Intro to Psych Flashcards
unit 1 (62 cards)
1
Q
Psychology
A
science of behavior and mental processes: to understand, control and predict behavior.
2
Q
Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)
A
- Leipzig, Germany
- wrote the first psychology textbook
- applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind
- structuralism
3
Q
Structuralism
A
- to identify ‘atoms’ of the mind
- focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes
- measured reaction times
4
Q
Functionalism
A
- to focus on how behaviors help us adapt to the environment
- William James (1842-1910)
- various mental experiences served was important
- opposed to Wundt approach
5
Q
Biological perspective
A
- the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior
- at various levels:
- individual neurons
- areas of the brain
- specific functions like eating, emotion or learning
6
Q
Evolutionary perspective
A
behavior today is the result of behaviors that aided survival in the past
7
Q
Psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) perspective
A
- focus is on unconscious processes
- drives and urges within the unconscious component of mind influence thought and behavior
- early childhood experiences shape unconscious motivations
8
Q
Cross-cultural perspective
A
psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups
9
Q
Behavioral perspective
A
- behavior and mental processes are a result of learning
- using pouting to get one’s way
10
Q
Humanistic perspective
A
- behavior is determined by his/her unique and individual perceptions of the world
- focus on conscious forces and self-perception
11
Q
Theory
A
an integrated set of principles that can be used to explain and predict phenomena
12
Q
Hypothesis
A
a specific, testable prediction or proposition about a phenomenon
13
Q
Operational definition
A
precise definition of a word or statement
14
Q
Survey
A
collecting data using interviews or questionnaires
15
Q
Case study
A
in-depth analysis of a single case or several closely related cases
* useful when the phenomenon being studied is rare
16
Q
Longitudinal study
A
researcher follows same group of subjects over a period of time
17
Q
Cross-sectional study
A
study two or more groups of subjects and compare their data
18
Q
Correlational research
A
- collects a set of facts organized into two or more categories
- measure parents’ disciplinary style
- measure children’s behavior
- examine the relation between categories
- correlation reveals relationships
among facts
19
Q
Positive correlation
A
- relationship between two variables that move in the same direction
- can be an increase or decrease in value
20
Q
Negative correlation
A
relationship between two variables in which one variable increases as the other decreases, and vice versa
21
Q
Experiment
A
- has element of control
- is best method to use to determine a cause and effect relationship
22
Q
Sample
A
segment or portion of a larger group
23
Q
Randomized
A
each person in the group has an equal chance of being selected to be in the sample
24
Q
Variable
A
something that can vary, something that is capable of change
25
Independent variable
variable that the experimenter manipulates
* cause
26
Dependent variable
variable that the experimenter measures
* effect
27
Confound variable
any factor(s), other than the variable being manipulated by the experimenter, that might affect the DV
28
Extraneous variable
factor(s) in an experiment that need to be controlled or eliminated so as not to affect the DV
* gender
29
Experimental group
the group that undergoes the experimental treatment
30
Control condition
group who is exposed to all the same factors as the experimental group besides the factor being manipulated
31
Placebo effect
a physical or psychological treatment that contains no active ingredient but produces an effect because the person receiving believes it will
32
Experimenter effect (bias)
occurs when an experimenter unintentionally encourages subjects to respond in a way that supports the hypothesis
33
Double-blind experiment
neither the experimenter nor the subjects know which subjects are in the treatment group and which are in the
control group
* helps avoid the experimenter effect
34
Social desirability bias
answering or acting in a socially approved manner
35
Informed consent
subjects must be informed of significant factors which might influence his/her willingness to participate in the study
36
Debrief
corrects any misconceptions that participants may have had about the research
37
Nervous System
* central nervous system
* peripheral nervous system
38
Central Nervous System
composed of the brain and the spinal cord
39
Peripheral Nervous System
network of nerves that
connects the brain and
spinal cord to other parts of the body
* two major systems:
somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system
40
Somatic system
sensory nerves
* conveys info from the skin and muscles to the CNS
* connects CNS to voluntary muscles
41
Autonomic system
* connects CNS to non-voluntary muscles and glands
* relays messages to and from the body’s internal organs
42
Neuron
* the "basic building block of the brain"
* these cells receive input from other nerve cells and distribute information to other neurons; the information integration underlies the simplest and most complex of our thoughts and behaviors
* consists of cell body, dendrites, axon, axon terminals and myelin sheath
43
Brain cell
consists of cell body, dendrites, axon, axon terminals, myelin sheath
44
Dendrites
receiving electrical signal
45
Axon
transmitting electrical signals
46
Cell body
cell’s life support center
47
Myelin sheath
covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses
insulates the axon
48
Terminal branches of axon
stores chemicals called neurotransmitters
49
Neurotransmitters
chemical substances which are released by the
pre-synaptic neuron at synapses that transmits information to the next neuron
50
Synapses (synaptic gap)
tiny gaps between neurons
51
Action potential
neurons send info down axon as brief impulses (or waves) of electricity
52
Action potential process
* through dendrite, neuron receives impulse from neighboring neuron
* neuron then passes that impulse along its axon to axon terminals
* at terminal, impulse leaps across small gap (synapse) to the next neuron
* this “leap” is caused by the neurotransmitters
53
Brain
nervous systems command center
consists of:
* forebrain
* midbrain
* hindbrain
54
Hindbrain (brainstem)
* pons: sleep and arousal
* medulla: breathing and relaxation
* cerebellum: motor control
55
Midbrain
between hindbrain and forebrain
involved in visual and auditory reflexes
56
Forebrain
* thalamus: relays info between lower and higher brain centers
* hypothalamus: governs eating, drinking and sex needs
* pituitary: takes care of the endocrine system
* cerebral cortex: higher brain functions: thinking, learning, consciousness
57
Cerebral cortex
thin layer of cells that covers the entire surface of the forebrain
* divided into four separate areas (lobes), each lobe has a different function
58
Frontal lobe
personality, emotions, motor behaviors
59
Parietal lobe
perception and sensory
experiences
60
Temporal lobe
hearing and speaking
61
Occipital lobe
processes visual
information
62
Hemispheres
connected by wide band of fibers (called corpus callosum)
