Unit 1: Biological Bases of Behavior
This neurotransmitter is primarily involved in inhibitory functions, helping to calm the central nervous system.
GABA
This memory error occurs when older, previously learned information interferes with your ability to recall new information.
proactive interference
This Piagetian concept refers to the understanding that physical properties, like volume or mass, remain the same even if their appearance changes.
conservation
This social phenomenon occurs when individuals in a group exert less effort toward a common goal than they would if they were working alone.
social loafing
This behavior therapy technique associates a pleasant, relaxed state with gradually increasing anxiety-triggering stimuli to treat phobias.
systematic desensitization
These fluid-filled structures in the inner ear are essential for maintaining your vestibular sense and physical balance.
semicircular canals
This methodical, step-by-step procedure guarantees a solution to a problem, though it may be slower than a heuristic.
algorithm
This term describes a sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem, rather than a gradual process.
insight learning
This state of reduced self-awareness and lowered self-restraint often occurs in group situations that foster both arousal and anonymity.
deindividuation
This operant conditioning procedure rewards desired behaviors with a small item that can later be exchanged for various privileges or treats.
token economy
This process involves the lens of the eye changing its curvature and thickness to focus on objects at different distances.
accommodation
This cognitive bias occurs when the way an issue is presented—such as "90% fat-free" versus "10% fat"—influences our decisions and judgments.
framing
This refers to the process by which certain animals form extremely strong attachments during a specific critical period very early in life.
imprinting
This personality component, emphasized by Albert Bandura, refers to an individual's belief in their own capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments.
self-efficacy
In psychodynamic therapy, this technique involves the patient saying whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing, to uncover unconscious thoughts.
free association
This type of drug molecule works by mimicking a neurotransmitter to activate a receptor site.
agonist
This phenomenon describes the inability to remember where or how you originally learned a specific piece of information.
source amnesia
This cognitive ability, typically developing in early childhood, allows individuals to understand that others have beliefs and perspectives different from their own.
theory of mind
This unselfish regard for the welfare of others describes behaviors that benefit others without any apparent benefit to the provider.
altruism
This anxiety disorder involves a fear or avoidance of situations, such as crowds or wide-open places, where one has felt a loss of control.
agoraphobia
This autoimmune disorder is specifically listed as a condition that affects the process of neural transmission.
myasthenia gravis
In the multi-store model, this brief form of sensory memory handles auditory stimuli, lasting only about 3 to 4 seconds.
echoic memory
This type of learning occurs without any obvious reinforcement but is demonstrated later when an incentive is provided.
latent learning
This mode of thinking occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives.
groupthink
This model, used to explain psychological disorders, considers the influence of biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors.
biopsychosocial model