vulnerability theory of schizophrenia
suggests that schizophrenia is a result of biological predispositions and the amount of stress on encounters
triarchic theory of intelligence
Robert Sternberg's theory that describes intelligence as having analytic, creative and practical dimensions
law of effect
Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
restorative theory of sleep
The theory that the function of sleep is to restore body and mind.
adaptive theory of sleep
The view that the unique sleep patterns of different animals evolved over time to help promote survival and environmental adaptation; also called the evolutionary theory of sleep.
behavioral theory of sleep
we sleep because there is no more stimulation
activation synthesis theory of dreaming
dreams are the brain's attempt to make sense of random firing of brain cells during REM sleep
neodissociation theory of hypnosis
Theory proposed by Ernest Hilgard that explains hypnotic effects as being due to the splitting of consciousness into two simultaneous streams of mental activity, only one of which the hypnotic participant is consciously aware of during hypnosis.
instinct theory
physical and mental instincts such as curiosity and fearfulness cause us to act.
drive reduction theory
the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need
optimum arousal theory
Theory stating that we are motivated by our innate desire to maintain an personally preferred level of arousal.
yerkes-dodson law
An optimal level of arousal helps performance. When arousal is too low, our minds wander and we become bored. When arousal is too high, we become too anxious. People are motivated to seek a moderate level of stimulation that is neither too easy nor too ha
incentive theory
A theory of motivation stating that behavior is directed toward attaining desirable stimuli and avoiding unwanted stimuli.
set-point theory
belief that brain mechanisms regulate body weight around a genetically predetermined 'set point'
self-efficacy belief
albert bandura, level of confidence one has when facing the challenges and demands of a situation
james-lange theory of emotion
theory proposing that emotions result from our interpretations of our bodily reactions to stimuli
cannon-bard theory of emotion
conscious experience of emotion and physiological arousal occur at the same time
two-factor theory of emotion
Schachter and Singer's theory that emotion is the interaction of physiological arousal and the cognitive label that we apply to explain the arousal
cognitive meditational theory of emotion
lazarus, emotions are the result of the cognitive appraisal of a situation and how a person decides it will affect his or her well-being
jean piaget's stage theory
sensoimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational
zone of proximal development
area between what a child can learn on their own and with help.
lawrence kohlberg's moral reasoning
Pre-conditional Morality: punishment avoidance, self-interest motivation; Conventional Morality: peer pressure and conformity, sense of duty and social obligation; Post-conventional morality: beliefs, ethics and articulate response
programmed senescense
the body is biologically programmed as to when it will die, expressed in our genes
wear and tear theory
A theory of aging that states that the human body wears out because of the passage of time and exposure to environmental stressors.
all-or-nothing principle
electrons either fire or they don't; no half fires
theory
idea that explains something and is supported by data
mcgurk effect
when the ear hears one sounds, but the eye sees a mouth form a different sound, the brain's interpretation can be a mixture of the two sounds
behavioral theory of language acquisition
bf skinner, language developed by reinforcement and imitation
biological theory of language acquisition
the notion that acquisition of language is at least partially innate
universal grammar
innate knowledge in all humans for the basic structure of grammar, noam chomsky
serial position effect
easier time remembering info @ beginning/end, forget items in the middle
trichromatic theory of color vision
Three specialized cones. One for red, green, blue. These primary colors blend to make all other colors.
opponent-process theory of color vision
color perception depends on receptors that make antagonistic responses to 3 pairs of colors (red vs.green, yellow vs. blue, black vs. white) {neural level}
frequency matching theory
theory holding that the firing rate of a neuron matches the frequency of a sound wave to determine pitch
place theory
in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated
gate-control theory
theory that spinal cord contains neurological gate that blocks pains signals or allows them to pass. gate is opened by activity of pain going up small nerve fibers & gate is closed by act of large fibers or by info coming from brain
autokinetic effect
The apparent movement of a stationary pinpoint of light displayed in a darkened room
cocktail party effect
the ability to focus one's listening attention on a single talker among a mixture of conversations and background noises