| acculturation | The process of adaptation by an ethnic group to the attitudes, behaviors, and values of the dominant culture.
|
 |
|
|
| anal stage | In Freudian theory, the period from age 1 to 3, during which the child's erotic activities center on the anus.
|
|
|
|
| attitude | The predisposition to act, think, or feel in certain ways toward particular things.
|
|
|
|
| behavior | The way a person acts.
|
|
|
|
| bias | A personal leaning or inclination.
|
|
|
|
| biased sample | A nonrepresentative sample.
|
|
|
|
| castration anxiety | In Freudian theory, the belief that the father will cut off the child's penis because of rivalry for the mother/wife.
|
|
|
|
| clinical research | The in-depth examination of an individual or group by a clinician who assists with psychological or medical problems.
|
|
|
|
| come out | Publicly acknowledge of one's gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientation.
|
|
|
|
| control group | A group that is not being treated in an experiment.
|
|
|
|
| correlational study | The measurement of two or more naturally occurring variables to determine their relationship to each other.
|
|
|
|
| cultural equivalency perspective | The view that attitudes, behaviors, and values of diverse ethnic groups are basically similar, with differences resulting from adaptation to historical and social forces, such as slavery, discrimination, or poverty.
|
|
|
|
| cultural relativity | The perspective that any custom must be evaluated in terms of how it fits within the culture as a whole.
|
|
|
|
| debrief | Reveal to a research participant any deception that was used during a study and the reason for its necessity.
|
|
|
|
| deception | Actions aimed at betraying, misleading, or deluding another person, including lies, omissions, fabrications, and secrets.
|
|
|
|
| dependent variable | In an experiment, a factor that is likely to be affected by changes in the independent variable.
|
|
|
|
| egocentric fallacy | An erroneous belief that one's own personal experience and values are held by others in general.
|
|
|
|
| electra complex | In Freudian theory, the female child's erotic desire for the father and simultaneous fear of the mother.
|
|
|
|
| ethnic group | A group of people distinct from other groups because of cultural characteristics transmitted from one generation to the next.
|
|
|
|
| ethnocentric fallacy or ethnocentrism | The belief that one's own ethnic group, nation, or culture is innately superior to others ethnicity Ethnic affiliation or identity.
|
|
|
|
| experimental research | The systematic manipulation of an individual or the environment to learn the effect of such manipulation on behavior.
|
|
|
|
| fallacy | An error in reasoning that affects our understanding of a subject.
|
|
|
|
| genital stage | In Freudian theory, the period in which adolescents become interested in genital sexual activities, especially sexual intercourse.
|
|
|
|
| independent variable | In an experiment, a factor that can be manipulated or changed.
|
|
|
|
| induction | A type of reasoning in which arguments are formed from a premise to provide support for its conclusion.
|
|
|
|
| informed consent | Assent given by a mentally competent individual at least 18 years old with full knowledge of the purpose and potential risks and benefits of participation.
|
|
|
|
| latency stage | In Freudian theory, the period from age 6 to puberty in which sexual impulses are no longer active.
|
|
|
|
| machismo | In Latino culture, highly prized masculine traits.
|
|
|
|
| neurosis | A psychological disorder characterized by anxiety or tension.
|
|
|
|
| objectivity | The observation of things as they exist in reality as opposed to our feelings or beliefs about them.
|
|
|
|
| observational research | A method of gathering information in which a researcher systematically and unobtrusively observes behavior.
|
|
|
|
| Oedipal complex | In Freudian theory, the male child's erotic desire for his mother and simultaneous fear of his father.
|
|
|
|
| opinion | An unsubstantiated belief or conclusion about what seems to be true according to an individual's personal thoughts.
|
|
|
|
| oral stage | In Freudian theory, the period lasting from birth to age 1 in which infant eroticism is focused on the mouth.
|
|
|
|
| participant observation | A method of observational research in which the researcher participates in the behaviors being studied.
|
|
|
|
| pathological behavior | Behavior deemed unhealthy or diseased by current medical standards.
|
|
|
|
| penis envy | In Freudian theory, female desire to have a penis.
|
|
|
|
| phallic stage | In Freudian theory, the period from age 3 through 5, during which both male and female children exhibit interest in the genitals.
|
|
|
|
| plethysmograph | A device attached to the genitals to measure physiological response.
|
|
|
|
| protection from harm | A research participant's right to be spared any emotional distress.
|
|
|
|
| psychoanalysis | A psychological system developed by Sigmund Freud that traces behavior to unconscious motivations.
|
|
|
|
| random sample | A portion of a larger group collected in an unbiased way.
|
|
|
|
| representative sample | A small group representing a larger group in terms of age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, orientation, and so on.
|
|
|
|
| repression | A psychological mechanism that keeps people from becoming aware of hidden memories and motives because they arouse guilt or pain.
|
|
|
|
| schema | A set of interrelated ideas that helps us process information by organizing it in useful ways.
|
|
|
|
| scientific method | A systematic approach to acquiring knowledge by collecting data, forming a hypothesis, testing it empirically, and observing the results.
|
|
|
|
| sex information/advice genre | A media genre that transmits information and norms about sexuality to a mass audience.
|
|
|
|
| social construction | The development of social categories, such as masculinity, femininity, heterosexuality, and homosexuality, by society.
|
|
|
|
| socioeconomic status | Ranking in society based on a combination of occupational, educational, and income levels.
|
|
|
|
| stereotype | A set of simplistic, rigidly held, overgeneralized beliefs about a person or group of people.
|
|
|
|
| strain gauge | A device resembling a rubber band that is placed over the penis to measure physiological response.
|
|
|
|
| survey research | A method of gathering information from a small group to make inferences about a larger group.
|
|
|
|
| value judgment | An evaluation as "good" or "bad" based on moral or ethical standards rather than objective ones.
|
|
|
|
| variable | An aspect or factor that can be manipulated in an experiment.
|
2002 McGraw-Hill Higher Education