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Intro To Psychology
Exam 1 Study Guide
162
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
01/19/2016

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What is the definition of psychology?
Definition
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Term
Name the 3 philosophers that impacted the beginnings of psychology.
Definition
Aristotle, Descartes and Locke
Term
What was Descartes' contribution to the beginnings of psychology?
Definition
The mind is separate from the body
Term
What was Locke's contribution to the beginnings of psychology?
Definition
People are born blank slates and are formed by experience
Term
What was Gall's contribution to the beginnings of psychology?
Definition
Phrenology: study of bumps on your head
Term
What was Darwin's contribution to the beginnings of psychology?
Definition
Humans are a species of animal and can be studied as such
Term
What was Wundt's contribution to the beginnings of psychology?
Definition
Conducted the first experiment and first lab
Term
What technique did Wundt use to examine conscious experience?
Definition
Introspection
Term
What was James's contribution to the beginnings of psychology?
Definition
Wrote the first textbook and trained the first female PhD
Term
Who was the first female PhD student in psychology (though she was denied the degree by Harvard)
Definition
Mary Calkins
Term
How do behaviorists define psychology?
Definition
Scientific study of observable behavior
Term
The _________ perspective of psychology focuses on the brain and nervous system in understanding who we are. They believe that "everything psychological is, at the same time, biological"
Definition
Neuroscience
Term
The ___________ perspective focuses on how heredity and experience influence who we become
Definition
Behavioral Genetics
Term
The __________ perspective focuses on discovering the survival functions of behaviors, and how natural selection has influenced who we have become
Definition
Evolutionary
Term
The ___________ perspective focuses on how unconscious urges and conflicts influence us
Definition
Psychodynamic
Term
The __________ perspective focuses of the scientific study of behavior and how behavior is shaped by the environment
Definition
Behavioral
Term
The ___________ perspective focuses on how we think (memory, problem-solving, etc.)
Definition
Cognitive
Term
The _________ perspective focuses on the social and cultural influences on our thoughts and behaviors
Definition
Social-cultural
Term
What is a case study?
Definition
In depth studies of one individual or group (rare cases)
Term
Diane Fossey and Jane Goodall are famous for their groundbreaking naturalistic observations. Describe this research technique
Definition
Observing and recording a subject's behavior in their natural environment
Term
What does correlational research tell us?
Definition
Whether or not two or more variables are related
Term
I have discovered a positive correlation between 2 variables. What does this mean? Give an example.
Definition
Variables change in the same direction.
SAT score and college GPA.
Term
I have discovered a negative correlation between 2 variables. What does this mean? Give and example.
Definition
Variables change in different directions.
Self-esteem and Depression
Term
Testing for correlations scientifically helps us to avoid making illusory correlations. What are those?
Definition
Perception of a relationship where none exist
Term
What does correlational not tell us
Definition
Causation
Term
_________ research is when we manipulate one or more variables to see if that has an effect of a behavior
Definition
Experimental
Term
What type of research answers questions for us regarding cause and effect?
Definition
Experimental Research
Term
If I tell you to operationally define your variables, what does that mean?
Definition
Define variables in terms of how you intend to measure them
Term
In an experiment, the _______ variable is the measured variable; The ________ variable is the manipulated variable
Definition
Dependent; Independent
Term
In and experiment, the _______ group receives the independent variable; The _______ group receives a placebo
Definition
Experimental; Control
Term
Label the 5 parts of the neuron
Definition
Dendrites; Cell Body; Nucleus; Axon; Myelin Sheath; Terminal Buttons
Term
What do the dendrites of a neuron do?
Definition
Receive information from the other neurons in the form of chemical signals
Term
What is an action potential
Definition
Electrical signal that travels down the axon
Term
Why does and action potential travel faster down axons with myelin sheath?
Definition
The axon is insulated by the myelin sheath
Term
What happens when the electrical charge of a neuron reaches the terminal buttons
Definition
Causes the vesicle to burst
Term
What is inside the vesicles of a neuron?
Definition
Sacs of chemicals (Neurotransmitters)
Term
What is a synapse?
Definition
Space between neurons
Term
What happens during the process of reuptake
Definition
Excess neurotransmitters get sucked back up into the terminal buttons and reform
Term
What happens when someone has too much acetylcholine (ACh) in their brain, like when someone gets bit by a black widow spider
Definition
Violent muscle contractions
Term
How does Curare, a poison used in South America on the tips of hunting darts, work in the brain
Definition
Causes paralysis
Term
People with Alzheimer's disease take a drug call Aricept, which replenishes the their brains' level of the neurotransmitter __________, which is involved in memory
Definition
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Term
What's the "wiggin' out" neurotransmitter?
Definition
Dopamine
Term
How are schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease related?
Definition
Too much dopamine = Schizophrenia
Too little dopamine = Parkinson's Disease
Term
People with depression don't have enough of the neurotransmitter ________ in their brains
Definition
Serotonin
Term
What is the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
Definition
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the bod's sense receptors, muscles and glands
Term
What kinds of neurons carry messages form the body inward to the CNS?

What kinds of neurons carry messages from the CNS outward to the body
Definition
Sensory;
Motor
Term
What does the Somatic Nervous System do?
Definition
Controls the body's skeletal muscles
Term
What does the Autonomic Nervous System do?
Definition
Controls the glands and muscles of the internal organs
Term
What is the difference between the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system?
Definition
Sympathetic: arouses you for action
Parasympathetic: calms everything down
Term
What is the brain's oldest part?
What is it responsible for?
Definition
Brain-stem: controls heartbeat, breathing and receives information from the senses
Term
What are the medulla's primary functions?
Definition
Heartbeat and breathing
Term
What are the thalamus's primary functions?
Definition
Receive information from the senses (except smell) and send to higher brain regions
Term
The _________ is the 'butt' of the brain. It is responsible for coordinated movement, balance and procedural learning
Definition
Cerebellum
Term
Name the 3 parts of the limbic system
Definition
Hippo-campus
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
Term
What is the primary function of the hippo-campus?
Definition
Storage of memories
Term
What is the primary function of the amygdala?
Definition
Emotions (especially, fear and anger)
Term
What is the primary function of the hypothalamus?
Definition
Regulate physical need
Term
The two hemispheres of the brain are joined together by a large band of neural fibers called the _________ __________.
Definition
Corpus Callosum
Term
In "split brain patients," what has been cut?
Definition
Corpus Callosum
Term
Name two specialties of the Left hemisphere of the brain
Definition
Speech, Grammar, and Logic
Term
Name two specialties of the Right hemisphere of the brain
Definition
Recognizing faces and emotion, art and metaphors
Term
Properly label the 4 lobes of the brain
Definition
Frontal Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Parietal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Term
The _________ lobe is primarily responsible for sensory information, such as touch and body position.
The _________ lobe is primarily responsible for vision.
Definition
Parietal;
Occiptial
Term
The _________ lobe is primarily responsible for planning and personality.
The _________ lobe is primarily responsible for hearing and language.
Definition
Frontal;
Temporal
Term
________ ________ sustained damage to his ______ lobe during a railroad accident. According to his friends he was never the same person after that
Definition
Phineas Gage; Frontal
Term
What is the definition of consciousness?
Definition
Awareness of ourselves and our environment
Term
What does the dual processing principle postulate?
Definition
Much of our everyday thinking operates outside of our conscious awareness.
Term
What is selective attention?
Definition
Focusing of conscious attention on a particular thing
Term
What is the cocktail party effect?
Definition
Our ability to pay attention to only one voice among many
Term
What are the brain waves in stage 1 of sleep?
Definition
Theta waves
Term
What are hypnagogic sensations?
Definition
Characterized by false perceptions that are like hallucinations
Term
What are the brain waves in stage 2 of sleep?
Definition
Sleep spindles
Term
What are the brain waves in stage 4 of sleep?
Definition
Delta waves
Term
What is the fifth stage of sleep called? Why?
Definition
REM: Rapid Eye Movements
Term
During what stage of sleep are we internally aroused, as if awake, but outwardly paralyzed (AKA paradoxical sleep) ?
Definition
REM
Term
In what stage of sleep do we have our most vivid dreams?
Definition
REM
Term
Give one reason why we sleep and briefly explain it
Definition
Health: Sleep restores the body
Term
List 3 health risks related to sleep deprivation
Definition
Weakens the immune system
Slows reaction time
Increases likelihood of weight gain
Term
How could sleep have been protective for our ancestors?
Definition
Hid from predators
Term
What does REM sleep have to do with memory?
Definition
This is when we encode and consolidate our memories
Term
What is the major symptom of insomnia?
Definition
Persistent problems falling and staying asleep
Term
What is the major symptom of narcolepsy?
Definition
Periodic overwhelming urges to sleep
Term
What is the major symptom of sleep apnea?
Definition
Stop breathing during sleep
Term
What are night terrors?
Definition
Sudden arousal and intense fear
"Nightmares on crack"
Term
What is somnambulism?
Definition
Sleep walking
Term
According to Freud, what are dreams?
Definition
Expressions of unconscious wish fufillment
Term
What are phallic symbols? Give an example
Definition
Symbols of unconscious urges
Term
According to most cognitive psychologists, what are dreams?
Definition
Result of your brain sorting and filing the days thoughts
Term
What does the activation-synthesis hypothesis have to say about dreams?
Definition
Brains attempt to make sense of random neural firings
Term
What is hypnosis?
Definition
Altered state of awareness in which the individual is unusually susceptible to suggestion
Term
What kinds of people are most likely to be hypnotized?
Definition
The people who get lost in thoughts and tasks easily
Term
Can hypnosis be used to reliably enhance recall of forgotten events? Briefly explain
Definition
No, you are too susceptible to suggestion
Term
What can't a hypnotist get a hypnotized person to do?
Definition
Violate their personal beliefs or do extreme things
Term
What is hypnosis used for?
Definition
Therapy and stress/pain relief
Term
How do depressants work on the brain?
Definition
Slow neural activity
Term
List 3 effects of alcohol on the brain.
Definition
Slows activity in frontal lobe
Slows activity in cerebellum
Blocks REM
Term
Give 2 examples of depressants
Definition
Alcohol
Heroin
Morphine
Barbiturates
Term
How do stimulants work on the brain?
Definition
Speed up neural activity
Term
Give 2 examples of stimulants
Definition
Amphetamines
Ecstasy
Caffeine
Nicotine
Cocaine
Term
What are 2 ways Ecstasy affects the neural pathways?
Definition
Trigger an over-release of dopamine and serotonin
Term
What do hallucinogens do in the brain?
Give and example of a hallucinogen
Definition
Mimic neurotransmitters and create false perceptions
LSD and weed
Term
Each cell nucleus contains 46 ___________
Definition
Chromosomes
Term
If all your chromosome pairs are XX you are a _________.
If all your chromosome pairs are XY you are a _________.
Definition
Female
Male
Term
Each chromosome is composed of a coiled chain (or ladder) of ____.
The links of that chain (or ladder) are called ________.
Definition
DNA
Genes
Term
Most of our traits are influenced not by individual genes per se, but by ______ ________
Definition
Genes Complexes
Term
Who conducted the first twin study in 1979?
Definition
Bourchard
Term
Briefly explain how to conduct a twin study to examine the effects of genes on traits.
Definition
Compare identical twins that were raised apart and see how similar they are.
Term
Briefly explain how to conduct an adoption study to examine the effects of genes on traits.
Definition
Compare an adopted child to both sets of parents (Biological and Adoptive)
Term
Adoption studies have shown which set of parents to be most influential in determining one's personality? What about manner and values?
Definition
Biological
Adoptive
Term
Give the definition of natural selection discussed in class.
Definition
The process through which traits that lead to increased reproduction and survival will get passed on to future generations
Term
Nature "selects" animals with traits that make them the ______ in their environment
Definition
fittest
Term
Species change because of ________ or random genetic variation, that occur in each generation. These random occurrences are the key to evolution
Definition
mutations
Term
How could our love of sweet and fatty foods be explained evolutionarily?
Definition
Our ancestors needed to store fat because they needed to work for food
Term
How could our common fears be explained evolutionarily?
Definition
Spiders, snakes and heights
Benefited our ancestors to avoid these things
Term
How could the make sex drive be explained evolutionarily?
Definition
Males can have more babies by having more sex;
Also, males do not have to invest in the baby once it's born
Term
Name one physical trait heterosexual men find attractive in women and explain it from an evolutionary perspective. Do the same for heterosexual women.
Definition
Men like a woman's hips because they more easily give birth to the child.
Women like a man's physique (muscles, broad shoulders) because that meant the man could provide and protect for the woman.
Term
How could the prenatal environment affect who we become?
Definition
The nutrition and toxins the mother consumes affects the baby
Term
How could an enriched early environment affect who we become?
Definition
Increase brain wight by 7-10% and synapse by 20%
Term
Peer influence quickly come to exceed parental influence, especially in the social realm. This may be scary for parents, but evolutionarily speaking, it makes sense. Briefly explain.
Definition
We live, work and play in a world of our peers, not our parents
Term
What are norms?
Definition
Unspoken rules of behavior
Term
What are gender roles?
Definition
Expected behavior based on gender
Term
What is the definition of developmental psychology given in class?
Definition
The scientific study of the physical, mental and social/emotional changes that occur throughout our lifetime
Term
Immediately after conception, the fertilized eff is now called a(n) __________.
Definition
Zygote
Term
The "magical" cells that make up a zygote are called __________ cells.
Definition
Stem
Term
About 10 days post-conception, the mass of dividing cells attaches to the wall of the uterus. It is now called a(n) ________.
Definition
Embryo
Term
By 9 weeks post-conception, the mass of cells looks unmistakably human. It is now called a(n) _________.
Definition
Fetus
Term
At what point post conception does the fetus have a chance for survival outside the womb?
Definition
6 months post-conception
Term
What are taratogens? Give 2 examples.
Definition
Harmful agents;
Viruses, drugs, alcohol
Term
Briefly describe the rooting reflex in newborns.
Definition
If you brush their cheek, they will open their mouth and turn their head in order to find the nipple.
Term
Briefly describe the sucking reflex in newborns.
Definition
Will such on anything in their mouth
Term
Briefly describe the grasping reflex in newborns.
Definition
Close hand around anything placed in palm
Term
Briefly describe the stepping reflex in newborns.
Definition
Push off of any surface placed against the bottoms of their feet
Term
What is the universal order of motor skill development? In other words, give 4 motor skills in the order in which a baby develops them.
Definition
Roll over
Sit unsupported
Creep/crawl
Walk
Term
Define infantile amnesia.
Definition
The inability to remember what happens before the age of 3
Term
Why does infantile amnesia most likely occur?
Definition
At the age of 3, we develop language so we can begin to remember things
Term
Memories prior to the age of 3 years old are most likely false memories. How are they created?
Definition
Someone telling you something over and over that didn't happen, so your brain doesn't know the difference between reality and the imagination
Term
My niece Gwen is between 7-12 years old. According to Piaget, what stage of cognitive development is she in? What should we expect from her?
Definition
Concrete operational stage: Logic, math and conservation
Term
Name, in order, Piaget's 4 stages of cognitive development
Definition
Sensory motor stage
Pre-operational stage
Concrete operational stage
Formal operational stage
Term
Define object permanence. During which stage is it acquired?
Definition
The ability to recognize that things still exist even when they are out of sight;
Sensory Motor stage
Term
Children in Piaget's pre-operational stage of cognitive development are egocentric, but not self-centered. Briefly explain
Definition
Can't perceive the world from anyone else's perspective
Term
What is theory of mind? During what stage is it acquired?
Definition
Ability to what others know;
Pre-operational stage
Term
Define Piaget's concept of conservation. During which stage is it acquired?
Definition
Ability to recognize that quantity stays the same despite a change in shape;
Concrete operational stage
Term
Briefly describe the skills gained during Piaget's formal operations stage of cognitive development
Definition
Reasoning expands from concrete to abstract;
Hypothetical thinking, sarcasm, metaphors
Term
_________ separated monkeys from their mothers shortly after birth and raised them in isolation with two fake mothers, one made of bare wire and one made of terrycloth. From this work, he determined that ________, not food, is the basis of attachment
Definition
Harlow;
Contact comfort
Term
In animals, attachments based on familiarity often form shortly after birth. Some species of animals form attachments to the first moving thing that they see after birth/hatching. _________ discovered this in his work with ducklings. He called it ___________.
Definition
Lorenz;
Imprinting
Term
According to Erickson, emotionally we develop in stages that are marked by what?
Definition
Tasks or crises that we must overcome
Term
List in order, the first 4 stages of socio-emotional development according to Erikson
Definition
Trust vs. Mistrust
Autonomy vs. Doubt
Initiative vs. Guilt
Competence vs. Inferiority
Term
List, in order the last 4 stages of socio-emotional development according to Erikson
Definition
Identity vs. Confusion
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Integrity vs. Despair
Term
Psychical development in adolescence can be summed up in one word
Definition
Puberty
Term
At what age does puberty typically begin for girls? For boys?
Definition
Girls = 11
Boys = 13
Term
Both primary and secondary sex characteristics mature during puberty. Give examples of both
Definition
Primary = Reproductive organs and external genitalia
Secondary = Breast, Hips, Voice, Hair, Shoulders
Term
What is menarche?
Definition
1st menstrual period
Term
What is spermarche?
Definition
1st ejaculation
Term
In adolescents, the frontal lobe maturation lags behind limbic system maturation. How does this affect adolescent behavior?
Definition
Decisions are often emotion-based
Term
Define adolescent egocentrism
Definition
Belief that others are as pre-occupied with me as I am with myself
Term
Adolescent ego-centrism often leads to two incorrect ways of thinking. Name them.
Definition
Imaginary Audience and Personal Fable
Term
Define imaginary audience.
Definition
Belief that everyone notices them, always
Term
Define personal fable
Definition
Belief that one is unique and "no one gets me"
Term
Kohlberg proposed stages of moral reasoning development.Name all 3 stages in order.
Definition
Pre-conventional morality
Conventional morality
Post-conventional morality
Term
Choose one of Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning development and briefly describe it.
Definition
Post-conventional Morality:
Moral reasoning focuses on universal human rights (question laws and rights)
Term
Teenagers are struggling to develop their answer to the question, "Who am I?" Part of their answer to this question comes from their social identity. What is that?
Definition
The part of our self-concept that comes from group membership
Term
Pschologists are now defining a not-yet-settled phase of life that more and more are entering into between the ages of 18-25. People are taking more time to finish college, leave the nest, and establish careers. What are psychologists calling this phase of life?
Definition
Emerging Adulthood
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