G-1
absolute threshold the lowest level of stimulation that a person can con-
sciously detect 50 percent of the time the stimulation is present.
accommodation as a monocular cue of depth perception; the brain’s use of
information about the changing thickness of the lens of the eye in response
to looking at objects that are close or far away.
acculturative stress stress resulting from the need to change and adapt a
person’s ways to the majority culture.
acquired (secondary) drives those drives that are learned through experi-
ence or conditioning, such as the need for money or social approval.
acrophobia fear of heights.
action potential the release of the neural impulse, consisting of a reversal of
the electrical charge within the axon.
action therapy therapy in which the main goal is to change disordered or
inappropriate behavior directly.
activation-information-mode model (AIM) revised version of the activation-
synthesis explanation of dreams in which information that is accessed
during waking hours can have an influence on the synthesis of dreams.
activation-synthesis hypothesis premise that states that dreams are created
by the higher centers of the cortex to explain the activation by the brain
stem of cortical cells during REM sleep periods.
activity theory theory of adjustment to aging that assumes older people are
happier if they remain active in some way, such as volunteering or devel-
oping a hobby.
acute stress disorder (ASD) a disorder resulting from exposure to a major
stressor, with symptoms of anxiety, dissociation, recurring nightmares,
sleep disturbances, problems in concentration, and moments in which
people seem to “relive” the event in dreams and flashbacks for as long as 1
month following the event.
adaptive theory theory of sleep proposing that animals and humans
evolved sleep patterns to avoid predators by sleeping when predators are
most active.
adolescence the period of life from about age 13 to the early 20s, during
which a young person is no longer physically a child but is not yet an
independent, self-supporting adult.
adrenal glands endocrine glands located on top of each kidney that secrete
more than 30 different hormones to deal with stress, regulate salt intake,
and provide a secondary source of sex hormones affecting the sexual
changes that occur during adolescence.
aerial (atmospheric) perspective monocular depth perception cue; the haz-
iness that surrounds objects that are farther away from the viewer, causing
the distance to be perceived as greater.
affect in psychology, a term indicating “emotion” or “mood.”
afferent (sensory) neuron a neuron that carries information from the senses
to the central nervous system.
afterimages images that occur when a visual sensation persists for a brief
time even after the original stimulus is removed.
aggression actions meant to harm or destroy; behavior intended to hurt or
destroy another person.
agonists chemical substances that mimic or enhance the effects of a neu-
rotransmitter on the receptor sites of the next cell, increasing or decreasing
the activity of that cell.
agoraphobia fear of being in a place or situation from which escape is diffi-
cult or impossible.agreeableness the emotional style of a person that may range from easygo-
ing, friendly, and likeable to grumpy, crabby, and unpleasant.
AIDS or acquired immune deficiency syndrome sexually transmitted viral
disorder that causes deterioration of the immune system and eventually
results in death due to complicating infections that the body can no longer
fight.
alcohol the chemical resulting from fermentation or distillation of various
kinds of vegetable matter.
algorithms very specific, step-by-step procedures for solving certain types
of problems.
all-or-none referring to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or
does not fire at all.
all-or-nothing thinking the tendency to believe that one’s performance
must be perfect or the result will be a total failure.
alpha waves brain waves that indicate a state of relaxation or light sleep.
altered state of consciousness state in which there is a shift in the quality
or pattern of mental activity as compared to waking consciousness.
altruism prosocial behavior that is done with no expectation of reward and
may involve the risk of harm to oneself.
amphetamines stimulants that are synthesized (made) in laboratories
rather than being found in nature.
amygdala brain structure located near the hippocampus, responsible for
fear responses and memory of fear.
anal stage the second stage in Freud’s psychosexual stages, occurring from
about 18–36 months of age, in which the anus is the erogenous zone and
toilet training is the source of conflict.
analytical intelligence the ability to break problems down into component
parts, or analysis, for problem solving.
androgens male hormones.
androgyny characteristic of possessing the most positive personality char-
acteristics of males and females regardless of actual sex.
andropause gradual changes in the sexual hormones and reproductive sys-
tem of middle-aged males.
anorexia nervosa (anorexia) a condition in which a person reduces eating
to the point that their body weight is significantly low, or less than mini-
mally expected. In adults, this is likely associated with a BMI < 18.5.
antagonists chemical substances that block or reduce a cell’s response to
the action of other chemicals or neurotransmitters.
anterograde amnesia loss of memory from the point of injury or trauma
forward, or the inability to form new long-term memories.
antianxiety drugs drugs used to treat and calm anxiety reactions, typically
minor tranquilizers.
antidepressant drugs drugs used to treat depression and anxiety.
antipsychotic drugs drugs used to treat psychotic symptoms such as delu-
sions, hallucinations, and other bizarre behavior.
antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) disorder in which a person uses
other people without worrying about their rights or feelings and often
behaves in an impulsive or reckless manner without regard for the conse-
quences of that behavior.
anxiety disorders class of disorders in which the primary symptom is
excessive or unrealistic anxiety.Glossary G-
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