Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

humanistic perspective on psychological dis-
orders
The perspective that emphasizes the 

functional fi xedness

 
The tendency to think 
of an object only in terms of its typical use 
(Module 24).

functionalism

 
An early approach to psychol-
ogy that concentrated on what the mind does—
the functions of mental activity—and the role of 
behavior in allowing people to adapt to their 
environments (Module 2).

fundamental attribution error

 
A tendency to 
overattribute others’ behavior to dispositional 
causes and minimize of the importance of situa-
tional causes (Module 52).

g

or

g

-factor

 
The single, general factor for 
mental ability assumed to underlie intelli-
gence in some early theories of intelligence 
(Module 26).

gate-control theory of pain

 
The theory that 
particular nerve receptors in the spinal cord 
lead to specifi c areas of the brain related to pain 
(Module 12).

gender

 
The perception of being male or female 
(Module 32).

gender roles

 
The set of expectations, defi ned 
by a particular society, that indicate what is 
appropriate behavior for men and women 
(Module 32).

gender schema

 
A mental framework that orga-
nizes and guides a child’s understanding of 
information relevant to gender (Module 32).

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

 
A theory 
developed by Selye that suggests that a per-
son’s response to a stressor consists of three 
stages: alarm and mobilization, resistance, and 
exhaustion (Module 43).