General Psychology 2301 Exam 1 – Flashcards
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Define Psychology
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The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
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Functionalism
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Studies the way the mind functions.
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Psychoanalysis
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An approach to understanding behavior and mental processes developed by Freud, which focuses on unconscious processes and unresolved conflicts. (Freud)
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Behavioral Perspective
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An approach to understanding behavior and mental processes that emphasizes objective, observable environmental influences on overt behavior. (Watson and Skinner)
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Behaviorism
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Scientific study of observable behavior.
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Humanistic
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Focuses on current environment, how it affects individual, and whether basic needs of love and acceptance were being met.
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Humanistic
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An approach to understanding behavior and mental processes that perceives human nature as naturally positive and growth seeking; it emphasizes free will and self-actualization. (Maslow and Rogers)
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Cognitive Psychology
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Used technological advances to study psychology's original focus of internal/cognitive processes. Brain activity vs mental. Thinking, perceiving, problem solving, memory, language, and information processing.
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Biopsychosocial Model
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An integrative, unifying theme of modern psychology that sees biological, psychological, and social processes as interacting influences.
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Naturalistic observation
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The process of observing and recording a research participant's behavior and mental processes in his or her natural setting, without interfering. They do not know they are being tested.
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Survey
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A research technique that questions a large sample of people to assess their behaviors and mental processes. Created to gather information (phone, paper or interviews)
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Case Study
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An in-depth study of a single research participant or a small group of individuals. Can provide information about disorders or disease.
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correlation research
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Research that measures the degree of relationship (if any) between two or more variables in order to determine how well one variable predicts another.
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Experiment
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A carefully controlled scientific procedure that involves the manipulation of variables to determine cause and effect.
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Independent Variable (IV)
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The variable that is manipulated to determine its causal effect on the dependent variable; also called the treatment variable.
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Dependent Variable (DV)
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The variable that is observed and measured for change; the factor that is affected by (or dependent on) the independent variable.
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Bias
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Sample - research participants do not represent larger population. Experimenter - researcher influences results. Participant - experimental conditions influence participant's behavior.
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Social desirability
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Deliberate attempt to mislead researcher. Example: reporting on how much you drink .Participant may under-report to whatever is socially acceptable.
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Double Blind
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An experimental technique in which both the researcher and the participants are unaware of (blind to) who is in the experimental or control groups.
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Confidentiality
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Information is kept private and not published.
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Informed consent
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A participant's agreement to take part in a study after being told what to expect.
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Debriefing
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A discussion procedure conducted at the end of an experiment or study; participants are informed of the study's design and purpose, possible misconceptions are clarified, questions answered, and explanations are provided for any possible deception.
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Deception
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Deceiving participant so that participants respond naturally.
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Introspection
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Study of mental life
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Behavioral Genetics
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The study of the relative effects of heredity and the environment on behavior and mental processes.
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Genes
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A segment of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that occupies a specific place on a particular chromosome and carries the code for hereditary transmission.
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DNA
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Deoxyribonucleic Acid) are complex molecules containing genetic information used in development.
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Neuron
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nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system; responsible for receiving, processing, and transmitting electrochemical information.
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Dendrites
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receivers
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Heritability
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A statistical formula that provides a percentage of variation in a population attributable to genetic factors rather than to differences in the environment.
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Dominant
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reveals whenever gene is present
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Recessive
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expressed only if the other gene in the pair is also recessive
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Neurotransmitter
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A chemical messenger released by neurons that travels across the synapse and allows neurons to communicate with one another.
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Action Potential
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neural impulse or brief electrical charge that travels down axon
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Serotonin
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Mood, sleep, appetite, sensory perception, arousal, temperature regulation, pain suppression, and impulsivity; low levels of serotonin associated with depression.
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Dopamine
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Too much DA associated with schizophrenia; Too little DA linked w/ Parkinson's disease; also plays role in addiction and the reward system; movement, attention, memory, learning, and emotion.
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GABA
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Neural inhibition; tranquilizing drugs (Valium) increase inhibitory effects which decrease anxiety
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Norepinephrine
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low levels associated w/ depression; high levels associated with agitated, manic states; learning, memory, dreaming, emotion, waking from sleep, eating, alertness, wakefulness, reactions to stress.
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CNS
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The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
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PNS
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The part of the nervous system composed of the nerves and neurons connecting the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.
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Sympathetic Nervous System
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The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) that is responsible for arousing the body and mobilizing its energy during times of stress; also called the fight or flight system.
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Parasympathetic Nervous System
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The subdivision of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) that is responsible for calming the body and conserving energy.
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Brainstem
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automatic survival; heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, etc.
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Medulla
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controls heartbeat and breathing
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Pons
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Help coordinate automatic movement i.e. blinking, balance, etc.
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Thalamus
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airport hub for sensory; your hand touches hot and passes it to brain. Relays messages between lower brain and cerebral cortex.
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Reticular formation
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filters information that is not necessary for conscious processing (sound of a/c that you don't notice until someone points it out)
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Cerebellum
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Little Brain; is responsible for voluntary movements and balance as well as some nonverbal learning, memory, and processing sensory input.
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Amygdala
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A part of the limbic system that controls emotions, like aggression and fear, and the formation of emotional memory.
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Hypothalamus
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influences hunger, thirst, sex, aggression
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Cerebral Cortex
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The thin surface layer on the cerebral hemispheres that regulates most complex behavior, including sensations, motor control, and higher mental processes.
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Corpus Callosum
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A bundle of neural fibers that connects the brain's two hemispheres.
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Frontal Lobes
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Speaking and muscle movements; making plans and judgments. Personality (Phineas Gage)
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Parietal Lobes
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The two lobes located at the top of the brain, in which bodily sensations are received and interpreted.
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Occipital Lobes
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The two lobes at the back of the brain that are primarily responsible for vision and visual perception.
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Temporal Lobes
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The two lobes on each side of the brain above the ears that are involved in audition (hearing), language comprehension, memory, and some emotional control.
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EEG
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Attached to scalp, records and detects brain activity. Epilepsy/tumors
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PET
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Glucose injected into stream;scanner records results. Detects abnormalities and identifies brain areas active during activities. Reading/Singing
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MRI
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electromagnets produce high-frequency magnetic field through brain; 3D images of brain to identify abnormalities and mapping brain structures and function.
