question

social reproduction

answer

the structures and activities in place in a society that serve to transmit and reinforce social inequality from one generation to the next. Cultural capital and social capital are two mechanisms by which social reproduction occurs

question

social roles

answer

expectations for people of a given social status

question

social stratification

answer

the way that people are categorized in society; people can be categorized by race, education, wealth, and income

question

social support

answer

the perception that one is cared for a part of a social network; supportive resources can be tangible or emotional

question

society

answer

a group of people who share a culture and lives/interact with each other within a definable area

question

sociobiology

answer

the study of how biology and evolution have affected human social behavior. Primarily, it applies Darwin's principle of natural selection to social behavior, suggesting there is a biological basis for many behaviors

question

socioeconomic status

answer

often defined in terms of power, property, and prestige, because these three concepts tend to be related in U.S. society

question

sociology

answer

the study of how individuals interact with, shape, and are subsequently shaped by, the society in which they live

question

soma

answer

the cell body of a neuron

question

somatization disorder

answer

a psychological disorder characterized by a variety of physical symptoms over an extended time period, including: pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, sexual symptoms, and pseudoneurological symptoms

question

somatoform disorder

answer

a psychological disorder characterized primarily by physical symptoms and concerns, which may mimic physical disease. However, the symptoms are not explainable medically and do not improve with medical treatment

question

somnambulism

answer

sleepwalking

question

source monitoring error

answer

a specific type of error of recollection where a memory is incorrectly attributed to the wrong source

question

source traits

answer

the factors underlying human personality and behavior

question

spatial summation

answer

integration by a postsynaptic neuron of inputs (EPSPs and IPSPs) from multiple sources

question

specific phobia

answer

a persistent, strong, and unreasonable fear of a certain object or situation. Specific phobias are classified into four types depending on the types of triggers they involve, including: situational type, natural environment type, blood-injection injury type, and animal type

question

spontaneous recovery

answer

in classical conditioning, a reoccurrence of a previously extinct conditioned response in the presence of a conditioned stimulus. Often occurs after a period of time has passed since the initial extinction of the response

question

spotlight model

answer

model for visual attention, with a spotlight representing one's attention and its ability to unlock from a current target, move focus, and lock into a new target

question

spreading activation theory

answer

a theory of information retrieval that involves a search process where specific nodes are activated, which leads to the activation of related nodes, which leads to the activation of related nodes, and so one. A node does not become activated until it receives input signals from its neighbors that are strong enough to reach a response threshold. The effect of input signals is cumulative: the response threshold is reached by the summation of input signals from multiple nodes.

question

state

answer

situational factors that can influence personality and behavior; states are unstable, temporary, and variable

question

state capitalism

answer

a system in which companies are privately run, but works closely with the government in forming laws and regulations

question

status

answer

a socioeconomic term that refers to all the socially defined positions within a society

question

stereotype threat

answer

refers a to self-fulfilling fear that one will be evaluated based on a negative stereotype

question

steroid hormone

answer

a hormone derived from cholesterol. Steroids are generally hydrophobic and can easily cross the plasma membrane of cells, thus receptors for steroids are found intracellularly. Once the steroid binds to the receptor, the receptor-steroid complex acts to regulate transcription in the nucleus

question

stigma

answer

extreme disapproval of a person or group based on the person or groups actual or perceived deviance from society

question

stranger anxiety

answer

developmentally typical anxiety displayed by children from approximately eight to twelve months of age toward close contact with strangers. May be expressed by crying and clinging to familiar caregivers

question

subculture

answer

a segment of society that shares a distinct pattern of traditions and values that differs from that of the larger society

question

sucking relfex

answer

in response to anything touching the roof of the baby's mouth, it will begin to suck

question

summation

answer

the integration of input (EPSPs and IPSPs) from many presynaptic neurons by a single postysynaptic neuron, either temporarily or spatially. Summation of input can either stimulate the postysynaptic neuron and possibly lead to an action potential, or it can inhibit the neuron, reducing the likelihood of an action potential

question

superego

answer

according to Freud, the superego inhibits the id and influences the ego to follow moralistic rather than realistic goals. based on societal values as learned from one's parents, the superego makes judgments of right and wrong and strives for perfection. The superego seeks to gain psychological rewards such as feelings of pride and self-love, and to avoid psychological punishment such as feelings of guilt and inferiority

question

symbolic culture

answer

consists of symbols that carry a particular meaning and are recognized by people of the same culture. These symbols can communicate the values and norms of the culture

question

symbolic interactionism

answer

a micro-level theory in sociology, which examines the relationship between individuals and society by focusing on communication, the exchange of information through language and symbols. Symbolic interactionism suggests that the mind and self emerge through the social process of communciation or use of symbols

question

sympathetic nervous system (SNS)

answer

subdivision of the autonomic nervous system directing what is known as the \"fight or flight\" response to prepare the body for action. It increases heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels and directs the adrenal glands to release stress hormones

question

synapse

answer

a neuron-to-neuron, neuron-to-organ or muscle cell-to-muscle cell junction

question

synaptic cleft

answer

a microscopic space between the axon of one neuron and the cell body or dendrites of a second neuron, or between the axon of a neuron and an organ

question

telenceophalon

answer

the cerebral hemisphere

question

temperament

answer

dispositional emotional excitability. Tends to be fairly stable through the life span

question

temporal summation

answer

summation by a postsynaptic cleft of input from a single source over time

question

thalamus

answer

the central structure of the diencephalon of the brain. The thalamus acts as a relay station and major integrating area for sensory impulses

question

thermoreceptor

answer

a receptor that responds to changes in temperature

question

theta waves

answer

waves of low to moderate intensity and intermediate frequency present during stage 1 of lseep

question

tonic neck reflex

answer

in response to its head being turned to one side, a baby will stretch out its arm on the same side and the opposite arm bends up at the elbow. This reflex lasts about six to seven months

question

top-down processing

answer

a type of information processing that occurs when the brain applies experience and expectations to interpret sensory information; note that the brain in fact uses a combination of bottom-up processing and top-down processing

question

traditional authority

answer

a form of leadership where power is due to custom, tradition, or accepted practice

question

tropic hormone

answer

a hormone that controls the release of another hormone

question

tympanic membrane

answer

the membrane that separates the outer ear from the middle ear. The tympanic membrane is also known as the eardrum

question

unconditioned response

answer

a response that automatically follows and unconditioned stimulus, without necessitating learning and conditioning to create the link

question

unconditioned stimulus

answer

a stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response automatically, without necessitating learning and conditioning to create the link

question

undifferentiated-type schizophrenia

answer

a psychological disorder characterized by the basic criteria for schizophrenia, but symptoms that do not fit into one of the other subtypes

question

universal emotions

answer

six major emotions that appear to be universal across cultures: happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, disgust and anger

question

universal grammar

answer

basic rules of language, presumed to be innate, that allow the human mind to gain mastery of language from limited exposure during sensitive developmental years in early childhood

question

upward mobility

answer

an increase in social class

question

urbanization

answer

the growth of urban areas as the result of global change. Urbanization is tied to industrialization, and industrialized countries have more people living in urban areas than non-industrialized countries do

question

utilitarian organization

answer

an organization in which members get paid for their efforts, such as business

question

vagus nerves

answer

cranial nerve pair X. The vagus nerves are very large mixed nerves (carry both sensory input and motor output) that innervate virtually every visceral organ. They are especially important in transmitting parasympathetic input to the heart and digestive smooth muscle

question

values

answer

a culture's standards for evaluating what is good or bad

question

variable-interval schedule

answer

reinforcement schedule in which reward is offered after an unpredictable number of occurrences of a behavior

question

variable-ratio schedule

answer

reinforcement schedule in which reward is offered after an unpredictable time interval

question

visual cortex

answer

the area of the occipital lobe responsible for processing visual information

question

visuospatial sketchpad

answer

part of Alan Baddeley's model of working memory hat allows for the repetition of visuospatial info to aid with encoding it into memory

question

vitreous humor

answer

posterior segment of the eye. Only produced during fetal development

question

walking/stepping reflex

answer

in response to the soles of a baby's feet touching a flat surface, they will attempt to \"walk\" by placing one foot in front of the other. This reflex disappears around six weeks and reappears around 8-12 months when a baby learns to walk

question

Weber, Max

answer

Weber agreed with Marx's ideas about conflict theory, but he did not believe that the collapse of capitalism was inevitable; rather, he argued that there could be more than one source of conflict, such as conflict over inequalities in political power and social status. Max Weber, along with Emile Durkeim and Karl Marx, is considered a founding father of sociology

question

Weber's law

answer

this law pertains to sensory perception and dictates that two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion in order for their difference to be preceptible

question

welfare capitalism

answer

a system in which most of the economy is private with the exception of extensive social welfare programs to serve certain needs within society

question

Wernicke's area

answer

the are of the brain, located in the posterior section of the temporal lobe in the language-dominant hemisphere of the brain, that is involved with the comprehension of speech and written language. Individuals with damage to this area are unable to understand language and produce nonsensical sounds with the same rhythm and syntax as speech

question

white matter

answer

myelinated axons

question

working memory

answer

short-term memory for information in immediate awareness. According to Alan Baddeley, working memory consists of four components: central executive phonological loop visuospatial sketchpad episodic buffer

question

Yerkes-Dodson Law

answer

law that describes an upside down U-shaped relationship between arousal and performance. It asserts that a moderate level of arousal creates optimal performance. Too little arousal leads to complacency and too much arousal can be overwhelming

question

Zimbardo, Philip

answer

a psychologist best known for his prison study, which elucidated the extreme effects of role-playing in human behavior. A group of 24 male students were isolated and asked to play the roles of prisoners and guards; the participants adapted to their roles well beyond Zimbardo's expectations

Psych/Soc/Neuro MCAT #6 (social reproduction-

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards