Page 657 - Understanding Psychology

symbol an abstract unit of thought that represents an object or quality (p. 296)
synapse the gap that exists between the axon terminals of the sending neuron and the dendrites of the receiving neuron (p. 157)
syntax the set of language rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences (p. 305)
systematic desensitization a counterconditioning tech- nique used by behavior therapists to help a patient over- come irrational fears and anxieties (p. 503)
T
task functions activities directed toward getting a job done (p. 547)
telegraphic speech the kind of verbal utterances offered by young children in which articles, prepositions, and parts of verbs are left out, but the meaning is usually clear (p. 67)
testes the male sex gland (p. 172)
testosterone the male sex hormone that stimulates the
growth of genital organs and the development of sec-
ondary sexual characteristics (p. 172)
thalamus a structure of the brain that relays messages from
the sense organs to the cerebral cortex (p. 161) thanatology the study of dying and death (p. 144)
theory a set of assumptions used to explain why something
is the way it is and happens the way it does (p. 11) therapy treatment of behavioral, bodily, or psychological
disorders (p. 485)
thinking mental activity that involves changing and reor-
ganizing of the information stored in memory in order to
create new information (p. 296)
thyroid gland the gland in the endocrine system that pro-
duces several hormones, including thyroxine (p. 171) token economy form of conditioning in which desirable behavior is reinforced with valueless objects or points that can be accumulated and exchanged for privileges or
other rewards (pp. 264, 505)
tolerance the reaction of the body and brain to regular
drug use, whereby a person needs an increased amount
in order to produce the original effect (p. 476)
trait an aspect of personality with a tendency to react to a situation in a way that remains stable over time (p. 398) transference process of feeling toward an analyst or thera- pist the way a patient feels or felt toward some other
important figure in his or her life (p. 495)
triarchic theory Robert Sternberg’s theory of intelligence
that proposes that intelligence can be divided into three
ways of processing information (p. 350)
two-factor theory Charles Spearman’s theory of intelli-
gence that proposes that two factors contribute to an individual’sintelligence(p.349)
U
Glossary symbol–working memory
unconditional positive regard the perception that indi- viduals’ significant others value them for what they are, in their entirety, which leads the individuals to grant them- selves the same unconditional positive regard (pp. 396, 497)
unconditioned response (U C R) an organism’s auto- matic (or natural) reaction to a stimulus (p. 242)
unconditioned stimulus (UCS) an event that elicits a cer- tain predictable response without previous training (p. 242) unconscious according to Freud, the part of the mind that holds mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, and memories of which we are unaware but that strongly
influences conscious behaviors (p. 379)
uninvolved parents parents who are typically very self-
centered in their child rearing, seemingly uncommitted
to their role, and quite distant from their children (p. 79) uplifts small, positive events that make a person feel good
(p. 419)
utility value the ability of a person or participant to help
another achieve his or her goals (p. 523)
V
validity the ability of a test to measure what it is intended to measure (p. 345)
variable in an experiment, any factor that is measured or controlled and is capable of change (p. 40)
variable-interval schedule a pattern of reinforcement in which changing amounts of time must elapse before a response will obtain reinforcement (p. 255)
variable-ratio schedule a pattern of reinforcement in which an unpredictable number of responses is required before reinforcement can be obtained each time (p. 254)
variance a measure of difference, or spread (p. 52) ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) the part of the hypothalamus that causes one to slow down or stop eat-
ing altogether if stimulated (p. 321)
vestibular system three semicircular canals located in the
inner ear that provide the sense of balance (p. 220) visual codes a way a person tries to remember something
by keeping a mental picture in his or her mind (p. 274) visualization mentally rehearsing the steps involved in a
successful performance or process (p. 615)
W
Weber s law a psychophysics law stating that for any change (􏰀s) in a stimulus to be detected, a constant pro- portion of that stimulus (s) must be added or subtracted (p. 211)
withdrawal the symptoms that occur after a person dis- continues the use of a drug to which he or she has become addicted (p. 477)
working memory a system that processes and works with current information; also called short-term memory (p. 278)
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