Term
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Definition
| Systematic study of behavior and experience. |
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Term
| First psychological laboratory |
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Definition
| Wilhelm Wundt started the first lab in 1879 at the University of Leipzig |
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Term
| Studies conducted in first lab |
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Definition
| They wanted to study the basic structure of the human mind. |
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Term
| Introducer to Functionalist approach to psychology and description. |
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Definition
| William James introduced it. It is learning how people determine useful behaviors. |
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Term
| Behaviorist approach and founder. |
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Definition
| John Watson studied animals and started the behaviorism field, this field focused on the fact that only observable behavior is appropriate focus of study and mental processes did not matter. |
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Term
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Definition
Psych is a science because it uses scientific methods and collects data it also develops general laws.
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Term
| What is a hypothesis and how is it related to a theory? |
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Definition
| Hypothesis is a statement that relates one or more variables to one or more other variables. It relates to a theory because it can provide some explanation for an event, the event is just unproven. |
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Term
| What is a theory? What are the criteria for evaluating scientific theories? |
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Definition
| A set of statements that provides an explanation for an event. They should 1) be falsifiable 2) predict new observations and generate novel research/theoretical insights 3) be as simple as possible. |
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Term
What does it mean that a theory is falsifiable?
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Definition
It is stated in such clear terms that you can see what evidence could count against it.
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Term
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Definition
| It is the most basic and well established consistent theory or hypothesis that fits the facts out of many. It is conservative because it goes with history. Clever Hans was parsimony because he was way out of the norm and psychologists did not think it true that a horse could do math problems. |
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Term
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Definition
Decoding the behaviors of targets or searching for patterns in the accumulated documents of a culture.
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Term
| Experimenter bias distort the findings in a research study |
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Definition
| They might distort the results of an experiment based off expected outcome |
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Term
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Definition
Blind study is when the patient does not know about an aspect of the study.
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Term
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Definition
| It involves systematically measuring the relationship between two or more variables |
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Term
| Correlational coefficient |
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Definition
The coefficient indicates the strength of the relationship.
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Term
| If two variables are correlated, can we say that one causes changes in the other? |
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Definition
No we cannot there may be another variable. If A may cause B, B may cause A, but A and B can be correlated with C.
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Term
What is an experiment? What makes it different from other research methods?
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Definition
| Involves systematically manipulating one variable and examining its effects on another. Its different because the researcher as some control over the experiment. |
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Term
| What are the components of an experiment? |
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Definition
| 1) Make sure nothing else besides the IV can affect the DV 2) Randomly assign people to conditions. |
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Term
| What are independent and dependent variables? |
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Definition
Independent Variable is manipulated by researcher. Dependent Variable one measured by researcher to see if change depended on Independent Variable.
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Term
| Distinguish between the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system |
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Definition
| The Central Nervous system is the whole brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system is the more specific functions of the brain. |
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Term
What are the subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system and what do these divisions do?
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Definition
The Somatic branch is all voluntary action. The Autonomic is involuntary with the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems within.
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Term
| What is the basic function of the spinal cord? |
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Definition
It connects the brain to the Peripheral Nervous System and enables both voluntary and involuntary action.
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Term
What are the functions of the autonomic nervous system?
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Definition
To keep the self-governed parts of the body running smoothly.
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Term
Describe the action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system.
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Definition
| Sympathetic is in charge of heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and muscular tension. Parasympathetic in charge of surpressing the sympathetic processes. |
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Term
Describe the phenomenon of voodoo death.
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Definition
| Intense Fear leads to Rapid switch between SNS and PNS which leads to deficits in neurological chemicals there is then an increase of waste products in metabolism and the neurons stop working. |
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Term
Describe the general location and functions of each of the four lobes of the cerebral cortex.
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Definition
Frontal, in the front, functions of planning, memory, fine motor movements, “ the control center” of judgment, intellect, the will, etc....
Parietal, the sides, function of bodily sensation, touch, pain, etc....
Occipital, back, function of vision |
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Term
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Definition
| Cells in the brain that are not neurons |
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Term
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Definition
contains nucleus, determines whether to fire, keeps cell alive.
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Term
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Definition
| “tail” often insulated by myelin sheath, sends signal away from neuron to other cells |
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Term
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Definition
| “branches” receives messages from other neurons and transmits them to the cell body |
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Term
| Briefly describe an action potential, including an explanation of the all-or-none law. |
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Definition
| Action potential is when a electrochemical process happens and sodium ions enter the axon. All or none law says the action happens or it doesn’t |
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Term
What is a resting potential, and how does it turn into an action potential?
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Definition
| An axon is stimulated by a message, Sodium leaves the cell and potassium enters thus makes a flow of a charge and cell goes back to resting state |
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Term
Describe the communication process that occurs between neurons including descriptions of the synapse, the terminal button, neurotransmitters, and post-synaptic neuron. Describe the possible effects of a neurotransmitter on a post-synaptic neuron.
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Definition
| As something happens to you 1) axon potential is initiated and it hits the axon terminal the synaptic end bulb releases neurotransmitters stored in synaptic vesicles 2) Neurotransmitters cross the synapse to the next neuron where they “lock” into other receptor sites and the messages is relayed. |
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Term
Describe the effect of alcohol.
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Definition
It acts as an antagonist and blocks the receptor site for neurotransmitters
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Term
Describe the effects of marijuana. How does marijuana work in the nervous system?
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Definition
Also an antagonist and blocks certain NT’s so you feel “high”
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Term
Briefly describe the chronic effects that drugs can have. What are the characteristics of withdrawal? Define drug tolerance and how it develops.
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Definition
It can cause dependence in including 1) withdrawal effects so you take the drug to get rid of adverse effects. 2) physical dependence which user requires drug in order to avoid or reduce withdrawal symptoms. 3) psychological dependence is a strong repetitive desire to use the drug.
Drug tolerance can increase after user repeats use. |
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Term
Define "sensation" and "perception." What is the difference between them?
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Definition
| Sensation is the detection of physical energy that has stimulated the sensory organs. Perception is the interpretation of the sensory information. Sensation if biological process and perception is psychological process. |
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Term
Describe the location and functions of visual receptors (rods and cones).
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Definition
| Rods on peripheral retina, and detects black, white, and gray, mostly for low light. Cones near center of retina and they detect fine detail, color, and are good for daylight. |
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Term
How does the gate theory explain pain perception?
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Definition
It says that spinal cord is able to block pain messages.
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Term
How does the sensory decision theory of pain explain pain perception?
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Definition
We decide if stimulation is actually painful.
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Term
What is the neurotransmitter that underlies pain? What is the relation of this substance to endorphins?
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Definition
Substance P relates to endorphins because
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Term
Define the concept of sensory threshold. What is an absolute sensory threshold?
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Definition
| The point at which stimulation is strong enough to be noticed. Absolute sensory threshold is the minimum stimulation to detect a stimulus 50% of the time. |
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Term
What is the cocktail party effect?
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Definition
| The ability to focus one’s listening attention on a single talker when there are other simultaneous conversations and background noise. |
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Term
Many people believe that humans can be influenced by subliminal stimuli. What is subliminal perception?
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Definition
When stimuli are detectable less than 50% of the time.
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Term
What allegations do people make about its effects? Describe some real effects that subliminal stimuli have on behavior.
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Definition
| People say we can subliminally gives messages to people and we can’t. Real effects are that images can effect ones perception of someone else. |
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Term
Gestalt psychologists claim that “the whole is different from the sum of its parts” What does this mean?
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Definition
We perceive things differently if they are in different parts rather than a whole. EX: Smiley face
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Term
What are the stages of perception? How do we organize and interpret information?
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Definition
Stages of organization are selection of information, organization of information and interpretation of information. We organize by Law of Proximity, Law of similarity, Law of closure, and Law of good continuation
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Term
Describe the assumptions that underlie Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
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Definition
Children go through phases, cognitive development is result of the biology of the organism, there are profound differences between adults and children.
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Term
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Definition
| an organized way of interacting with objects in the world. |
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Term
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Definition
| means applying an old schema to new objects or problems. |
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Term
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Definition
| means modifying an old schema to fit a new object or problem. |
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Term
Briefly describe the general characteristics (and approximate ages) of the four stages of cognitive development proposed by Piaget.
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Definition
Sensorimotor Stage Birth to age 2, Growth of sensory and motor abilities, lack object permanence, repetitive behavior
Preoperational Stage 2 to 7 years old, Lack principle of conservation, don’t understand reversibility, show egocentrism
Concrete Operational Stage 7 to 11 years old, Solve practical problems, less egocentric, understand conservation and reversibility
Formal Operational Stage 11 years and up, understand abstract things and understand things in which they have no experience |
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Term
How does Vygotsky’s theory differ from Piaget’s?
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Definition
Cognitive abilities emerge out of our interactions with others, there is no stage view, and intellectual development does not end in adolescence with formal operational thinking.
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Term
What is the basic idea behind Kohlberg’s theory of moral development and what was Gilligan’s criticism of his theory? Describe Kolberg’s stages of moral development.
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Definition
Pre-conventional level, children obey rules because they are ordered to or want to avoid punishment or get a reward
Conventional, don’t rock the boat, children abide by certain standards and social conventions, concerned about approval and good relations with others
Post-Conventional, development of abstract, absolute principles of justice, may conflict with accepted standards, life is more precious than private property. |
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Term
What is attachment and what did Harlow’s research reveal about the important factors underlying attachment?
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Definition
Attachment is a long term feeling of closeness between people contact comfort is important EX: Wire monkey
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Term
Describe the Strange Situation procedure and the different types of attachment that are typically observed.
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Definition
Infants are placed in a room and a stranger enters and the mother leaves and returns.
Three reactions are Secure- means responsive caregivers with positive attitudes
Anxious- caregivers are responsive but inconsistent
Avoidant- Caregivers react in angry, resentful and impatient ways. |
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