Key Terms

basolateral complex

part of the brain with dense connections with a variety of sensory areas of the brain; it is critical for classical conditioning and attaching emotional value to memory

bisexual

emotional, romantic, and/or erotic attraction to those of the same gender or to those of another gender

body language

emotional expression through body position or movement

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

physiological arousal and emotional experience occur at the same time

central nucleus

part of the brain involved in attention and has connections with the hypothalamus and various brainstem areas to regulate the autonomic nervous and endocrine systems’ activity

cognitive-mediational theory

our emotions are determined by our appraisal of the stimulus

components of emotion

physiological arousal, psychological appraisal, and subjective experience

cultural display rule

one of the culturally specific standards that govern the types and frequencies of emotions that are acceptable

drive theory

deviations from homeostasis create physiological needs that result in psychological drive states that direct behavior to meet the need and ultimately bring the system back to homeostasis

emotion

subjective state of being often described as feelings

excitement

phase of the sexual response cycle that involves sexual arousal

extrinsic motivation

motivation that arises from external factors or rewards

facial feedback hypothesis

facial expressions are capable of influencing our emotions

gender dysphoria

diagnostic category in DSM-5 for individuals who experience enduring distress as a result of their gender identity not aligning with their sex assigned at birth

gender identity

individual’s sense of being male, female, neither of these, both of these, or another gender

habit

pattern of behavior in which we regularly engage

heterosexual

emotional, romantic, and/or erotic attractions to opposite-sex individuals

hierarchy of needs

spectrum of needs ranging from basic biological needs to social needs to self-actualization

instinct

species-specific pattern of behavior that is unlearned

intrinsic motivation

motivation based on internal feelings rather than external rewards

James-Lange theory of emotion

emotions arise from physiological arousal

motivation

wants or needs that direct behavior toward some goal

orgasm

peak phase of the sexual response cycle associated with rhythmic muscle contractions (and ejaculation)

plateau

phase of the sexual response cycle that falls between excitement and orgasm

polygraph

lie detector test that measures physiological arousal of individuals as they answer a series of questions

refractory period

time immediately following an orgasm during which an individual is incapable of experiencing another orgasm

resolution

phase of the sexual response cycle following orgasm during which the body returns to its unaroused state

Schachter-Singer two-factor theory of emotion

emotions consist of two factors: physiological and cognitive

self-efficacy

individual’s belief in their own capabilities or capacities to complete a task

set point theory

assertion that each individual has an ideal body weight, or set point, that is resistant to change

sexual orientation

emotional, romantic, and/or erotic attraction to other people or no people

sexual response cycle

divided into 4 phases including excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution

transgender hormone therapy

use of hormones to make one’s body look more like a different sex or gender

Yerkes-Dodson law

simple tasks are performed best when arousal levels are relatively high, while complex tasks are best performed when arousal is lower