question

Psychology

answer

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

question

Applied Research

answer

designed to solve specific problems

question

Basic Research

answer

pure science, used to find new information

question

Fields of Psychology

answer

clinical, consumer, rehabilitation, health, organizational (industrial)

question

Clinical Psychology

answer

most common psychological career; clinical psychologists use their skills to promote health in groups and individuals

question

Consumer Psychology

answer

study why people buy certain products over others

question

Rehabilitation Psychology

answer

help those who have been involved in an accident or have been ill

question

Health Psychology

answer

find ways to prevent disease and promote good health

question

Organizational (Industrial) Psychology

answer

try to apply psychology to help business and organizations operate

question

Types of Psychologists

answer

cognitive, social, neuropsychologist, behaviorist, humanist, psychoanalysis

question

Cognitive Psychologists

answer

focus on how people think - how they take in, process, store, and retrieve information (Jean Piaget)

question

Social Psychologists

answer

study group dynamics and how behaviors and attitudes influence others

question

Neuropsychologists

answer

explore how the brain works

question

Behaviorists

answer

only study observable behaviors, not mental processes

question

Humanists

answer

focus on the stuff of conscious experience, a person's freedom to choose, and the capacity for personal growth

question

Psychoanalysts

answer

practitioners using Freud's theory of personality and psychoanalysis-a therapeutic technique that attempts to provide insight into thoughts and actions by exposing and interpreting the underlying unconscious motives and conflicts

question

Ivan Pavlov

answer

behaviorist, learning theorist famous for discovery of classical conditioning

question

Jean Piaget

answer

development and cognitive psychologist known for his studies of children's thought processes

question

William Wundt

answer

founder of modern psychology

question

E.B. Tichener

answer

founder of structuralism (theory that the structure of conscious experience could be understood by analyzing the basic elements of thoughts and sensations)

question

William James

answer

first American psychologist and author of the first psychology textbook

question

Sigmund Freud

answer

founder of psychoanalysis

question

Neuron

answer

a nerve cell, receives/carries information

question

All-or-None Response

answer

if a neuron fires, it will fire at same intensity every time

question

Sequence of Transmission

answer

dendrite, cell body, axon, synapse

question

Dendrites

answer

receive messages from other cells

question

Synapses

answer

tiny, fluid-filled gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of another neuron

question

Axon

answer

passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

question

Action Potential

answer

created when a neuron fires, neural impulse that travels from the dendrites down the axon to the axon terminals

question

Myelin Sheath

answer

covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

question

Neurotransmitters

answer

a chemical messenger that travels across the synapse from one neuron to the next

question

Central Nervous System

answer

brain (information processing) and spinal cord (pathway to/from the brain)

question

Peripheral Nervous System

answer

sensory and motor nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body, consists of somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system

question

Somatic Nervous System

answer

controls skeletal muscles, motor nerves for voluntary muscles

question

Autonomic Nervous System

answer

controls glands and muscles of internal organs, contains hormones and glands

question

Hormones

answer

chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands

question

Pituitary Gland

answer

master gland

question

Thyroid Gland

answer

energy gland

question

Adrenal Gland

answer

gland that arouses body in times of stress

question

Pancreatic Gland

answer

gland that controls blood sugar

question

Lobes of the Brain

answer

occipital, temporal, parietal, frontal (see picture)

question

Occipital Lobe

answer

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; it includes the primary visual processing areas of the brain

question

Temporal Lobe

answer

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; it includes the auditory areas of the brain

question

Parietal Lobe

answer

the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; it includes the somatosensory cortex and general association areas used for processing information

question

Frontal Lobe

answer

located just behind the forehead, planning and judgements

question

Parts of the Brain

answer

amygdala, hippocampus, left hemisphere & right hemisphere, brainstem, longitudinal fissure, reticular formation, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, Wernicke's area, Broca's area (see picture)

question

Amygdala

answer

controls emotional responses like fear and anger

question

Hippocampus

answer

a neural center located in the limbic system that wraps around the back of the thalamus; it helps process new memories for permanent storage

question

Left Hemisphere

answer

language

question

Right Hemisphere

answer

spatial abilities, connections between words

question

Brainstem

answer

the oldest part and central core of the brain; it begins where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull and is responsible for automatic survival functions

question

Longitudinal Fissure

answer

the long crevice that divides the cerebral cortex into the left and right hemispheres

question

Reticular Formation

answer

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling wakefulness and arousal

question

Cerebellum

answer

coordinates voluntary movements and balance

question

Cerebral Cortex

answer

the intricate fabric of interconnected neurons that form the body's ultimate control and information-processing center

question

Wernicke's Area

answer

a brain area of the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression

question

Broca's Area

answer

a brain area of the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech

question

Split Brain Research

answer

(see picture)

question

Zygote

answer

first stage of prenatal development, fertilized egg

question

Embryo

answer

second stage of prenatal development, 2-8 weeks, most of major organs formed

question

Fetus

answer

third stage of prenatal development, 9 weeks-birth

question

Teratogens

answer

substance that crosses the placental barrier and prevent the fetus from developing normally

question

Rooting Reflex

answer

baby's tendency, when touched on the cheek, to open mouth and search for nipple

question

Maturation

answer

process of maturing

question

Attachment

answer

emotional tie with another person shown by seeking closeness to the caregiver and showing distress on separation

question

Piaget's Findings

answer

cognitive stages of development, schemas

question

Cognitive Stages of Development

answer

sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operation

question

Sensorimotor

answer

cognitive stage of development when world is experienced through senses and actions (looking, touching, mouthing, and grasping)

question

Preoperational

answer

cognitive stage of development when things are represented with words and images but lacking logical reasoning

question

Concrete Operational

answer

cognitive stage of development when one thinks logically about concrete events; grasping concrete analogies and performing arithmetical operations

question

Formal Operation

answer

cognitive stage of development with abstract thinking

question

Schemas

answer

organized pattern of thought or behavior

question

Harlow's Rhesus Monkey Experiment

answer

proved that monkey preferred a soft, cuddly mother - attachment is not based on who provides food, but becoming attached to warm, soft parents who cuddle, rock, and feed them

question

Secondary Sex Characteristics

answer

characteristics that distinguish the sexes that do not include the reproductive organs

question

Kohlberg's Theory on Moral Development

answer

preconventional, conventional, and postconventional moral reasoning

question

Preconventional Moral Reasoning

answer

desire to avoid punishment and gain reward

question

Conventional Moral Reasoning

answer

follow rules in order to fit in/be a good citizen

question

Postconventional Moral Reasoning

answer

follow universal ethical principles that represent rights of all

question

Erik Erikson's Theory on Development

answer

infancy, toddlerhood, preschooler, elementary school, adolescence, young adulthood, middle adulthood, late adulthood

question

Infancy

answer

birth-1 year, trust vs. mistrust

question

Toddlerhood

answer

1-2 years, autonomy vs. shame and doubt

question

Preschooler

answer

3-5 years, initiative vs. guilt

question

Elementary School

answer

6 years-puberty, competence vs. inferiority

question

Adolescence

answer

teens-twenties, identity vs. role confusion

question

Young Adulthood

answer

twenties-early forties, intimacy vs. isolation

question

Middle Adulthood

answer

forties-sixties, generativity vs. stagnation

question

Late Adulthood

answer

late sixties-older, integrity vs. despair

question

Social Clock

answer

when we get married, have kids, retire, etc

question

Stages of Adulthood

answer

early adulthood 20-35 years, middle adulthood 36-64 years, late adulthood 65 years +

question

Changes as Humans Age

answer

reactions to death, commitment to love and children (empty nest), most elderly report: satisfaction with life, mellowing with age, regrets on what they didn't do,

question

Recognition and Recall Tasks as Humans Age

answer

...

question

Intelligence as Humans Age

answer

fluid intelligence (reasoning speedily and abstractly) decreases and crystallized intelligence (accumulated knowledge/verbal skills) increases

question

Freud's stuff

answer

levels of consciousness (id, superego, ego), free association, psychosexual stages (oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital), defense mechanisms

question

Id

answer

level of consciousness, part of personality that consists of unconscious, psychic energy that strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives, operatives on the pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification

question

Superego

answer

level of consciousness, part of personality that represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgement and for future aspirations

question

Ego

answer

level of consciousness, largely conscious, executive part of personality that mediates among the demands of the id, superego and reality, operates on the reality; operates on the reality principle, satisfying the id's desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain

question

Free Association

answer

method of exploring the unconscious in which the person relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial or embarrassing

question

Oral Stage

answer

psychosexual stage when pleasure centers on the mouth (sucking, biting, chewing), 1-18 months

question

Anal Stage

answer

psychosexual stage when pleasure focuses on bowel and bladder function; coping with demands for control, 18-36 months

question

Phallic Stage

answer

psychosexual stage when pleasure zone is the genitals; coping with incestuous feelings, 3-6 years

question

Latency Stage

answer

psychosexual stage when sexual feelings are dormant, 6 years-puberty

question

Genital Stage

answer

psychosexual stage of maturation of sexual interests, puberty on

question

Defense Mechanisms

answer

in psychoanalytic theory, the ego's protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality

question

Projection

answer

defense mechanism reducing anxiety by attributing threatening impulses to others

question

Denial

answer

defense mechanism reducing anxiety by refusing to admit that something unpleasant has happened

question

Reaction Formation

answer

defense mechanism reducing anxiety by making unacceptable impulses look like opposites

question

Displacement

answer

defense mechanism reducing anxiety by diverting aggressive feelings to an acceptable object

question

Maslow

answer

humanistic psychologist

question

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

answer

physiological-->safety-->belongingness and love-->esteem-->self-actualization

question

Self-Actualization Needs

answer

need to live up to one's fullest and unique potential

question

Esteem Needs

answer

need for self-esteem, achievement, competence, and independence, need for recognition and respect from others

question

Belongingness and Love Needs

answer

need to love and be loved, to belong and be accepted, need to avoid loneliness and alienation

question

Safety Needs

answer

need to feel that the world is organized and predictable, need to feel safe, secure, and stable

question

Physiological Needs

answer

need to satisfy hunger, thirst, and other survival needs

question

Personality Traits

answer

aspects of personality that are relatively consistent

question

Big Five Personality Traits

answer

ocean: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism (emotional stability vs. instability)

question

Extraversion

answer

seek out social stimulation and opportunities to engage with others

question

Introversion

answer

focused on internal thoughts and moods, inward turning

question

Personality Tests

answer

, ex: Myers Briggs, Big Five

question

Projective Tests

answer

, ex: inkblot test, thematic apperception test

question

Internal Locus of Control

answer

individual believes that his/her behavior is guided by his/her personal decisions and efforts

question

External Locus of Control

answer

individual believes that his/her behavior is guided by fate, luck, or other external circumstances

question

Classical Conditioning

answer

type of learning by association, where a stimulus gains the power to cause a response

question

UCS

answer

stimulus that triggers a response reflexively and automatically

question

UCR

answer

automatic response to the unconditional stimulus

question

CS

answer

previously neutral stimulus that, through learning, gains the power to cause a response

question

CR

answer

response to the conditioned stimulus

question

Acquisition

answer

process of learning a new response (CR) to a previously neutral stimulus (CS)

question

Generalization

answer

producing the same response to two similar stimuli

question

Spontaneous Recovery

answer

the return of an extinguished classically conditioned response after a rest period

question

Extinction

answer

diminishing of a learned response of the continual presentation of the CS without the UCS

question

Little Albert

answer

11-month-old classically conditioned to be scared of furry animals by John Watson and Rosalie Rayner (led to questions about experimental ethics) (see picture)

question

Pavlov's Dogs

answer

experiment with dogs conditioned to salivate with the sound of bells (see picture)

question

Operant Conditioning

answer

type of learning in which frequency of a behavior depends on the consequence that follows a behavior

question

Frequency of Behavior in Operant Conditioning

answer

increase if consequence is reinforcing, decrease if consequence is not reinforcing

question

B.F. Skinner and Operant Conditioning

answer

developed the fundamental principles and techniques of operant conditioning and devised ways to apply them in the real world and designed the Skinner Box (operant chamber)

question

Positive Reinforcement

answer

anything that increases the likelihood of a behavior by following it with a desirable event or state

question

Negative Reinforcement

answer

anything that will increase the likelihood of a behavior by following it with the removal of an undesirable event or state

question

Punishment

answer

any consequence that decreases the future likelihood of a behavior

question

Partial Reinforcement

answer

schedule of reinforcement in which reward follows only some correct responses

question

Continuous Reinforcement

answer

schedule of reinforcement in which a reward follows every correct response

question

Overjustification Effect

answer

effect of promising a reward for doing what one already likes to do, reward may lessen and replace the person's original motivation, so that the behavior stops if the reward is eliminated

question

Cognitive Map

answer

mental representation of a place

question

Sleep Cycle Stages 1-4

answer

non-REM

question

REM Sleep

answer

term coined by William Dement, rapid eye movement back and forth, vivid dreaming, "paradoxical sleep"

question

Stage 1

answer

slow breathing, irregular brain waves, easy to wake, 5 minutes

question

Stage 2

answer

slowed brain wave cycle, 20 minutes first time through

question

Stage 3

answer

slow wave

question

Stage 4

answer

slow wave, where one gets rejuvenated, 30 minutes first time through

question

Circadian Rhythms

answer

biological rhythms once every 24 hours, ex: sleep/wake cycle

question

Ultradian Rhythms

answer

biological rhythms more than once a day, ex: stages of sleep through the night

question

Infradian Rhythms

answer

biological rhythms once a month or season, ex: menstrual cycle

question

Hormones that Affect Sleep

answer

melatonin-helps regulate daily biological rhythms, liked to sleep-wake cycle, levels increase during night and decrease with exposure to morning light

question

Amount of Sleep as Humans Age

answer

REM decreases, average amount decreases

question

Information Processing Theory

answer

theory that dreams are a memory related function that shift through the day's experiences

question

Physiological Function Theory

answer

neural activity during REM sleep provides periodic stimulation of the brain

question

Activation Synthesis Theory

answer

mind's attempt to make sense of random neural firings

question

Cognitive Development Theory

answer

dreams reflect our knowledge, part of the maturation process, reflection of normal cognitive development

question

Insomnia

answer

recurring problems in falling asleep/staying asleep

question

Sleep Apnea

answer

sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and consequent momentary reawakening

question

Standards to Define Psychological Disorders (MUDA)

answer

maladaptive, unjustifiable, disturbing, atypical

question

Maladaptive

answer

destructive to oneself or others

question

Unjustifiable

answer

without a rational basis

question

Disturbing

answer

troublesome to other people

question

Atypical

answer

so different it violates a norm

question

Medical Model

answer

concept that mental illnesses have physical causes that can be diagnosed, treated, and cured

question

Bio-Psycho-Social Model

answer

contemporary perspective that assumes biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors combine and interact to produce psychological disorders

question

DSM-IV-TR

answer

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, text revision: American Psychiatric Association's widely used system for classifying psychological disorders by dividing into 7 categories

question

Sleep Debt

answer

according to Dement, brain keeps an accurate account; large debt makes you stupid, messes up immune system functioning, increases stress hormones, impairs concentration, etc; can be made up for

question

Personality Inventories

answer

objective questionnaires on which people respond to items designed to gauge a range of feelings and behaviors, used to assess selected personality traits

question

Projective Tests

answer

ask person to "project" unconscious motives onto an ambiguous image in a free-flowing, narrative style

question

Abraham Maslow

answer

humanistic psychologist who proposed the hierarchy of needs

question

Recognition and Recall Tasks

answer

perform memory recall tasks (recall a list of words) worse as we age, performance on memory recognition (recognizing words from choices on given list) stays stable

question

Anxiety Based Disorders

answer

generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posstraumatic stress disorder

question

Causes of Anxiety Based Disorders

answer

hereditary factors-predisposition, different brain functions, evolutionary factors, learning factors:classical conditioning, observation, reinforcement

question

Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

answer

anxiety begins to take control and dominate a person's life, at least 3 of:sleep disturbance, muscle tension, irritability, restlessness, feeling on edge, difficulty concentrating

question

Causes of Dissociative Disorders

answer

response to overwhelming stress

question

Symptoms of Dissociative Disorders

answer

sense of self has become separated from previous memories, thoughts, or feelings

question

Causes of Schizophrenia

answer

biological factors (different brain structure (less front lobe activity&more receptor sites), less brain tissue and more fluid, smaller thalamus, prenatal viruses), genetic predisposition, maybe disturbed family and stress

question

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

answer

delusions (false beliefs), hallucinations (false perceptions), inappropriate emotions or behaviors

question

Causes of Mood Disorders

answer

biological factors (heredity and brain function), social-cognitive factors (way we think-attributions:stable, internal, global, situations-as with learned helplessness)

question

Symptoms of Mood Disorders

answer

disturbance in emotions involving magnifications of normal moods (depression or mania)

question

Articles

answer

"Are you a natural?" "Beautiful brains" "Out of sight, not out of mind" "Who's crazy here, anyway"

Psychology Exam Study Guide – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards