U3P1 Psych

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system recives and represents stimulus energies from our environment.

Question 2

Sensory Receptors

Answer 2

sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli

Question 3

Perception

Answer 3

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory info, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.

Question 4

Bottom-Up Processing

Answer 4

analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brins integration of sensory info

Question 5

Top-Down Processing

Answer 5

information processing guided by the higher-level mental processes as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations.

Question 6

Selective Attention

Answer 6

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.

Question 7

Inattentional Blindness

Answer 7

failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.

Question 8

Change Blindness

Answer 8

failing to notice changes in the environment

Question 9

Transduction

Answer 9

conversion of one form of energy into another (stimulus into impulses)

Question 10

Psychophysics

Answer 10

the study of relationships between psychical characteristics of stimuli and our psychological experience of them.

Question 11

Absolute Threshold

Answer 11

the minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time.

Question 12

Signal Detection Theory

Answer 12

a theory predicting how and when we detect a faint stimulus amid background stimulation.

Question 13

Subliminal

Answer 13

below one’s absolute threshold for conscious awarness.

Question 14

Difference Threshold

Answer 14

the minimum difference between 2 stimuli required for detection 50% of the time.

Question 15

Priming

Answer 15

the activation often unconsciously of a certain association, predisposing perception, memory, or response.

Question 16

Weber’s Law

Answer 16

the principal that to be perceived as different 2 stimuli must differ by a constant minimum %

Question 17

Sensory Adaptation

Answer 17

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation.

Question 18

Perceptual Set

Answer 18

a mental predisposition to precive one thing and not another.

Question 19

Extrasensory Perception

Answer 19

the controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input.

Question 20

Parapsychology

Answer 20

the study of paranormal phenomena

Question 21

Gestalt

Answer 21

an organized whole emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of info into meaningful wholes.

Question 22

Figure Ground

Answer 22

the organization of the visual fields into objects that stand out from their surroundings.

Question 23

Grouping

Answer 23

the perpetual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups.

Question 24

Depth Perception

Answer 24

the ability to see objects in 3D even though they are 2D
*judge distance

Question 25

Visual Cliff

Answer 25

a lab device for testing depth perception in infants and small animals.

Question 26

Binocular Cue

Answer 26

a depth cue that depends on the use of 2 eyes.

Question 27

Retinal Disparity

Answer 27

a binocular cue for perceiving depth by comparing retinal images with 2 eyes the brain computes distance.

Question 28

Monocular Cue

Answer 28

a depth cue available to either eye alone.

Question 29

Phi Phenomenon

Answer 29

an illusion of movement created when 2 or more adjacent lights blink on and off in a quick succession.

Question 30

Perpetual Constancy

Answer 30

perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change.

Question 31

Color Constancy

Answer 31

perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object.