G-14 GLOSSARY
semantic network model model of memory organization that assumes
information is stored in the brain in a connected fashion, with concepts
that are related stored physically closer to each other than concepts that
are not highly related.
semantics the rules for determining the meaning of words and sentences.
semen fluid released from the penis at orgasm that contains the sperm.
sensation the process that occurs when special receptors in the sense
organs are activated, allowing various forms of outside stimuli to become
neural signals in the brain.
sensation seeker someone who needs more arousal than the average person.
sensorimotor stage Piaget’s first stage of cognitive development, in which
the infant uses its senses and motor abilities to interact with objects in the
environment.
sensory adaptation tendency of sensory receptor cells to become less
responsive to a stimulus that is unchanging.
sensory conflict theory an explanation of motion sickness in which the
information from the eyes conflicts with the information from the vestibu-
lar senses, resulting in dizziness, nausea, and other physical discomfort.
sensory memory the very first system in memory, in which raw informa-
tion from the senses is held for a very brief period of time.
sensory pathway nerves coming from the sensory organs to the CNS con-
sisting of afferent neurons.
serial position effect tendency of information at the beginning and end of a
body of information to be remembered more accurately than information
in the middle of the body of information.
sexism prejudice about males and/or females leading to unequal treatment.
sexual dysfunction a problem in sexual functioning.
sexually transmitted infection (STI) an infection spread primarily through
sexual contact.
sexual orientation a person’s sexual attraction to and affection for members
of either the opposite or the same sex.
s factor the ability to excel in certain areas, or specific intelligence.
shape constancy the tendency to interpret the shape of an object as being
constant, even when its shape changes on the retina.
shaping the reinforcement of simple steps in behavior through successive
approximations that lead to a desired, more complex behavior.
short-term memory (STM) the memory system in which information is
held for brief periods of time while being used.
significant difference a difference between groups of numerical data that is
considered large enough to be due to factors other than chance variation.
similarity a Gestalt principle of perception; the tendency to perceive things
that look similar to each other as being part of the same group.
single-blind study study in which the subjects do not know if they are in
the experimental or the control group.
situational cause cause of behavior attributed to external factors, such as
delays, the action of others, or some other aspect of the situation.
situational context the social or environmental setting of a person’s behavior.
size constancy the tendency to interpret an object as always being the same
actual size, regardless of its distance.
skewed distribution frequency distribution in which most of the scores fall
to one side or the other of the distribution.
skin senses the sensations of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain.
sleep apnea disorder in which the person stops breathing for 10 seconds or
more.
sleep deprivation any significant loss of sleep, resulting in problems in
concentration and irritability.sleep paralysis the inability of the voluntary muscles to move during REM
sleep.
sleepwalking (somnambulism) occurring during deep sleep, an episode of
moving around or walking around in one’s sleep.
social anxiety disorder (social phobia) fear of interacting with others or
being in social situations that might lead to a negative evaluation.
social categorization the assignment of a person one has just met to a cat-
egory based on characteristics the new person has in common with other
people with whom one has had experience in the past.
social cognition the mental processes that people use to make sense of the
social world around them.
social cognitive theory referring to the use of cognitive processes in rela-
tion to understanding the social world.
social cognitive theory of hypnosis theory that assumes that people who
are hypnotized are not in an altered state but are merely playing the role
expected of them in the situation.
social cognitive view learning theory that includes cognitive processes
such as anticipating, judging, memory, and imitation of models.
social comparison the comparison of oneself to others in ways that raise
one’s self-esteem.
social facilitation the tendency for the presence of other people to have a
positive impact on the performance of an easy task.
social identity the part of the self-concept including one’s view of self as a
member of a particular social category.
social identity theory theory in which the formation of a person’s identity
within a particular social group is explained by social categorization,
social identity, and social comparison.
social impairment the tendency for the presence of other people to have a
negative impact on the performance of a difficult task.
social influence the process through which the real or implied presence
of others can directly or indirectly influence the thoughts, feelings, and
behavior of an individual.
social loafing the tendency for people to put less effort into a simple task
when working with others on that task.
social neuroscience the study of the relationship between biological sys-
tems and social processes and behavior.
social psychology the scientific study of how a person’s thoughts, feelings,
and behavior influence and are influenced by social groups; area of psy-
chology in which psychologists focus on how human behavior is affected
by the presence of other people.
Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) assessment that measures the
amount of stress in a person’s life over a 1-year period resulting from
major life events.
social role the pattern of behavior that is expected of a person who is in a
particular social position.
social-support system the network of family, friends, neighbors, cowork-
ers, and others who can offer support, comfort, or aid to a person in need.
sociocultural perspective perspective that focuses on the relationship
between social behavior and culture; in psychopathology, perspective in
which abnormal thinking and behavior (as well as normal) is seen as the
product of learning and shaping within the context of the family, the social
group to which one belongs, and the culture within which the family and
social group exist.
soma the cell body of the neuron responsible for maintaining the life of the
cell.
somatic nervous system division of the PNS consisting of nerves that carry
information from the senses to the CNS and from the CNS to the volun-
tary muscles of the body.Z03_CICC7961_05_SE_GLOS.indd 14 9/3/16 12:59 AM