Psych Final

Question 1

Extrinsic motivation

Answer 1

motivation to perform an activity because of the external goals toward which that activity is directed.

Question 2

Intrinsic motivation

Answer 2

Motivation to perform an activity because of the value or pleasure associated with that activity itself.

Question 3

Bystander intervention effect

Answer 3

the failure to offer help by those who observe someone in need when other people are present.

Question 4

Explicit attitudes

Answer 4

attitudes that a person can report

Question 5

Implicit attitudes

Answer 5

attitudes that influence a persons feelings and behavior at at unconscious level.

Question 6

Psychological science

Answer 6

is the study through research of the mind, brain and behavior

Question 7

Nature/Nurture debate

Answer 7

the arguments concerning whether psychological characteristics are biologically innate or acquired through environmental factors e.g education, experience and culture.

Question 8

Behaviorism

Answer 8

is a psychological approach that emphasizes the role of the environment (nurture) in influencing behavior.

Question 9

Four important levels that psychological science is studied

Answer 9

-Biological, individual, social, cultural level of analysis.

Question 10

Four primary goals of Science

Answer 10

Description- describing what a phenomenon e.g the feeling of envy is
Prediction- predicting when it might occur
Control- Controlling the conditions under which it occurs: controlling what causes it to occur.
Explanation- explaining why it occurs.

Question 11

Dr. Aki is investigation the relationship between stress and obesity. In his latest study, he found that stress often leads to obesity because it causes overeating and has slowing effects on metabolism. Which of the four primary goals of science is his addressing with his most recent work?

Answer 11

Explanation

Question 12

Key feature of a good theory

Answer 12

Falsifiable with testable hypotheses. Good theories also tend toward simplicity: The law of parsimony

Question 13

Neuron

Answer 13

The basic units or building blocks of the nervous system; nerve cells that receive, integrate and transmit information in the nervous system.

Question 14

Central Nervous System

Answer 14

brain and spinal cord

Question 15

Peripheral Nervous System

Answer 15

all nerve cells in the body that are not part of the CNS includes the somatic and automatic nervous system.

Question 16

Neurotransmitters

Answer 16

Chemical substances that transmit signals from one neuron to another.

Question 17

Endocrine System

Answer 17

a communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts, behaviors and actions

Question 18

Sensation

Answer 18

the detection of external stimuli and the transmission of this information to the brain

Question 19

Perception

Answer 19

the processing, organization and interpretation of sensory signals.

Question 20

Transduction

Answer 20

the process by which sensory stimuli are converted to neural impulses so that the brain can interpret them.

Question 21

What percentage of the cerebral cortex is said to be involved in vision?

Answer 21

50%

Question 22

Learning

Answer 22

a relatively enduring change in behavior, resulting from experience. Associations develop through conditioning.

Question 23

Conditioning

Answer 23

a process in which environmental stimuli and behavioral responses become connected.

Question 24

Classical Conditioning

Answer 24

learning occurs when two types of events are paired closely in time.

Question 25

Operant Conditioning

Answer 25

learning occurs because of the consequences that follow the behavior.

Question 26

Reinforcement

Answer 26

positive or negative increases the probability or likelihood of the behavior.

Question 27

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 27

a pleasurable stimulus is delivered after a behavior e.g giving a dog a treat after sitting.

Question 28

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 28

an aversive stimulus is removed or postponed after a behavior e.g turning on the AC when its hot.

Question 29

Encoding

Answer 29

the processing of information so that it can be stored.

Question 30

Storage

Answer 30

the retention of encoded representations over time

Question 31

Retrieval

Answer 31

the acts of recalling or remembering stored information when it is needed.

Question 32

Episodic memory

Answer 32

memory for ones personal past experiences.

Question 33

Semantic memory

Answer 33

memory for knowledge about the world.

Question 34

Procedural memory

Answer 34

a type of implicit memory that involves motor skill and behavioral habit e.g coordinating muscle movements to ride a bicycle.

Question 35

Intelligence

Answer 35

the ability to use knowledge to reason, make decisions, make sense of events, use knowledge to solve problems, understand complex ideas, learn quickly, and adapt to environmental changes.

Question 36

Fluid Intelligence

Answer 36

intelligence that reflects the ability to process information, particularly in novel or complex circumstances e.g working memory, flexibility.

Question 37

What effects brain development?

Answer 37

a broad range of environmental factors e.g life experience, nutrition, weather, social environment.

Question 38

What is a mental disorder caused by?

Answer 38

biological and environmental factors

Question 39

OCD

Answer 39

a disorder characterized by frequent intrusive thoughts (obsession) and compulsive action. Affecting 1-2% of the population typically diagnosed between the age of 10 and 12 and between the late teens and early adulthood 18-25. People with OCD are typically aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational yet they are unable to stop them.

Question 40

What is more common, Major Depressive disorder or Bipolar disorder?

Answer 40

MDD

Question 41

Anxiety Disorder

Answer 41

a psychological disorder characterized by excessive fear and anxiety in the absence of true danger.

Question 42

What is the best treatment for anxiety disorder?

Answer 42

Cognitive Behavioral therapy because of its effectiveness long-term.