670
Contemporary Living
debit card. A card used to transfer
money from your bank account
to a store’s account when
making a purchase. (24)
decision-making process. A step-
by-step process you can use
to make decisions and solve
problems. (4)
deductible. Term in a health
insurance policy that states
the insured will pay an
agreed-on portion of the total
expense, which may be the
fi rst $250, $500, or even $1,000
of the bill. (23)
deductions. Money subtracted
from a person’s wages for
items such as income tax and
Social Security. (24)
defense mechanisms. Automatic
and involuntary ways people
react to anxiety-producing
events or threats. (3)
depressants. Drugs, also called
sedatives, that slow down the
central nervous system. (7)
depression. Involves prolonged
feelings of sadness and
hopelessness and is a
“whole-body” illness,
involving the body, mood,
and thoughts. (19)
desertion. Abandoning the
marital partner. (20)
designer drugs. Manufactured
drugs that have slightly
altered formulas, but closely
resemble other illegal drugs
such as cocaine. (7)
destructive conflict. Arguments
in which partners attack each
other’s self-esteem, weakening
the relationship and not
solving the problem. (13)
Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Guidelines that represent
federal nutrition policy
and are designed to assist
consumers in making healthful
food choices. (6)
direct attack. Defense mechanism
in which a person attacks the
source of a threat when his or
her self-esteem is threatened. (3)
direct deposit. An employer ’s
payroll monies are
electronically transferred
directly into their employees’
personal checking or savings
accounts. (24)
disability income insurance.
Health insurance that protects
a person or family from loss
of income due to a disabling
illness or injury. (23)
discipline. The use of develop-
mentally appropriate methods
and techniques to teach children
self-control and limits. (17)
disillusionment. The shattering
of illusions or unrealistic
ideas. (13)
displaced homemakers. Longtime
homemakers whose spouses
have left or remarried and
whose children have grown
and who fi nd themselves
unexpectedly dependent
on their own resources for
fi nancial security. (18)