Social-Cognitive
A researcher records employees’ conscientiousness scores and job-performance ratings without assigning people to groups or changing their behavior, then examines whether the two measures are related.
What is correlational research?
In a study of social media use, students who spend more time comparing themselves with online influencers tend to report lower self-esteem, while students who spend less time comparing themselves tend to report higher self-esteem.
What is a negative correlation?
At a company event, Tasha introduces herself to new people, keeps conversations going, and feels energized by being around a large group.
What is extraversion?
After missing an important deadline, Nina says the assignment was meaningless and that the teacher gave unclear instructions, rather than admitting that she procrastinated.
What is rationalization?
In a study of stress and defense mechanisms, researchers define stress as a participant’s score on a standardized stress questionnaire and define defense-mechanism use as the number of times a participant reports using one during the previous month.
What are operational definitions?
A school finds that students with higher organization scores generally submit more assignments on time, while students with lower organization scores tend to submit fewer assignments on time.
What is a positive correlation?
A researcher tests whether positive feedback changes self-esteem. Participants receive either positive or negative feedback, and the researcher measures their self-esteem afterward. The measured outcome is the variable of interest.
What is the dependent variable?
Before ordinary presentations, Marcus frequently worries that something will go wrong. He becomes tense, irritable, and upset by small setbacks.
What is neuroticism?
Although Carlos feels resentful toward a popular classmate, he acts unusually enthusiastic and repeatedly tells the classmate how much he admires them.
What is reaction formation?
Researchers collect hundreds of personality survey responses and discover that words such as “talkative,” “social,” and “assertive” consistently group together under a broader dimension.
What is factor analysis?
A researcher compares students’ extraversion in two classrooms, but one class meets early in the morning and the other meets late in the afternoon. Differences in energy or behavior could be caused by the time of day rather than extraversion.
What are confounding variables?
Malik wants to be confident, creative, and socially involved, but currently avoids new experiences and rarely shares his ideas. The mismatch leaves him dissatisfied with himself.
What is the difference between the ideal self and the real self?
Priya enjoys visiting unfamiliar countries, trying new foods, attending experimental concerts, and learning about unusual artistic traditions.
What is openness to experience?
After receiving harsh criticism, a student feels anxious and unconsciously changes the explanation for the event or redirects the feelings so that the student can maintain a positive view of self.
What are defense mechanisms protecting the ego?
Across school, work, and family settings, Samuel is consistently organized, dependable, and careful with responsibilities over many years.
What are lasting, stable personal characteristics?
Jordan rarely speaks during group projects, so classmates stop asking for Jordan’s ideas. Feeling excluded, Jordan becomes even less likely to participate. Jordan’s behavior, thoughts, and social environment continue influencing one another.
What is reciprocal determinism?
After meeting basic needs and building supportive relationships, Amara pursues her dream of creating community art programs because she wants to develop her abilities and contribute meaningfully to others.
What is self-actualization?
When a coworker makes a mistake, Luis responds patiently, offers help, and works cooperatively to solve the problem rather than blaming the coworker.
What is agreeableness?
Although she cannot explain why, Ava becomes extremely uncomfortable whenever a supervisor reminds her of a strict caregiver from childhood. A therapist suggests that unresolved childhood feelings may be influencing her present reactions.
What are unconscious drives and conflicts?
A psychologist shows a client an ambiguous inkblot and asks the client to describe what it looks like, hoping the responses will reveal underlying thoughts or personality characteristics.
What are projective tests?
After watching several tutorials, Maya believes she can repair her bicycle brakes. She volunteers to try the repair because she is confident that she can complete the task successfully.
What is self-efficacy?
When her daughter admits she failed an exam, a parent expresses love and support, listens without judgment, and helps her plan how to improve.
What is unconditional positive regard?
Before beginning a long-term project, Elena creates a schedule, organizes her materials, meets every deadline, and carefully checks her work.
What is conscientiousness?
Devon feels jealous of a teammate’s success but insists that the teammate is jealous and secretly wants Devon to fail.
What is projection?
Students complete a standardized questionnaire by rating statements from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” Their responses are scored using consistent rules to measure several personality traits.
What are personality inventories, or objective tests?