Approaches in Psychology Key Words

Question 1

ACTH

Answer 1

Hormone released by the pituitary gland. Stimulates the adrenal glands to release adrenaline into the bloodstream

Question 2

Action potential

Answer 2

A spike in electric charge in an axon caused by sodium ions crossing the cell membrane.

Question 3

Adrenal glands

Answer 3

Small glands on top of each kidney that produce hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol

Question 4

Adrenaline

Answer 4

Key hormone in the stress response that is produced by the adrenal glands and increases heart rate, breathing rate etc.

Question 5

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 5

Sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary responses like breathing and heart rate

Question 6

Axon

Answer 6

A single long slender fiber that carries the nerve impulse away from the cell body

Question 7

Axon terminal

Answer 7

The very end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters and makes synaptic contact with the next neuron in the chain

Question 8

Behaviourism

Answer 8

The theory that human and animal behaviour can be explained in terms of conditioning, without considering thoughts or feelings

Question 9

Central nervous system

Answer 9

Sub-system of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord

Question 10

Chromosome

Answer 10

Hold the genetic material that is passed between parents and offspring. Humans have 23 pairs

Question 11

Classical conditioning

Answer 11

Learning through association when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together

Question 12

Cognitive neuroscience

Answer 12

An academic field that studies the influence of brain structures on mental processes using techniques such as brain scans

Question 13

Computer models

Answer 13

Software simulations of internal mental processes that are created in collaboration with computer scientists.

Question 14

Concordance rate

Answer 14

The extent to which both twins share the same characteristic

Question 15

Dendrites

Answer 15

Root like structures protruding from the cell body that receive signals from other neurons

Question 16

Dizygotic twins

Answer 16

Non-identical twins who share 50% of their genes

Question 17

Empirical

Answer 17

Based on scientific testing or personal experience rather than theory or logic

Question 18

Endocrine system

Answer 18

A collection of organs that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Question 19

Evolution

Answer 19

Gradual changes in an inherited characteristic of a species over many generations

Question 20

Excitation

Answer 20

Occurs when a link between a neurotransmitter and receptor site in a synapse makes the receptor site’s cell more likely to act

Question 21

Fight or flight response

Answer 21

The way an animal (including humans) responds to stress as it becomes physiologically aroused to fight an aggressor or to run away

Question 22

Genotype

Answer 22

A person’s unique genetic make-up that is coded in their chromosomes and fixed at conception

Question 23

Hormones

Answer 23

Biochemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream in order to target specific organs

Question 24

Hypothalamus

Answer 24

Part of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine system. Releases hormones that stimulate the pituitary gland

Question 25

Identification

Answer 25

Associating with a role model and adopting their behaviour because you want to be like them

Question 26

Imitation

Answer 26

Copying or reproducing behaviour that has been learned through observation

Question 27

Inference

Answer 27

Process of drawing conclusions about general patterns of behaviour

Question 28

Information processing model

Answer 28

The idea that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages

Question 29

Inhibition

Answer 29

occurs when a link between a neurotransmitter and receptor site in a synapse makes the receptor site’s cell less likely to act.

Question 30

Internal mental processes

Answer 30

The operations both conscious and unconscious that occur during thinking. For example, perception and memory

Question 31

Introspection

Answer 31

Observing and examining your own conscious thoughts and emotions

Question 32

Learning

Answer 32

A relatively lasting change in behaviour that is the result of experience

Question 33

Mediating cognitive factors

Answer 33

Internal mental processes that lie between the stimulus and the response

Question 34

Modelling

Answer 34

Imitating a role model or producing a specific behaviour that may then be imitated by the observer

Question 35

Motor neuron

Answer 35

Carries signals from the central nervous system to internal organs and muscles

Question 36

Myelin sheath

Answer 36

A fatty layer that protects the axon and speeds up the electrical transmission of the nerve impulse

Question 37

Monozygotic twins

Answer 37

Identical twins who share 100% of their genes

Question 38

Natural selection

Answer 38

The way that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances the ability to survive and reproduce will continue in future generations

Question 39

Negative reinforcement

Answer 39

Avoiding or removing something unpleasant when a behaviour is performed that increases the chance that the behaviour is repeated

Question 40

Nervous system

Answer 40

Bodily system consisting of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system that provides rapid responses to stimuli

Question 41

Neuron

Answer 41

Cells within the nervous system that process and transmit messages

Question 42

Neurotransmitter

Answer 42

Chemicals that transfer signals from one neuron to another across the synapses that lie between them

Question 43

Objective

Answer 43

Not influenced by private emotions, perceptions, or biases

Question 44

Operant conditioning

Answer 44

Learning through reinforcement where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences

Question 45

Parasympathetic nervous system

Answer 45

Sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that controls the 'rest and digest' response

Question 46

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 46

Sub-system of the nervous system that transmits messages from the body to the central nervous system and back again

Question 47

Phenotype

Answer 47

The expression of a person's genetic make-up that can be influenced by the environment

Question 48

Pituitary gland

Answer 48

The 'master gland' of the endocrine system which is located in the brain and controls the release of hormones from other glands

Question 49

Positive reinforcement

Answer 49

Receiving something pleasant when a behaviour is performed that increases the chance the behaviour is repeated

Question 50

Postsynaptic Receptor sites

Answer 50

In the dendrites of the receiving neuron, they take up the neurotransmitter once it has crossed the synaptic gap

Question 51

Punishment

Answer 51

Receiving something unpleasant when a behaviour is performed which decreases the chance the behaviour is repeated

Question 52

Reciprocal determinism

Answer 52

The way a person is influenced by their environment but also influences their environment

Question 53

Relay neuron

Answer 53

Carries signals between sensory and motor neurons or connect to other relay neurons within the central nervous system

Question 54

Response

Answer 54

The reaction to a specific stimulus e.g. salivating when you see food

Question 55

Schemas

Answer 55

Mental frameworks of information that we use to organise past experience and to interpret and respond to new situations.

Question 56

Sensory neuron

Answer 56

Carries signals from the senses to the central nervous system

Question 57

Social learning theory

Answer 57

The view that people learn through observing others

Question 58

Somatic nervous system

Answer 58

Sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors

Question 59

Stimulus

Answer 59

Anything in the environment detectable by the senses e.g. sound, smell

Question 60

Structuralism

Answer 60

Using the experiment method to find the building blocks of thought

Question 61

Subjective

Answer 61

Affected by personal feelings, prejudices and interpretations

Question 62

Sympathetic nervous system

Answer 62

Sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that controls the 'fight or flight' response

Question 63

Synapse

Answer 63

The tiny gap between one neuron and the next

Question 64

Synaptic transmission

Answer 64

The way that signals between neurons are transmitted chemically across the synaptic gap

Question 65

Theoretical models

Answer 65

Diagrammatic representations of the steps involved in internal mental processes, e.g. the information-processing model.

Question 66

Twin study

Answer 66

Used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing concordance rates between pairs of twins

Question 67

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 67

Observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour and the consequences of their actions