Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

 
A class of disorders in which 
severe distortion of reality occurs (Module 47).

scientifi c method

 
The approach through which 
psychologists systematically acquire knowledge 
and understanding about behavior and other 
phenomena of interest (Module 4).

self-actualization

 
A state of self-fulfi llment in 
which people realize their highest potential in 
their own unique way (Modules 29, 41).

self-effi cacy

 
Belief in one’s personal capabili-
ties. Self-effi cacy underlies people’s faith in 
their ability to carry out a particular behavior 
or produce a desired outcome (Module 41).

self-esteem

 
The component of personality that 
encompasses our positive and negative self-
evaluations (Module 41).

self-report measures

 
A method of gathering 
data about people by asking them questions 
about a sample of their behavior (Module 42).

self-serving bias

 
The tendency to attribute 
personal success to personal factors (skill, abil-
ity, or effort) and to attribute failure to factors 
outside oneself (Module 52).

punishment

 
A stimulus that decreases the 
probability that a previous behavior will occur 
again (Module 18).

random assignment to condition

 
A procedure 
in which participants are assigned to different 
experimental groups or “conditions” on the basis 
of chance and chance alone (Module 5).

range

 
The difference between the highest 
score and the lowest score in a distribution 
(Module 57).