H

hair cells Cells containing hairlike projections that are receptors for hearing in the inner ear. 4

hallucinogens Drugs that produce hallucinations and impaired thinking. 5

Hawthorne effect The phenomenon in which subjects behave in unusual ways simply because they are part of a scientific study. 2

health psychologists Researchers who study the relationships between mind and body as they try to identify and treat the psychological factors related to disease. 1

health psychology A subfield of psychology that is dedicated to promoting good health and health care. 12

heredity The inherited set of developmental instructions that make us who we are, instructions that are transmitted to us by the genes we are born with. 2

heritability Genetic factors that contribute to the individual differences in people who belong to the same population. 2, 14

heuristic A rule-of-thumb problem-solving strategy. 8

hierarchy of needs Abraham Maslow’s concept that all humans face a series of needs in life, and that needs at more basic levels must be met before the person can go on to fulfill higher-level needs. 13

hindbrain An area in the brain’s central core consisting of the medulla, the pons, the reticu- lar formation, and the cerebellum. 3

hippocampus One of the three interrelated structures of the limbic system; the others are the septum and the amygdala. 3

human information-processing (HIP) model A model of cognition that suggests the mind takes in information serially (one task at a time) and in discrete stages, much like a computer. 1

humanistic approach A perspective on personality that emphasizes the human potential for growth, creativity, and spontaneity. It stresses the importance of an individual’s subjective experience of the world. 13

humanistic psychology An approach to understanding personality that emphasizes the striving for self-fulfillment and growth as the prime motivators of behavior. 1

humanistic therapies Treatment based on the belief that psychological problems can be treated by giving people insight into needs and motives they may not be aware of. 16

hyperpolarization An increase in the electrical imbalance associated with the resting state. 3

hypnotic susceptibility The measurable trait used to classify how easily a person can be hypnotized. 5

hypochondriasis A psychological disorder in which people are persistently fearful that they have contracted some terrible, often fatal disease despite reassurance from doctors that no physical illness exists. 15

hypothalamus A structure located below the thalamus that regulates the body’s internal environment and acts to maintain balance within the body. 3

hypothesis A proposition or idea that one sets out to test. 2