Test 1 Flashcards
What is psychology?
The study of behavior and mental processes
Why does psychology use the scientific method?
To attempt to answer the many questions of psychology using a reliable, factual method
What are the goals of psychology?
To understand human behavior as a whole; what biological structures enable certain processes to occur
What are functionalism and structuralism?
Functionalism: what something does
Structuralism: how something is
The environment influences behavior most
Behaviorism
Unconscious motivation and early childhood experiences influence behavior most
Psychoanalysis
One’s own experiences influence behavior most
Humanistic Psychology
The role of mental processes (perception, thinking, memory) that underlie behavior
Cognitive Psychology
The role of adaptive inherited tendencies
Evolutionary Psychology
The role of biological processes and structures (and heredity)
Biological Psychology
Social and cultural influences influence behavior most
Sociocultural Approach
Why are different perspectives utilized?
They can be applied to different disciplines
What does it mean to engage in critical thinking?
To consider options and consequences in order to make informed decisions
What are the pros and cons of observational and case studies?
Observational
-pros: gain a general perspective
-cons: too broad
Case studies
-pros: gain a more detailed, in-depth perspective
-cons: cannot be averaged/universal/generalized
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the correlational method?
Strengths: information about one variable can be used to predict the other
Weaknesses: cannot be used to determine causation
What are the dependent and independent variables?
Dependent: a factor or condition measured to determine the impact of the experimental manipulation
Independent: a factor or condition that is manipulated to determine whether it causes any change in another behavior or condition
How do researchers use experiments to test causal hypotheses?
Confounding variables: factors other than the independent variable that can affect results and therefore validity
Selection bias: assignment to groups that systematic differences between groups are present at the beginning on an experiment
How can participant selection influence a study’s usefulness?
Research results will be more detailed with different demographic groups
What are the various imaging techniques discussed?
CT scan (Computerized axial tomography)
MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)
PET scan (Positron emission tomography)
functional MRI (fMRI)
How do researchers use imaging techniques to study the nervous system?
EEG detects electrical activity in the brain
Microelectordes monitors single neuron activity
What are the various parts of the neuron? What does each part of the neuron do?
Cell body: contains nucleus
Dendrites: primary receivers of signals from other neurons
Axon: slender extensions of the neuron ending in an axon terminal
Axon terminal: where signals move from the axon of one neuron to the dendrites/cell body of others
What is neurotransmitter? What do they do?
Specialized chemicals that facilitate or inhibit the transmission of impulses from one neuron to the next
What is reuptake?
When the neurotransmitter is taken back into the axon terminal
How do neurons transmit messages through the nervous system?
Through the axon terminal
