Deck 2 Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is learning in psychology?
Learning is a lasting change in behavior or knowledge resulting from experience.
How is learning different from instincts and reflexes?
Learning requires experience and change, while instincts and reflexes are innate and do not require learning.
What part of the brain controls most reflexes?
The spinal cord and brainstem.
What is a reflex?
A reflex is an automatic, involuntary response to a specific stimulus.
What is an instinct?
An instinct is an inherited, species-specific behavior that increases survival chances.
What are the two main types of learning?
Associative and non-associative learning.
What is habituation?
Decreased response to a repeated, benign stimulus over time.
What is sensitization?
Increased response to a repeated, intense stimulus.
Who discovered classical conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov.
What is an unconditioned stimulus (US)?
A stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response (e.g., food causing salivation).
What is a major challenge in defining ‘emotion’?
There is no universally accepted definition; emotions are seen as consequences of events that motivate behavior.
How does the APA define emotion?
As a complex reaction pattern involving experiential, behavioral, and physiological elements to deal with significant events.
What are the four core components of emotion?
Cognitive, physiological, behavioral, and subjective.
What does Damasio’s theory say about emotions?
Emotions are neurochemical interactions helping organisms respond to advantageous or disadvantageous situations.
According to Rolls, what triggers emotions?
Rewards and punishers, including changes in reward and punishment.
What is motivation in psychology?
Motivation is the process that drives, initiates, and sustains goal-directed behaviors.
What are the two main types of motivation?
Intrinsic (from within) and extrinsic (from external rewards or pressure).
What characterizes intrinsic motivation?
It is driven by internal satisfaction and enjoyment of the activity itself.
What characterizes extrinsic motivation?
It is driven by outcomes like rewards, recognition, or avoiding punishment.
What are the three mechanisms that support motivation?
Activation, persistence, and intensity.
What is attention in psychology?
The cognitive process of selectively concentrating on specific stimuli while ignoring others.
Who introduced the cocktail party effect?
Colin Cherry (1953), describing the ability to focus on one voice in a noisy environment.
What is tonic alertness?
A sustained state of general awareness and responsiveness that fluctuates throughout the day.
What is vigilance in attention?
The ability to maintain focused attention over prolonged periods, anticipating rare signals.
