more readily available in our memory is more important than information not as easily accessible.

 Aversion Therapy

A type of behavioral treatment where an aversive stimuli is paired with a negative behavior in hopes that the behavior will change in the future to avoid the aversive stimuli.

•  Axon

The tail-like part of the neuron through which information exits the cell.

 Behavior Modification

The application of behavioral theory to change a specific behavior.

 Behavior Therapy

The application of behavioral theory (e.g. conditioning, reinforcement) in the treatment of mental illness.

 Behaviorism

The school of psychology founded on the premise that behavior is measurable and can be changed through the application of various behavioral principles.

 Binocular Cues

Visual cues (convergence and retinal disparity) that require both eyes to perceive distance (as opposed to monocular cues)

 Bulumia Nervosa

An eating disorder in which people eat large amounts of food in a sitting (binging), and then vomit(purging). The vomiting is triggered by a fear of weight gain, from stomach pain, or from the guilt of overeating. People with bulimia also use laxatives, diuretics, and vigorous exercise to lose weight. In order to be diagnosed with bulimia, this behavior must occur at least twice a week for three months in a row.