GLOSSARY G-11
parietal lobes sections of the brain located at the top and back of each cere-
bral hemisphere containing the centers for touch, temperature, and body
position.
partial reinforcement effect the tendency for a response that is reinforced
after some, but not all, correct responses to be very resistant to extinction.
participant modeling technique in which a model demonstrates the desired
behavior in a step-by-step, gradual process while the client is encouraged
to imitate the model.
participant observation a naturalistic observation in which the observer
becomes a participant in the group being observed.
PCP synthesized drug now used as an animal tranquilizer that can cause
stimulant, depressant, narcotic, or hallucinogenic effects.
peak experiences according to Maslow, times in a person’s life during
which self-actualization is temporarily achieved.
penis the organ through which males urinate and which delivers the male
sex cells or sperm.
perception the method by which the sensations experienced at any given
moment are interpreted and organized in some meaningful fashion.
perceptual set (perceptual expectancy) the tendency to perceive things a
certain way because previous experiences or expectations influence those
perceptions.
peripheral nervous system (PNS) all nerves and neurons that are not con-
tained in the brain and spinal cord but that run through the body itself.
peripheral-route processing type of information processing that involves
attending to factors not involved in the message, such as the appearance
of the source of the message, the length of the message, and other noncon-
tent factors.
permissive indulgent permissive parenting in which parent is so involved
that children are allowed to behave without set limits.
permissive neglectful permissive parenting in which parent is uninvolved
with child or child’s behavior.
permissive parenting style of parenting in which parent makes few, if any,
demands on a child’s behavior.
personal fable type of thought common to adolescents in which young
people believe themselves to be unique and protected from harm.
personality the unique and relatively stable ways in which people think,
feel, and behave.
personality disorders disorders in which a person adopts a persistent,
rigid, and maladaptive pattern of behavior that interferes with normal
social interactions.
personality inventory paper-and-pencil or computerized test that consists
of statements that require a specific, standardized response from the per-
son taking the test.
personality psychology area of psychology in which the psychologists
study the differences in personality among people.
personalization distortion of thinking in which a person takes responsibil-
ity or blame for events that are unconnected to the person.
personal unconscious Jung’s name for the unconscious mind as described
by Freud.
person-centered therapy a nondirective insight therapy based on the work
of Carl Rogers in which the client does all the talking and the therapist
listens.
persuasion the process by which one person tries to change the belief,
opinion, position, or course of action of another person through argument,
pleading, or explanation.
phallic stage the third stage in Freud’s psychosexual stages, occurring from
about 3 to 6 years of age, in which the child discovers sexual feelings.
phobia an irrational, persistent fear of an object, situation, or social activity.phonemes the basic units of sound in language.
physical dependence condition occurring when a person’s body becomes
unable to function normally without a particular drug.
physiological psychology area of psychology in which the psychologists
study the biological bases of behavior.
pineal gland endocrine gland located near the base of the cerebrum;
secretes melatonin.
pinna the visible part of the ear.
pitch psychological experience of sound that corresponds to the frequency
of the sound waves; higher frequencies are perceived as higher pitches.
pituitary gland gland located in the brain that secretes human growth hor-
mone and influences all other hormone-secreting glands (also known as
the master gland).
placebo effect the phenomenon in which the expectations of the partici-
pants in a study can influence their behavior.
place theory theory of pitch that states that different pitches are experi-
enced by the stimulation of hair cells in different locations on the organ of
Corti.
pleasure principle principle by which the id functions; the desire for the
immediate satisfaction of needs without regard for the consequences.
polygon line graph showing a frequency distribution.
pons the larger swelling above the medulla that relays information from
the cortex to the cerebellum, and that plays a part in sleep, dreaming, left–
right body coordination, and arousal.
population the entire group of people or animals in which the researcher is
interested.
positively skewed a distribution of scores in which scores are concentrated
in the low end of the distribution.
positive regard warmth, affection, love, and respect that come from signifi-
cant others in one’s life.
positive reinforcement the reinforcement of a response by the addition or
experiencing of a pleasurable stimulus.
positive symptoms symptoms of schizophrenia that are excesses of behav-
ior or occur in addition to normal behavior; hallucinations, delusions, and
distorted thinking.
positron emission tomography (PET) brain-imaging method in which a
radioactive sugar is injected into the subject and a computer compiles a
color-coded image of the activity of the brain.
postconventional morality third level of Kohlberg’s stages of moral devel-
opment in which the person’s behavior is governed by moral principles
that have been decided on by the individual and that may be in disagree-
ment with accepted social norms.
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) a disorder resulting from exposure to
a major stressor, with symptoms of anxiety, dissociation, nightmares, poor
sleep, reliving the event, and concentration problems, lasting for more
than 1 month; symptoms may appear immediately or not occur until 6
months or later after the traumatic event.
practical intelligence the ability to use information to get along in life and
become successful.
pragmatics aspects of language involving the practical ways of communi-
cating with others, or the social “niceties” of language.
preconventional morality first level of Kohlberg’s stages of moral devel-
opment, in which the child’s behavior is governed by the consequences of
the behavior.
prefrontal lobotomy psychosurgery in which the connections of the pre-
frontal cortex to other areas of the brain are severed.
prejudice negative attitude held by a person about the members of a partic-
ular social group.Z03_CICC7961_05_SE_GLOS.indd 11 9/3/16 12:59 AM