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