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Vroom–Yetton–Jago decision model

a model that can be used by leaders in judging how much they should allow followers to participate in decision making in different situations. The model consists of a set of decision rules and a decision tree in which the leader assesses several key situational attributes, such as the nature of the task (e.g., whether high or low in task structure), the degree of conflict expected among followers over preferred solutions, the degree of confidence that followers will accept decisions they do not agree with, and the extent to which such acceptance is important. On the basis of this assessment, the leader chooses from among several degrees of employee participation, ranging from autocratic decision making by the leader, through consultative approaches, to full participation and delegation. [Victor H. Vroom (1932–  ), Canadian organizational psychologist; Philip W. Yetton (1942–  ), Australian management expert; Arthur G. Jago (1949–  ), U.S. organizational psychologist]

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Psychology term of the day

March 18th 2025

serotonin

serotonin

n. a common monoamine neurotransmitter in the brain, particularly the raphe nucleus, and in other parts of the central nervous system; it also is found in the gastrointestinal tract, in smooth muscles of the cardiovascular and bronchial systems, and in blood platelets. It is synthesized from the dietary amino acid L-tryptophan (see tryptophan hydroxylase), and in the pineal gland it is converted to melatonin. It is primarily degraded by monoamine oxidase, which yields its principal metabolic product, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). Serotonin has roles in emotional processing, mood, appetite, sexual desire and performance, sleep, pain processing, hallucinations, and reflex regulation. For example, levels of serotonin correlate negatively with aggression, and release of serotonin may promote sleep. It is implicated in many psychological conditions, including depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, aggression, and psychosis; many common psychotropic drugs affect neurotransmission mediated by serotonin. Also called 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT).