Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

James-Lange theory of emotion

 
The belief 
that emotional experience is a reaction to 
bodily events occurring as a result of an exter-
nal situation (“I feel sad because I am crying”) 
(Module 31).

Korsakoff’s syndrome

 
A disease that affl icts 
long-term alcoholics, leaving some abilities 
intact but including hallucinations and a ten-
dency to repeat the same story (Module 22).

language

 
The communication of information 
through symbols arranged according to system-
atic rules (Module 25).

language-acquisition device

 
A neural system 
of the brain hypothesized by Noam Chomsky 
to permit understanding of language 
(Module 25).

latency period

 
According to Freud, the period 
between the phallic stage and puberty during 
which children’s sexual concerns are temporar-
ily put aside (Module 40).

latent content of dreams

 
According to Freud, 
the “disguised” meanings of dreams, hidden by 
more obvious subjects (Module 14).

latent learning

 
Learning in which a new 
behavior is acquired but is not demonstrated 
until some incentive is provided for displaying 
it (Module 19).

lateralization

 
The dominance of one hemi-
sphere of the brain in specifi c functions, such as 
language (Module 9).

learned helplessness

 
A state in which people 
conclude that unpleasant or aversive stimuli 
cannot be controlled— a view of the world that 
becomes so ingrained that they cease trying to 
remedy the aversive circumstances even if they 
actually can exert some infl uence on the situa-
tion (Module 43).