Glossary
gambler’s fallacy: the notion held by gamblers that events on which they gamble are not independent and occur in runs, a conclusion of which is that a run of bad luck will inevitably be followed by a run of good luck
garden path sentence: a sentence which leads the listener/reader to begin deriving one interpretation before s/he finds out that the full sentence has a different interpretation. The listener/reader is led up the garden path
gate control theory of pain: a theory of pain perception developed by Melzack and Wall (1965) in which they argue that a gate exists at the level of the spinal cord that integrates (1) information about the injury received from the site of the injury, (2) descending input from the brain, providing information about the individual’s behavioural state, and (3) input from large and small fibres which make up some of the physiological input into pain perception
gender identity: an awareness of being male or female
general intelligence (g): a general factor of intelligence that governs performance on all cognitive tasks
general paresis: a mental disorder first described in the nineteenth century that had syphilis as one of its main causes
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): a commonly diagnosed anxiety disorder whose main diagnostic feature is chronic and uncontrollable worry
generation gap: the idea that there is a difference and conflict between adolescents and the people of their parents’ generation
genes: the basic unit of heredity, these are regions of a chromosome that control the production of a protein which in turn often controls a specific characteristic
genetic model: Moskovici’s ideas of how conflict between minorities and majorities can alter the attitudes and behaviour of the majority
genetics: the study of genes and inheritance
genotype: the genetic make-up of an individual (see also phenotype)
geons: a set of three-dimensional components, such as arcs and cubes, which in different combinations are hypothesised to specify the nature of all visual objects
glial cells: the support cells for neurons in the CNS which provide nutrition, maintain homeostasis and form myelin
Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF): a system that is used to assess adaptive functioning, and acts as a measure of psychological health that can be contrasted with measures of psychopathology
globus pallidus: a region of the basal ganglia
glucocorticoid: a steroid hormone, e.g. cortisol
glucogon: a pancreatic hormone that converts stored glycogen back into glucose
glucoreceptors: receptors which detect the level of glucose
glycogen: stored glucose
goal setting theory: that people are motivated to work towards and achieve goals
good psychological health: the area of functioning that is measured by instruments such as the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF)
graduated exposure: a term that refers to the gradual exposure of the client to anxiety-provoking stimuli or situations
grammar: a set of rules that specify how the words in a sentence in a given language can and cannot be combined to produce a meaningful utterance
grounded theory: a research method in which the analysis of qualitative data informs the development of a theory rather than vice versa
group norm: commonalities in attitudes and behaviours that define group membership and differentiate between groups
group polarisation: following group discussion, a change in the average position of a group on some issue in the direction of the original group norm on that issue
group therapy: any form of therapeutic treatment in which clients are treated in groups rather than on a one-to-one client-therapist basis (e.g. self-help groups, experiential and encounter groups, etc.)
group: two or more people who share a common definition and evaluation of themselves and behave in accordance with that definition
groupthink: a way of thinking in very cohesive groups. The desire to reach an unanimous decision overrides the motivation to use logical and reasoned decision-making processes
guided participation: adults providing suggestions and direction to children’s activities
gyri (plural of gyrus): The ridges on the cortex (see also sulci)