Search Results

Definition In sociology, a rumor is a piece of unverified information that circulates within a group or society, often through informal channels like word of mouth or social media. Unlike facts, rumors are not necessarily true and can be distorted or exaggerat...

Definition In sociology, "The Sacred and the Profane" refers to a distinction between two types of social phenomena. The sacred represents things, ideas, or objects that are considered holy, significant, or beyond ordinary human activities. The sacred is often...

Definition A subset of a population selected for study. Example A researcher is interested in voting behaviors of people in a particular country. The population consists of every citizen of the country. A sample of this population is studied in order to mak...

Definition When the sample is not representative of the population. Example A researcher wishes to understand the relationship between socioeconomic status and mental health status in the United States. The participants for the study are drawn from one zip c...

Definition The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis is a theory in linguistics that suggests our native language influences how we think about and perceive the world. It proposes that people's experiences and thoughts are shaped by the categories and terms used in their lan...

Definition The Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion, developed by Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer in 1962, explains how emotions arise from two main factors: physical arousal and cognitive labeling. According to this theory, when you experience a...

Definition Schacter's Seven Sins of Memory are seven common ways that human memory can fail us, identified by psychologist Daniel Schacter. These "sins" highlight the limitations and vulnerabilities of our memory system, showing how we can sometimes forget inf...

Definition A schema is a mental framework or structure that organizes and interprets information based on past experiences and knowledge. It acts as a template for understanding new situations, people, or objects by categorizing them into familiar patterns. Ex...

Definition Scientific management, developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor in the early 1900s, is an approach that applies scientific principles to increase efficiency and productivity in the workplace. It involves breaking tasks into smaller components, timing a...

Definition Secondary deviance refers to a situation where an individual begins to identify themselves and act in ways that align with the deviant label they have been given by society or others. Unlike primary deviance, which is a one-time or occasional violat...

Definition A secondary group in sociology refers to a type of social group where interactions are impersonal, goal-oriented, and often short-term. Unlike primary groups (such as family or close friends), secondary groups are typically larger, more formal, and ...

Definition A secondary reinforcer in operant conditioning is a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer. Unlike primary reinforcers (e.g., food, water), secondary reinforcers do not inherently satisfy biologic...

Definition Selective attention is the ability to focus on specific pieces of information or stimuli while ignoring others in our environment. It helps us manage the overwhelming amount of sensory input we receive every moment, allowing us to prioritize what is...

Definition Self-actualization, as defined by psychologist Abraham Maslow, is the process of realizing one's full potential, fulfilling talents, and achieving personal growth. It is the highest level in his hierarchy of needs, where individuals focus on becomin...

Definition Self-efficacy refers to your belief in your ability to successfully perform specific tasks or achieve goals. It's about how confident you feel in your skills and capabilities when faced with challenges. Unlike general self-esteem, which is a broad s...

Definition    A self-fulfilling prophecy is a situation where a belief or expectation about someone or something leads to actions that make that belief come true. It occurs when people act based on their assumptions, unintentionally causing the outcome they ex...

Definition The self-reference effect is a cognitive phenomenon where individuals tend to remember information more effectively when it is related to themselves or their personal experiences. This occurs because self-referential processing creates stronger memo...

Definition Self-regulation refers to the ability to manage one's own behavior, emotions, or thoughts without external control. It involves setting personal goals, monitoring progress toward those goals, and adjusting actions as needed to maintain focus and ach...

Definition    Self-serving bias is a cognitive tendency where people attribute their successes to internal factors (like their skills or efforts) while attributing their failures to external factors (like luck or circumstances). It’s a way of protecting one’s ...

Definition Semantic memory is a type of long-term memory that stores general knowledge, facts, concepts, and ideas about the world. Unlike episodic memory, which records personal experiences and specific events, semantic memory focuses on information that is n...