Unit 4.1 Psychology

Question 0

Perception

Answer 0

Process of organizing and interrupting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

Process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

Question 2

Bottom-up-processing

Answer 2

Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains interrogation of sensory info

Question 3

Top-down-processing

Answer 3

Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations

Question 4

Selective attention

Answer 4

Focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

Question 5

Inattentional blindness

Answer 5

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

Question 6

Change blindness

Answer 6

Failing to notice changes in the environment

Question 7

Transduction

Answer 7

Conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energy, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brain can interpret

Question 8

Psychophysics

Answer 8

The study of relationships between physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our physiological experience of them

Question 9

Absolute threshold

Answer 9

Minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus half of the time

Question 10

Signal detection theory

Answer 10

Theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation. Assumes no single absolute threshold and detection depends partly on person’s experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness

Question 11

Subliminal

Answer 11

Below one’s absolute threshold for conscious awareness

Question 12

Priming

Answer 12

Activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one’s perception, memory, response

Question 13

Difference threshold

Answer 13

Minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection half of the time. Experience it as just noticeable difference

Question 14

Weber’s law

Answer 14

Principle that to be perceived as different, two stimuli most differ by a constant minimum percent

Question 15

Sensory adaptation

Answer 15

Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

Question 16

Perceptual set

Answer 16

Mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another

Question 17

Extra sensory perception (ESP)

Answer 17

Controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input. Includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition

Question 18

Parapsychology

Answer 18

Study of paranormal phenomena including ESP and psychokinesis