DISCRIMINATIVE STIMULUS
Operant conditioning. A stimulus that increases the probablity of a response.
DISTAL STIMULUS
The object that acts or stimulates a sense organ. Also called distal variable. Compare proximal stimulus.
DYNAMIC INTERACTIONISM
A model of behaviour and personality where development depends on a continuous and reciprocal interaction with the environment.
ECHOPRAXIA
The automatic imitation of another person's gestures and movements. Also called echomatism- echomimia.
EFFORT JUSTIFICATION
The phenomenom where people evaluate a task more favourably when it involves something difficult or unpleasant. See cognitive dissonance theory-…
EGO-DYSTONIC
Psychoanalytical theory. Where we describe impulses wishes and thoughts that are repugnant to the ego and self.
EMBEDDEDNESS OF AN ATTITUDE
The extent where an attitude is linked to other cognitive structures in memory. See attitude system- belief system- interattitudinal consistency.
EMPIRICAL GROUNDING
Practice of anchoring theoretical terms to scientifically measurable events.
ENTITATIVITY
The extent that a group is consideredd to be one entity rather than a group of many individual entities. Also…
EPINEPHRINE
A catecholamine neurotransmitter and adrenal hormone that is the end product of metabolising tyrosine. Also called adrenaline.
EXISTENTIAL CRISIS
1. A stage or turning point where the person is faced with finding meaning and purpose in life. 2. A…
EXTERNAL BOUNDARY
Boundary between the ego and external reality that is different from the internal boundary between the ego and id. Also…
LEARNING THEORY
A theory which sets out to explain the learning process itself. This term is actually an umbrella term for smaller…
LEXICAL HYPOTHESIS
the theory that important natural characteristics and traits unique to individuals have become intrinsically embedded in our natural-language lexicon over…