Psychology Launchpad 1 – Flashcards

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Psychology
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science seeks to understand behavior and mental processes and apply it to the real world
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overt behavior
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directly observable behavior
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covert behavior
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thinking, dreaming, remembering
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basic research
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aimed at increasing the scientific knowledge base
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applied research
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aims to solve practical problems in the field
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Socrates
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power of reason and logic, through rational processes we can discern objective truths
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Plato
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ration processes provide knowledge, sensory info alone provides opinion, first to introduce conflict model
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Aristotle
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logic is important, important of studying sensory information
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Francis Bacon
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founder of modern science
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Hindsight Bias
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looking back at an experience and knowing it was going to happen
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Above Average Effect
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overconfidence, people overestimate how much they know
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Critical Thinking
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assessing claims and making judgements on the bases of well supported events
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Naturalistic Observation
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observing and recording behavior in the natural environment without attempting to control it
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Survey
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process of examining a phenomenon, both interviews and questionnaires
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Case Study
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one subject studies in depth to learn or discover some universal principles
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Correlational
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looking at relations, both positive and negative
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Experimental Research
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manipulates one or more independent variable and looks for changes in one or more dependent variables
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Independent Variable
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what is being manipulated
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Dependent Variable
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what is being measured, depends on the manipulation
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Control Group
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serves as a comparison to allow for evaluation of treatment
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Random Assignment
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assignment to condition by chance event
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Placebo
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an inert or inactive condition or substance
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Double Blind
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neither the participant nor researcher knows which condition the participant is in
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Neurons
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cells that communicate with each other within the brain
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Soma
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cell body
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Nucleus
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brain of the cell
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Dendrites
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sensorts, accept incoming information
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Axon
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transmission
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Terminal Branches
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end of the axon, sends to the next cell
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Myelin Sheath
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insulation of the brain
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Synaptic Gap
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gap in between neurons, electrical signals release neurotransmitters to communicate
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Neurotransmitters
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transmit information from one neuron to another specific receptor site, controls anything
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Acetylcholine
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activates motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles, contributes to regulation of attention, arousal ,and memory
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Electrical
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communication within neurons is...
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Chemical
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communication between neurons is...
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Dopamine
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controls voluntary movement and pleasurable emotions
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Schizophrenia
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increased levels of dopamine
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Parkinsons
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decreased levels of dopamine
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Seratonin
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helps to regulate sleep, wakefulness, eating, aggression, and mood
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OCD and Depression
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abnormal levels of seratonin
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Norepinephrine
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contributes to the modulation of mood, arousal, and alertness
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Endorphins
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contributes to pain relief and some pleasurable emotions
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Opiates
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highly addictive drugs similar to endorphins
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Brainstem
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most primitive part of the brain, controls anything outside of conscious awareness
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Medula
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controls the unconscious but vital functions
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Pons
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connects the medulla to the brain, coordinates body movement
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Reticular Formation
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attached to the spine
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Cerebellum
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coordinates all movement and balance, first area impacted by alcohol
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Limbic System
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major role in emotion and motivating behavior, designed to reward behavior that keeps you alive and remember it
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Thalamus
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relations information around the brain
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Hypothalamus
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plays a huge role on rewarding behavior, regulates basic biological drives
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Amygdala
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linked to major emotions like fear or rage
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Hippocampus
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plays a huge role in memory formation
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Corpus Callosum
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how two sides of the brain send information back and forth
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Occipital Lobe
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back of the brain, where all visual information is processed
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Parietal Lobe
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sensory input for touch and body position
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Temporal Lobe
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processes auditory information, language
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Frontal Lobe
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higher level mental processing, control of movement
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Wilhelm Wundt
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father of psychology, 1st lab, philosophy of mental processes to the science of mental processes
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Structuralism
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Edward Titchener, used introspection to explore the structure of the mind
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Introspection
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sound, quality, intensity, clarity
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Functionalism
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William James, focus on the function or purpose of conciousness
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Mary Calkins
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first female APA president
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Behaviorism
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if psychology is science, cannot 'study the mind', instead identify the environmental influences on behavior
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Humanisitic Psychology
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unique qualities of humans, optimistic view on nature
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Biophysical Approach
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biological perspective, psychological, social-cultural
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Phrenology
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if theres a big bump in your head, theres a function to that bump
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EEG (electroencephalography)
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record electrical activity on your scalp, completely safe and fast recording
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CT (computerized tomography)
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takes a series of X rays at all different points in your head, see structural changes in your brain
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PET (positron emission tomography)
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uses glucose molecules to observe brain activity
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fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)
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uses magnetic field to produce an image of the structure of the brain, measuring the oxygen use
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Consciousness
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the awareness of ourselves and the environment
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Conscious Level
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aware of what is going on
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Preconscious Level
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information that could be conscious readily but isn't currently
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Subconscious Level
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information that isn't readily accessible
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Dual Processing
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information is typically processes at both a conscious and subconscious level
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Attention
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selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring other things
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Selective Attention
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focusing our conscious awareness on something particular
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Selective Inattention
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in attentional blindness, blind to the rest of the environment because your not paying attention
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Circadian Rhythm
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24hr cycle of sleep and wakefulness, based on light
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Stage 1
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light sleep, hypnic jerks
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Stage 2
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body temperature drops, sleep spindles appear
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Stage 3
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delta waves (brain waves reducing)
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Stage 4
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deep sleep
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REM Sleep (rapid eye movement)
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rise in heart rate, rapid creating eyes dart, when you dream
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Insomnia
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persistent problems with falling or staying asleep
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Narcolepsy
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periodic, overwhelming sleepiness, some sort of trigger
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Sleep Apnea
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breathing stops during sleep, tend not to get into deep sleep
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Wish Fulfillment
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Freud, dreaming is your unconscious desires
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Information Processing
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consolidate memories during sleep
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Psychological Function
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brain stays active to repair neuro pathways
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Activation-Sythnesis
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activating pathways during REM sleep
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Cognitive Development
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as we develop, we learn more
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Washburn
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first woman to earn PhD in psychology
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introspection; Titchner
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Researchers today can use technology such as CAT scans and fMRI scans to measure brain activity. Some researchers ask their subjects to describe elements of their experiences (e.g., sensations, images, feelings) while undergoing the scans. This ___________ technique is similar to the methodology of ___________
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Behaviorism
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Your professor directs a child and adolescent clinic that specializes in shaping behavior through rewards and consequences. Which of the following branches of psychology does this clinic support?
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Basic; Applied
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The field of psychology is a collection of diverse subfields. Psychologists who conduct ____________ research contribute by expanding the knowledge base of psychology, whereas others who conduct ____________ research explore practical problems
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Developmental
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Dr. Hillburton has received approval for his research grant to study the effects of divorce on children aged 5-12 in terms of maturational milestones. Dr. Hillburton is most likely a _________________ psychologist
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Psychodynamic
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A focus on the extent to which behaviors and personality spring from drives and conflicts outside one's own awareness is most relevant to the ____________ perspective
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Structuralism
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The early school of psychology that employed the method of introspection was known as:
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Humanistic Psychology
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The leader of a self-help group has asked you to recommend an approach to psychology that emphasizes personal growth and people's need for love and acceptance. Which of the following branches of psychology would you recommend for this group?
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Social Cultural
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A focus on the different marriage rituals practiced by members of different ethnic groups is of most relevance to the ______________ perspective
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Neuroscience
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Which perspective is most relevant to understanding links between hormone levels and sexual motivation?
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Social-Cultural Influences
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If a clinician focuses primarily on the presence of others and peer and other group influences, they are focusing on:
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Wilhelm Wundt
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In an experiment conducted by Professor Costa, the participants' first task is to press any button if they see a red light blink. For the second task, they press the rightmost button if they see a red light blink and the leftmost button if they see a green light blink. Professor Costa is studying the difference in the average lag times of these two tasks. This is similar to experiments conducted by which of the following early psychologists?
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William James
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Psychologists who today focus on the adaptive function of behaviors and emotions (that is, those who study behaviors and emotions that appear to have allowed our ancestors to survive) would likely consider __________________ an early representative of their approach to psychology
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Thinking
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Compared with the structuralists, early behaviorists were much LESS likely to focus on the study of:
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Psychodynamic
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A focus on the extent to which behaviors and personality spring from drives and conflicts outside one's own awareness is most relevant to the ____________ perspective.
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A Biosychosocial Approach
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One way to develop a complete picture of any given behavior or mental process is to incorporate an integrated viewpoint that examines biological, psychological, and social-cultural factors. This is also known as:
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Plato
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Professor Schroeder argues that children's innate concept of justice enables them to make distinctions between fair and unfair rules. This argument is most consistent with the views of:
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Hindsight Bias
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After physicians are given case information and an autopsy report, they are very likely to presume that they could have figured out the cause of death with the case information alone. This tendency to believe that one would have foreseen something, after learning of an outcome, is called:
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They will be more confident than they will be correct in their predictions.
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Several groups of American stockbrokers have been asked to predict the future of stock markets in Japan. Which of the following is the most likely scenario in terms of their predictions?
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are engaging in critical thinking.
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You and your best friend are discussing fossil fuel usage, and your friend says that carbon emissions are up 15%. You ask where he pulled that number from as you:
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placebo effect
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This may occur when subjects get more benefit from the human contact of a research study than from the actual treatment under clinical investigation.
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theory
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A large pharmaceutical company has a new medication that targets specific neurotransmitters known to be involved in anxiety. They believe that this new medication may be useful for treating anxiety. This belief is a(n):
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control
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In a study of whether alcohol consumption might affect memory, research participants were assigned to drink either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage prior to completing a memory test. Those who drank the nonalcoholic beverage participated in the _____________ condition.
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dendrites, the cell body, axon, terminal branches of the axon.
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The correct order of the structures of the motor neuron is:
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the majority rules.
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The "decision" as to whether a neuron fires or not can be described as most similar to:
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Ach
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Milton has been having considerable trouble with his short-term memory. His family has noticed a number of mistakes Milton has been making (e.g., leaving doors unlocked, getting lost in the neighborhood, forgetting family member's names). It appears that the _____________ producing neurons are deteriorating.
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the spinal cord.
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An automatic reflex such as a knee jerk or withdrawing a hand from a flame involves:
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The hand-withdrawal reflex involves only the spinal cord, so it takes time before the information about pain reaches the brain.
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You are babysitting your two-year-old nephew for the first time. While your back is turned, he touches his index finger to the pan you just took out of the oven. He pulls his finger away quickly, and a few seconds later begins to scream. Why is his screaming delayed in comparison to pulling away his finger?
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severed spinal cord
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Although Naeem has no genital sensations, he is capable of an erection if his genitals are stimulated. Naeem's experience is most indicative of a:
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sex, food, and aggression
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A friend has asked you to explain how hormones influence our interest in certain behaviors. Which of the following topics could you address?
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hormones
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our boss tells you some news that disturbs you, but a phone call from your spouse distracts you. After you get off the phone, you have a lingering feeling that something is not quite right, but you cannot pinpoint what it is. It is likely you are reacting to the continued effect of:
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raises; raises
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The release of epinephrine and norepinephrine __________ blood pressure and __________ blood sugar levels.
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medulla
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The ____________ is responsible for heartbeat and breathing.
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amygdala
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The limbic system structure that influences aggression is called the:
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frontal
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Which lobe of the cerebral cortex is most directly involved in speaking?
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left cerebral hemisphere
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Research with split-brain patients led Michael Gazzaniga to conclude that the _____________ typically constructs the theories people offer to explain their own behaviors.
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corpus callosum
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Dr. Hauser is a neurosurgeon working with patients who have major epileptic seizures. What part of the brain might Dr. Hauser sever to help reduce his patients' seizures?
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ted
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Dr. Render is a neuropsychologist who works with post-surgical patients who have had surgery to sever their corpus callosums (to reduce severe seizures). When she presents the word "SAL-TED" to one patient, "SAL" transmits to his left visual field and "TED" to his right visual field. She then asks him to tell her what he saw. What does this patient say?
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parallel processing
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Without fail, when you are talking to your best friend about something important, she continues to check her PDA and watch for people she knows. Nevertheless, she seems able to listen attentively and respond appropriately to what you are saying. This type of behavior is evidence of:
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selective attention.
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Drivers detect traffic signals more slowly if they are also conversing on a cell phone. This best illustrates the impact of:
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complain of insomnia.
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Every night, after a late dinner, Sasha has a strong cup of coffee before working out at the gym. On her way home, she likes to stop for a double-chocolate frozen yogurt. Finally, she watches the late news and drinks two glasses of red wine, because she has heard that red wine is good for you. Based on this routine, sleep experts might predict that Sasha would be likely to:
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90; 100
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The sleep cycle repeats itself about every ___ minutes. By morning, about ___ minutes have been in REM sleep.
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a biological rhythm.
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The 90-minute sleep cycle provides an example of:
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