Terms Starting with "Y"

33 terms

y

y symbol for a variable of interest. For example, in a regression equation, y may represent a particular outcome or dependent variable. y′ symbol for y prime.

y -axis

y -axis n. the vertical axis on a graph. See ordinate.

Y chromosome

Y chromosome the sex chromosome that is responsible for determining maleness in humans and other mammals. The body cells of normal males possess one Y chromosome and one X chromosome (XY). The Y chromosome is much smaller than the X chromosome and is thought to carry just a handful of functioning genes. Hence, males are far more susceptible to sex-linked diseases than females, because the Y chromosome lacks the alleles to counteract any defective genes carried on the X chromosome.

Y maze

Y maze a maze shaped like the letter Y, consisting of a stem that leads to a choice of two goal arms, only one of which is the correct path to the goal box. It is a variant of the T maze; both are used in experiments of animal cognition.

y prime

y prime (symbol: y’) the predicted or expected value of a given variable of interest, y.

y-coordinate

y -coordinate n. the vertical value in a pair of graph coordinates (x, y), which indicates how far to move up or down from the origin along the y-axis. For example, in the ordered pair (4, 8), the y-coordinate is 8 and the corresponding horizontal x-coordinate value is 4. See Cartesian coordinate system.

y-intercept

y -intercept n. in an equation representing a straight-line relationship between two variables, the value of variable y when the value of variable x equals zero. For example, in the general linear equation format y = a + bx, a represents the y-intercept.

Y-linked

Y-linked adj. see sex-linked.

y′

y symbol for a variable of interest. For example, in a regression equation, y may represent a particular outcome or dependent variable. y′ symbol for y prime.

yagé

yagé n. see ayahuasca.

yakee

yakee n. see epena.

Yale model

Yale model see message-learning approach.

yantra

yantra n. a visual pattern on which attention is focused during concentrative meditation. Compare mantra.

Yates’s correction for continuity

Yates’s correction for continuity an adjustment made to a chi-square test of data from a contingency table having only two columns and two rows of information. The Yates’s correction yields a more conservative chi-square statistic and improves the test’s accuracy by accounting for the fact that it uses a continuous distribution to approximate a discrete distribution. [Frank Yates (1902–1994), British statistician]

yaupon

yaupon n. see cassina.

yawning

yawning n. the act of drawing in through the mouth a volume of air that is much larger than that inhaled in normal respiration, serving to improve oxygen supplies to the brain. Some research indicates that yawning is mediated by the same neurotransmitters in the brain that affect emotions, mood, appetite, and so forth (i.e., serotonin, dopamine, glutamic acid, and nitric oxide). The more of these compounds that are activated in the brain, the greater the frequency of yawns. Yawns can be a form of nonverbal communication in that they are contagious and can indicate boredom or disagreement as well as sleepiness.

yea-saying

yea-saying n. answering questions positively regardless of their content, which can distort the results of surveys, questionnaires, and similar instruments. Also called acquiescent response set; response acquiescence. Compare nay-saying.

Yerkes–Dodson law

Yerkes–Dodson law a law stating that the relation between motivation (arousal) and performance can be represented by an inverted U-curve (see inverted-U hypothesis). [Robert M. Yerkes and John Dillingham Dodson(1879–1955), U.S. psychologists]

Yerkish

Yerkish n. a language consisting of geometric forms that has been taught to nonhuman primates in studies of language acquisition and use. There has been some debate about whether animals trained with Yerkish demonstrate true language ability. [developed by U.S. psychologist Duane Rumbaugh (1929– ) and named for Robert M. Yerkes]

yes–no task

yes–no task in psychophysics, a signal detection task in which participants undergo a series of trials in which they must judge the presence (yes) or absence (no) of a signal.

yin and yang

yin and yang in Chinese philosophy, the two opposite but complementary aspects of the fundamental principle governing the universe. Originally, the words referred to the shady and the sunny side of a hill. The concept is represented by the Chinese symbol (the Taijitu) that also represents Taoism. Yin and yang are the two forces or principles that can be seen at work in all phenomena. Sometimes one is dominant, sometimes the other, and all things ultimately revert to their opposites. In simple terms, yin is characterized as negative, passive, and feminine, among other things, whereas yang is seen as positive, active, and masculine, among other things. Understanding the principles of opposition, interaction, and especially harmony inherent in yin and yang is, however, as important as understanding the particular characteristics associated with each of them.

yoga

yoga n. a school or tradition of Hindu philosophy and practical teaching that ultimately seeks to achieve mystic union of the self with the Supreme Being, or of the human spirit with the universal spirit, through a prescribed mental discipline and physical exercises. Yoga exercises, including regulation of breathing and the adaptation of bodily postures (see asana), are used as a means of releasing tension and redirecting energy (i.e., prana; see chi) and achieving a state of self-control, physical and mental relaxation, and finally deep contemplation. [Sanskrit, “union” or “yoke”]

yohimbine

yohimbine n. a stimulant alkaloid derived from the bark of the African tree Pausinystalia yohimbe and from Rauwolfia serpentina root. It acts as an antagonist at α2-adrenoreceptors (see alpha-adrenergic receptor); at high doses, it is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor and can cause serious adverse effects when taken concomitantly with antidepressants, tyramine-containing foods (e.g., liver, cheeses), or over-the-counter products containing phenylpropanolamine, such as nasal decongestants and diet aids. Yohimbine has achieved a reputation as a sexual enhancer in men, but there is little clinical evidence suggesting its efficacy is greater than placebo. It has also been studied as a potential treatment for erectile dysfunction, with contradictory results regarding its effectiveness. Chemically related to reserpine (see rauwolfia derivative), yohimbine is a sympathomimetic drug and may increase anxiety or produce panic attacks in susceptible individuals. Side effects may include nervousness, irritability, dizziness, skin flushing, or headache. More serious effects, including renal failure, seizures, and death, have also been reported. Yohimbine should not be taken by people with hypotension (low blood pressure), diabetes, or heart, liver, or kidney disease. It is available as an herbal remedy and also in prescription form (U.S. trade name: Yocon).

yoked-control group

yoked-control group a control group in which each participant is paired with a participant in another group (see matched-pairs design); the paired individuals are then exposed to precisely the same experiences except for the specific treatment or other condition under study. This procedure is intended to make the control group as similar as possible to the experimental group. For example, in a study of the effectiveness of rewards on children’s learning, matched individuals in the control and experimental groups would complete the same tasks under the same conditions but only those in the experimental group would be praised for good performance.

you statement

you statement see I statement.

young male syndrome

young male syndrome the propensity of males in their mid- to late teens and twenties, and particularly those who are unmarried and unemployed, to engage in violent altercations to resolve seemingly trivial matters, to “save face,” to harm a rival, or otherwise to enhance their social status. Young men in this age group are also more likely to participate in high-risk behaviors, such as driving at high speeds or taking illicit drugs. [described in 1985 by Canadian psychologists Margo Wilson (1942–2009) and Martin Daly (1944– )]

young-old

young-old adj. see adulthood.

Young–Helmholtz theory of color vision

Young–Helmholtz theory of color vision a theory to explain color vision in terms of components or processes sensitive to three different parts of the spectrum, corresponding to the colors red, green, and blue. According to this theory, other colors are perceived by stimulation of two of the three processes, whereas light that stimulates all three processes equally is perceived as white. The components are now thought to be retinal cones, although the original theory was not tied to a particular (or indeed to any) cell type. See trichromatic theory. Compare Hering theory of color vision; opponent process theory of color vision. [Thomas Young (1773–1829), British physician and physicist; Hermann von Helmholtz]

Youngberg v. Romeo

Youngberg v. Romeo the initial lawsuit that culminated in the Pennhurst Consent Decree. In this action, the U.S. Supreme Court held that people with intellectual disability who were involuntarily committed to state institutions have a constitutional right to reasonably safe conditions, freedom from unreasonable restraints, and the services reasonably required to protect their liberty and interests.

youpon

youpon n. see cassina.

youth counseling

youth counseling consultation that provides advice, information, and support to young people, usually in adolescence or slightly younger. Youth counseling may focus on any issue that raises concerns or conflicts related to studying, family involvement, sexuality and gender identity, or peer relationships. It may be used to counter low self-image and feelings of inadequacy that are often experienced by young people.

youth culture

youth culture 1. a society that places a high premium on youth, physical health and beauty, and the values, tastes, and needs of young people. Such a society tends to derogate the values, experience, and needs of middle-aged and older people and may produce subtle psychological pressures for older adults to adapt to the culture of youth. 2. the distinctive culture of teenagers and young adults, which often involves forms of dress, speech, music, and behavior that are deliberately at variance with those of the dominant culture. See also counterculture.

Yule’s Q

Yule’s Q a measure of the strength of the relationship between two dichotomous variables, such as a person’s sex (male or female) and graduation from college (yes or no). It ranges from −1 to +1, with values close to either negative or positive 1 indicating a very strong relation and values around 0 indicating little to no relation. Also called Yule’s coefficient of association. [George Udny Yule (1871–1951), British statistician]

Psychology Terms Starting With 'Y'