Week One Flashcards
(27 cards)
Define Neutral Stimulus (NS) in classical conditioning
A stimulus that initially does not elicit any response.
What is an Unconditioned Response (UCR)?
A reflexive response that occurs naturally without any prior learning.
Define Conditioned Response (CR) in classical conditionin
A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has become associated with an unconditioned stimulus.
What is reinforcement in operant conditioning?
A response is strengthened by an event that follows it, increasing the frequency of that response.
sociocultural perspective
analyzing the culture of individuals and the groups they belong to and participate in.
humanist perspective
the idea of being entirely unique and your own individual.
behavioral perspective
a theory of learning, and learning theories focus on how we respond to events or stimuli rather than emphasizing internal factors that motivate our actions.
For example, if a student gets praised for answering a question correctly, they are more likely to repeat that behavior in the future
psychodynamic perspective
emphasizes unconscious psychological processes
Nail-biting may be caused by an anxiety-inducing childhood event.
cognitive perspective
emphasizes the importance of memory, perception and attention, language, decision-making and problem-solving.
Encouraging students to figure out answers for themselves rather than telling them.
What is mind-body dualism?
The belief that the mind is a spiritual entity not governed by the physical laws of the body.
What does monism propose about the mind and body?
A: Monism holds that the mind and body are one, and that mental events are products of physical events in the brain.
Which philosopher’s ideas helped set the stage for psychology by emphasizing empirical observation?
A: John Locke, an advocate of empiricism.
What was the focus of Wilhelm Wundt’s approach to studying the mind?
A: He believed in studying the mind by breaking it down into its basic components, similar to how a chemist studies chemical compounds.
When and where did psychology emerge as a formal science?
A: In 1879, when Wilhelm Wundt established the first experimental psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig.
What is structuralism?
A: An approach in psychology that analyzes the mind in terms of its basic elements, such as sensations.
How does functionalism differ from structuralism?
A: Functionalism focuses on the functions of consciousness and how it helps individuals adapt to their environment, whereas structuralism focuses on the basic elements of consciousness.
What was Sigmund Freud’s contribution to psychology?
A: He developed psychoanalysis, emphasizing the influence of unconscious psychological forces on behavior.
Who was Carl Jung, and how did his ideas differ from Freud’s?
A: A student of Freud, Jung disagreed with Freud’s focus on the libido and developed concepts like introversion, extraversion, and the idea of ‘complexes’.
According to B.F. Skinner, what primarily shapes behavior?
A: Behavior is shaped by the rewarding and punishing consequences of actions, not by internal thoughts or feelings.
How might a behaviorist explain a person’s shyness?
A: By looking at their past experiences and how negative outcomes (punishment) may have led to a decrease in social behaviors.
Q: What role do neurotransmitters play in depression?
A: Certain neurotransmitter systems involved in mood, sleep, and digestion may be imbalanced in depressed individuals, often requiring medication to help regulate these functions.
What are the three levels of analysis used to understand depression?
A: The biological level (genetic and biochemical factors), the psychological level (thinking styles and cognitive patterns), and the environmental level (influences from the physical and social environment).
How did Donald Hebb contribute to the understanding of learning and memory?
A: Hebb proposed that changes in the connections between nerve cells in the brain provide the biological basis for learning, memory, and perception, influencing research on neural circuitry.
What sparked renewed interest in studying cognitive processes in the 1950s?
A: Factors included psychologists’ involvement in designing information displays during WWII and the emergence of computer technology, which provided new concepts and terminology for studying memory and attention
