Exam 1

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of behavior and neural processes, addressing the full range of human functioning

Question 2

Nativism

Answer 2

Some knowledge is innate - Plato

Question 3

Empiricism

Answer 3

All knowledge is acquired from experience - Aristotle

Question 4

Structuralism

Answer 4

Interested in the structure of the mind, the elements of the mind and their capacities, often gained through introspection

Question 5

Functionalism

Answer 5

Created as an alternative to structuralism, focused on the purpose of the mind’s functions and how the mind reacts to its environment

Question 6

Hysteria

Answer 6

diagnosed in women during days of early clinical psychology, characterized by a loss of mental and physical functioning and emotional distress

Question 7

Psychoanalytic Theory

Answer 7

Developed by Freud after studying Hysteria, based upon the idea that unconscious mental processes influence thoughts, feelings, and behavior

Question 8

Behaviorism

Answer 8

Created in response to criticisms of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, focuses upon objective, observable behavior from an outside view

Question 9

Cognitive Psychology

Answer 9

In response to behaviorism, focuses on objective but not observable functions (memory, attention, reasoning), that are not explained by behaviorism

Question 10

Cognitive Psychology and the Development of Computers

Answer 10

With the rise of computers, psychologists became to think of the human mind as a computer (experience to cognition to behavior), “software” of the brain

Question 11

20th century global events shaping psychology

Answer 11

1930’s - increasing “human achievement” (strayed into eugenics)
1940’s - cognitive psychology used to increase soldier performance
Post WWII - Psychology around authority, what led people to commit atrocities

Question 12

Cultural Psychology

Answer 12

The study of how cultural influences shape psychological functioning (absolutism: culture has no bearing, relativism: psychological functioning is culture-specific)

Question 13

Dogmatism

Answer 13

Beliefs that persist without or in spite of proof

Question 14

Empiricism

Answer 14

Our knowledge comes through use of the five senses

Question 15

Theory vs. Hypothesis

Answer 15

Hypothesis (testable and falsifiable) is based upon initial theory (hypothetical explanation)

Question 16

Validity

Answer 16

how close is the measure to the subject of interest?

Question 17

Power of measurement

Answer 17

can the measure detect variation?

Question 18

Reliability

Answer 18

How consistent and accurate is the measurement? Is it repeatable?

Question 19

Positive correlation

Answer 19

variables increase or decrease together (+, farther from 0)

Question 20

Negative correlation

Answer 20

variables increase/decrease inversely (-, farther from 0)

Question 21

Psychological research ethics

Answer 21

Safety, confidentiality, use of data, informed consent

Question 22

Cell body

Answer 22

center of neuron, “headquarters”

Question 23

dendrites

Answer 23

receive neurotransmitters

Question 24

axon

Answer 24

the path that the signal follows

Question 25

myelin sheath

Answer 25

insulates the axon, makes the electrical signal more potent

Question 26

Terminal button

Answer 26

Release neurotransmitters

Question 27

Vesicle

Answer 27

Sacs that carry neurotransmitters

Question 28

Synaptic gap

Answer 28

the space between the receiving and sending parts of 2 neurons which neurotransmitters travel between

Question 29

Neuron cycle

Answer 29

Resting potential, action potential, and refractory period

Question 30

Serotonin

Answer 30

Controls mood, obsessions, compulsions, memory, anxiety

Question 31

Norepinephrine

Answer 31

Controls alertness, concentration, energy, attention

Question 32

Dopamine

Answer 32

Controls pleasure, motivation, reward systems, sex

Question 33

Triune Brain theory

Answer 33

reptilian (survival), limbic brain (feeling), neocortex (rational)

Question 34

Occipital lobe

Answer 34

processes visual information

Question 35

parietal lobe

Answer 35

processes touch, home to the somatosensory cortex

Question 36

temporal lobe

Answer 36

hearing and auditory processing, forming new memories

Question 37

frontal lobe

Answer 37

planning and reasoning, judgement, and self regulation

Question 38

Plasticity

Answer 38

The brain is capable of changing and adapting based on need and different environmental factors

Question 39

Connectome

Answer 39

All the synapses in the brain, connectome = stream bed and neural activity = water, both shape one another

Question 40

Sensation

Answer 40

The process by which we receive physical energy and chemical stimuli

Question 41

Perception

Answer 41

Understanding and making sense of stimuli

Question 42

Transduction

Answer 42

The process of sensory information making its way into the brain

Question 43

Sensory adaptation

Answer 43

Getting used to constant sensory stimuli and tuning it out, useful so we don't have too much to process

Question 44

Top down processing

Answer 44

analyzing stimuli by drawing on experience and expectations

Question 45

Bottom up processing

Answer 45

analyzing stimuli beginning with sense receptors and working up to brain level

Question 46

Figure-ground principle

Answer 46

we recognize figures by distinguishing them from the background

Question 47

Proximity principle

Answer 47

we group together things that are near one another

Question 48

Closure principle

Answer 48

the brain automatically fills in gaps in figures

Question 49

Similarity Principle

Answer 49

The brain groups together things that look alike

Question 50

connectedness principle

Answer 50

The brain groups together elements that are connected

Question 51

Continuity principle

Answer 51

The brain groups together marks that fall along a smooth curve or straight line

Question 52

Common fate and movement principle

Answer 52

when stimuli move together, we perceive them as one thing

Question 53

monocular depth cues

Answer 53

cues of depth that can be perceived without the use of both eyes

Question 54

binocular disparity

Answer 54

the slight difference between left and right retinal images, letting us see depth

Question 55

change blindness

Answer 55

change that goes unnoticed by the observer because they are focusing on something else (map and tourist example)