Psyx Flashcards
(29 cards)
What is psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Psychology seeks to understand individuals and groups by establishing general principles and researching specific cases.
What makes psychology a science?
It utilizes empirical methods, systematic observation, and experimentation
Psychology applies the scientific method to study behavior and mental processes.
What is the difference between psychology and psychiatry?
Psychology focuses on behavior and mental processes, while psychiatry is a branch of medicine that deals with mental disorders
Psychiatrists can prescribe medication, whereas psychologists typically cannot.
What are the goals of psychology?
To describe, explain, predict, and control behavior
These goals help psychologists understand and influence human behavior.
What are pseudosciences?
Fields that claim to be scientific but lack empirical evidence and rigorous methodology
Examples include astrology and phrenology.
What is the Barnum Effect?
The tendency for individuals to see vague and general personality descriptions as personally meaningful
This effect explains why people often find horoscopes relatable.
What is intelligence?
The ability to learn from experience, solve problems, and use knowledge to adapt to new situations
Intelligence encompasses various cognitive abilities.
What is Wechsler’s definition of intelligence?
Weschler belived that intelligence can be observed and created iq test
## Footnote
Wechsler developed intelligence tests that measure different aspects of intelligence.
What is Gardner’s definition of intelligence?
The ability to solve problems or create products that are valued in one or more cultural settings
Gardner proposed the theory of multiple intelligences.
What is personality?
An individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving
Personality encompasses various traits and dispositions.
What is Freud’s psychoanalytic theory?
A theory that emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior (Id- I want a chocolate, superego- your on a diet, ego- I’ll have a small bar.)
Freud believed that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality.
What is the structure of the skull?
The protective bony structure that encases the brain
It consists of several bones, including the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital bones.
What are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
- Frontal lobe
- Parietal lobe
- Temporal lobe
- Occipital lobe
Each lobe has distinct functions related to cognition, perception, and motor control.
What are the functions of the lobes of the brain?
Frontal lobe: decision making and problem solving
Parietal lobe: sensory information processing
Temporal lobe: auditory processing and memory
Occipital lobe: visual processing
Each lobe plays a crucial role in different aspects of brain function.
What is brain damage?
Injury to the brain that can affect cognitive and physical functions
Causes can include trauma, stroke, or disease.
What are brain imaging techniques?
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- CT (Computed Tomography)
- PET (Positron Emission Tomography)
- fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
These techniques allow for visualization of brain structure and activity.
What are aphasias?
Language disorders caused by brain damage
Aphasias can affect speaking, understanding, reading, and writing.
What is the Atkinson-Schiffrin model of memory?
A model that describes memory in three stages: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory
This model helps to understand how information is processed and stored.
What is the forgetting curve?
A graphical representation of how information is lost over time when there is no attempt to retain it
It illustrates the decline of memory retention.
What are retrieval cues?
Stimuli that help access stored memories
Examples include contextual information and emotional states.
What are leading questions?
Questions that suggest a particular answer or influence the response
These can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony.
What is the difference between recall and recognition?
Recall: retrieving information without cues
Recognition: identifying information from a set of options
Both are key processes in memory retrieval.
What is the Serial Position Effect?
The tendency to recall the first and last items in a list better than the middle items
This effect demonstrates how position in a sequence affects memory.
What factors affect eyewitness testimony?
- Psychological factors
- Environmental factors
These can influence the accuracy and reliability of eyewitness accounts.
