fei75766_glo_G1-G15.indd G-3  02/19/20 09:26 AM
GlossaryG-3
classical conditioning  Learning bywhich aneutral 
stimulus becomes associated withameaningful stimulus 
andacquires thecapacity toelicit asimilar response.
client-centered therapy  Approach topsychotherapy 
originated byRogers, which isbased onrespect forthe
person’s capacity togrow within anurturing climate.
cognitive-affective personality systems (CAPs)  Mischel and
Shoda’s system thataccounts forvariability ofbehavior 
across situations aswellasstability ofbehavior within 
aperson.
cognitive-affective personality theory  Mischel’s theory 
thatviews people asactive, goal-directed individuals 
capable ofexerting influence onboththeirsituation and
themselves.
cognitive needs (Maslow)  Needs forknowledge and
understanding; related tobasic orconative needs, yet
operating onadifferent dimension.
collective efficacy (Bandura)  Theconfidence people 
havethattheircombined efforts willproduce 
social change.
collective unconscious  Jung’s ideaofaninherited 
unconscious, which isresponsible formany ofour
behaviors, ideas, anddream images. Thecollective 
unconscious liesbeyond ourpersonal experiences and
originates withrepeated experiences ofourancestors.
common traits (Allport)  (Seetrait)
commonality corollary  Kelly’s theory thatpersonal 
constructs ofpeople withsimilar experiences tendto
besimilar.
competencies (Mischel)  People’s cognitive and
behavioral construction ofwhat theycanandcannot do,
based ontheirobservations oftheworld, themselves, 
andothers.
complex (Jung)  Anemotionally toned conglomeration 
ofideas thatcomprise thecontents ofthepersonal 
unconscious. Jungoriginally usedtheword association 
testtouncover complexes.
conative needs  Needs thatpertain towillful and
purposive striving, forexample Maslow’s hierarchy 
ofneeds.
conditioned reinforcer (Skinner)  Environmental event 
thatisnotbynature satisfying butbecomes sobecause it
isassociated withunlearned orunconditioned reinforcers 
suchasfood, sex,andthelike.
conditions of worth (Rogers)  Restrictions or
qualifications attached tooneperson’s regard foranother.
conformity (Fromm)  Means ofescaping from isolation 
andaloneness bygiving upone’s selfandbecoming 
whatever others desire.
congruence (Rogers)  Thematching oforganismic 
experiences withawareness andwiththeability toexpress those experiences. Oneofthree “necessary andsufficient” 
therapeutic conditions.
conscience (Freud)  Thepartofthesuperego thatresults 
from experience withpunishment andthat,therefore, 
tellsaperson what iswrong orimproper conduct.
conscientiousness (Buss)  One’s capacity andcommitment 
towork andtobefocused anddetail -oriented.
conscious (Freud)  Those mental elements inawareness 
atanygiven time.
conscious (Jung)  Mental images thataresensed 
bytheegoandthatplayarelatively minor rolein
Jungian theory.
consistency paradox  Mischel’s termfortheobservation 
thatclinical intuition andtheperceptions oflaypeople 
suggest thatbehavior isconsistent, whereas research finds 
thatitisnot.
constructing obstacles (Adler)  Safeguarding tendency 
inwhich people create abarrier totheirownsuccess, 
thusallowing them toprotect theirself-esteem by
either using thebarrier asanexcuse forfailure orby
overcoming it.
construction corollary  Kelly’s assumption thatpeople 
anticipate events according totheirinterpretations of
recurrent themes.
constructive alternativism  Kelly’s viewthatevents can
belooked at(construed) from adifferent (alternative) 
perspective.
continuous schedule (Skinner)  Thereinforcement ofan
organism forevery correct trial;opposed tothe
intermittent schedule inwhich onlycertain selected 
responses arereinforced.
core pathology (Erikson)  Apsychosocial disorder atany
oftheeight stages ofdevelopment thatresults from too
littlebasic strength.
core role (Kelly)  People’s construction ofwhothey
really are;theirsense ofidentity thatprovides aguide 
forliving.
correlation coefficient  Amathematical index usedto
measure thedirection andmagnitude oftherelationship 
between twovariables.
cosmology  Therealm ofphilosophy dealing withthe
nature ofcausation.
countertransference  Strong, undeserved feelings 
thatthetherapist develops toward thepatient 
during thecourse oftreatment. These feelings 
canbeeither positive ornegative andareconsidered 
bymost writers tobeahindrance tosuccessful 
psychotherapy.
creative power  Adler’s termforwhat hebelieved tobe
aninner freedom thatempowers eachofustocreate our
ownstyleoflife.Final PDF to printer