Approaches: Glossary

Question 1

Define genotype

Answer 1

The information in the DNA.

Question 2

Define phenotype

Answer 2

The traits DNA gives us.

Question 3

Define oxytocin

Answer 3

A hormone that acts on organs in the body and as a chemical messenger in the brain, controlling key aspects of the reproductive system, including childbirth and lactation, and aspects of human behaviour.
For example: Postnatal depression.

Question 4

Define serotonin

Answer 4

An important chemical and neurotransmitter in the human body. It is believed to help regulate mood and social behavior, appetite and digestion, sleep, memory, and sexual desire and function.
For example: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Question 5

Define dopamine

Answer 5

A neurotransmitter, a chemical released by neurons to send signals to other nerve cells. The brain includes several distinct dopamine pathways, one of which plays a major role in the motivational component of reward-motivated behavior.

Question 6

Define cortisol

Answer 6

A steroid hormone, in the glucocorticoid class of hormones. It is produced in humans by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex within the adrenal gland. It is released in response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration.

Question 7

Define temporal

Answer 7

Involved in primary auditory perception, such as hearing, and holds the primary auditory cortex. The primary auditory cortex receives sensory information from the ears and secondary areas process the information into meaningful units such as speech and words.

Question 8

Define occipital

Answer 8

The visual processing center of the mammalian brain containing most of the anatomical region of the visual cortex.

Question 9

Define parietal

Answer 9

Can be divided into two functional regions. One involves sensation and perception and the other is concerned with integrating sensory input, primarily with the visual system. The first function integrates sensory information to form a single perception.
For example: Cognition.

Question 10

Define frontal

Answer 10

Involved in motor function, problem solving, spontaneity, memory, language, initiation, judgement, impulse control, and social and sexual behavior.

Question 11

Define introspection

Answer 11

The examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.

Question 12

Define knowledge

Answer 12

Acts, information, and skills acquired through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.

Question 13

Define determinism

Answer 13

The doctrine that all events, including human action, are ultimately determined by causes regarded as external to the will. Some philosophers have taken determinism to imply that individual human beings have no free will and cannot be held morally responsible for their actions.

Question 14

Define mental processes

Answer 14

The things that individuals can do with their minds. These include perception, judgement, memory, thinking, volition, and emotion.

Question 15

Define replicable

Answer 15

Something that can be copied or recreated.

Question 16

Define theories

Answer 16

A supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained.

Question 17

Define empiricism

Answer 17

The theory that all knowledge is based on experience derived from the senses.

Question 18

Define objective

Answer 18

Not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.

Question 19

Define systematically

Answer 19

According to a fixed plan or system; methodically.

Question 20

Define perception

Answer 20

The way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted.

Question 21

Define positive reinforcement

Answer 21

The process of encouraging or establishing a pattern of behaviour by offering reward when the behaviour is exhibited.

Question 22

Define negative reinforcement

Answer 22

A response or behavior is strengthened by stopping, removing, or avoiding a negative outcome or aversive stimulus.

Question 23

Define classical conditioning

Answer 23

The process of learning through behaviour. We learn that certain things lead to certain results, creating an association.

Question 24

Define operant conditioning

Answer 24

Changing the conditioning relationship through reinforcement or punishment.

Question 25

Define social learning theory

Answer 25

The theory that other people can influence our behaviour.

Question 26

Define modelling/ imitation

Answer 26

The process of basing behaviour, style, attitude, etc. on someone we admire and want to emulate.

Question 27

Define vicarious reinforcement

Answer 27

The strengthening of behaviour by learning from watching other people and their consequences.

Question 28

Define observational learning

Answer 28

Learning by watching others.

Question 29

Define role model

Answer 29

The person who we admire. We are inspired to copy their behaviour.

Question 30

Define unconditioned stimulus

Answer 30

A stimulus that automatically leads to a particular response.

Question 31

Define conditioned stimulus

Answer 31

A neutral stimulus that we have learned to pair with a response with a response that is not the original conditioned response.

Question 32

Define structuralism

Answer 32

A method of interpretation and analysis of aspects of human cognition, behaviour, culture, and experience, which focuses on relationships of contrast between elements in a conceptual system.

Question 33

Define introspection

Answer 33

The examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes.

Question 34

Define functionalism

Answer 34

A theory about the nature of mental states.

Question 35

Define behaviouralism

Answer 35

The theory that human and animal behaviour can be explained in terms of conditioning, without considering thoughts or feelings.

Question 36

Define cognitive neuroscience

Answer 36

An academic field that studies the influence of brain structures on mental processes using techniques such as brain scans.

Question 37

Define computer models

Answer 37

Software simulations of internal mental processes that are created in collaboration with computer scientists.

Question 38

Define concordance rate

Answer 38

The extent to which both twins share the same characteristic.

Question 39

Define identification

Answer 39

Associating with a role model’s and adopting their behaviour because you want to be like them.

Question 40

Define inference

Answer 40

Process of drawing conclusions about general patterns of behaviour.

Question 41

Define information processing model

Answer 41

The idea that information flows through the cognitive system in a sequence of stages.

Question 42

Define internal mental process

Answer 42

The operations both conscious and unconscious that occur during thinking. For example, perception and memory.

Question 43

Define introspection

Answer 43

Observing and examining your own conscious thoughts and emotions.

Question 44

Define learning

Answer 44

A relatively lasting change in behaviour that is the result of experience.

Question 45

Define mediating cognitive factors

Answer 45

Internal mental processes that lie between the stimulus and the response.

Question 46

Define punishment

Answer 46

Receiving something unpleasant when a behaviour is performed which decreases the chance the behaviour is repeated.

Question 47

Define reciprocal determinism

Answer 47

The way a person is influenced by their environment but also influences their environment.

Question 48

Define response

Answer 48

The reaction to a specific stimulus e.g. salivating when you see food.

Question 49

Define schema

Answer 49

Mental frameworks of information that we use to organise past experience and to interpret and respond to new situations.

Question 50

Define subjective

Answer 50

Affected by personal feelings, prejudices and interpretations.

Question 51

Define theoretical models

Answer 51

Diagrammatic representations of the steps involved in internal mental processes, e.g. the information-processing model.