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Psychology-Approaches in Psychology > Approaches in Psychology Key Words > Flashcards

Approaches in Psychology Key Words Flashcards

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1
Q

ACTH

A

Hormone released by the pituitary gland. Stimulates the adrenal glands to release adrenaline into the bloodstream

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2
Q

Action potential

A

A spike in electric charge in an axon caused by sodium ions crossing the cell membrane.

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3
Q

Adrenal glands

A

Small glands on top of each kidney that produce hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol

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4
Q

Adrenaline

A

Key hormone in the stress response that is produced by the adrenal glands and increases heart rate, breathing rate etc.

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5
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

Sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary responses like breathing and heart rate

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6
Q

Axon

A

A single long slender fiber that carries the nerve impulse away from the cell body

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7
Q

Axon terminal

A

The very end of the axon that contains neurotransmitters and makes synaptic contact with the next neuron in the chain

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8
Q

Behaviourism

A

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

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9
Q

Central nervous system

A

Sub-system of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord

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10
Q

Chromosome

A

Hold the genetic material that is passed between parents and offspring. Humans have 23 pairs

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11
Q

Classical conditioning

A

Learning through association when two stimuli are repeatedly paired together

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12
Q

Cognitive neuroscience

A

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

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13
Q

Computer models

A

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

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14
Q

Concordance rate

A

The extent to which both twins share the same characteristic

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15
Q

Dendrites

A

Root like structures protruding from the cell body that receive signals from other neurons

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16
Q

Dizygotic twins

A

Non-identical twins who share 50% of their genes

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17
Q

Empirical

A

Based on scientific testing or personal experience rather than theory or logic

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18
Q

Endocrine system

A

A collection of organs that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

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19
Q

Evolution

A

Gradual changes in an inherited characteristic of a species over many generations

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20
Q

Excitation

A

Occurs when a link between a neurotransmitter and receptor site in a synapse makes the receptor site’s cell more likely to act

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21
Q

Fight or flight response

A

The way an animal (including humans) responds to stress as it becomes physiologically aroused to fight an aggressor or to run away

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22
Q

Genotype

A

A person’s unique genetic make-up that is coded in their chromosomes and fixed at conception

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23
Q

Hormones

A

Biochemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream in order to target specific organs

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24
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Part of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine system. Releases hormones that stimulate the pituitary gland

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25
Q

Identification

A

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

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26
Q

Imitation

A

Copying or reproducing behaviour that has been learned through observation

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27
Q

Inference

A

Process of drawing conclusions about general patterns of behaviour

28
Q

Information processing model

A

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

29
Q

Inhibition

A

occurs when a link between a neurotransmitter and receptor site in a synapse makes the receptor site’s cell less likely to act.

30
Q

Internal mental processes

A

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

31
Q

Introspection

A

Observing and examining your own conscious thoughts and emotions

32
Q

Learning

A

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

33
Q

Mediating cognitive factors

A

Internal mental processes that lie between the stimulus and the response

34
Q

Modelling

A

Imitating a role model or producing a specific behaviour that may then be imitated by the observer

35
Q

Motor neuron

A

Carries signals from the central nervous system to internal organs and muscles

36
Q

Myelin sheath

A

A fatty layer that protects the axon and speeds up the electrical transmission of the nerve impulse

37
Q

Monozygotic twins

A

Identical twins who share 100% of their genes

38
Q

Natural selection

A

The way that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances the ability to survive and reproduce will continue in future generations

39
Q

Negative reinforcement

A

Avoiding or removing something unpleasant when a behaviour is performed that increases the chance that the behaviour is repeated

40
Q

Nervous system

A

Bodily system consisting of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system that provides rapid responses to stimuli

41
Q

Neuron

A

Cells within the nervous system that process and transmit messages

42
Q

Neurotransmitter

A

Chemicals that transfer signals from one neuron to another across the synapses that lie between them

43
Q

Objective

A

Not influenced by private emotions, perceptions, or biases

44
Q

Operant conditioning

A

Learning through reinforcement where behaviour is shaped and maintained by its consequences

45
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

Sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that controls the ‘rest and digest’ response

46
Q

Peripheral nervous system

A

Sub-system of the nervous system that transmits messages from the body to the central nervous system and back again

47
Q

Phenotype

A

The expression of a person’s genetic make-up that can be influenced by the environment

48
Q

Pituitary gland

A

The ‘master gland’ of the endocrine system which is located in the brain and controls the release of hormones from other glands

49
Q

Positive reinforcement

A

Receiving something pleasant when a behaviour is performed that increases the chance the behaviour is repeated

50
Q

Postsynaptic Receptor sites

A

In the dendrites of the receiving neuron, they take up the neurotransmitter once it has crossed the synaptic gap

51
Q

Punishment

A

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

52
Q

Reciprocal determinism

A

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

53
Q

Relay neuron

A

Carries signals between sensory and motor neurons or connect to other relay neurons within the central nervous system

54
Q

Response

A

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

55
Q

Schemas

A

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

56
Q

Sensory neuron

A

Carries signals from the senses to the central nervous system

57
Q

Social learning theory

A

The view that people learn through observing others

58
Q

Somatic nervous system

A

Sub-division of the peripheral nervous system that controls muscle movement and receives information from sensory receptors

59
Q

Stimulus

A

Anything in the environment detectable by the senses e.g. sound, smell

60
Q

Structuralism

A

Using the experiment method to find the building blocks of thought

61
Q

Subjective

A

Affected by personal feelings, prejudices and interpretations

62
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

Sub-division of the autonomic nervous system that controls the ‘fight or flight’ response

63
Q

Synapse

A

The tiny gap between one neuron and the next

64
Q

Synaptic transmission

A

The way that signals between neurons are transmitted chemically across the synaptic gap

65
Q

Theoretical models

A

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

66
Q

Twin study

A

Used to determine the likelihood that certain traits have a genetic basis by comparing concordance rates between pairs of twins

67
Q

Vicarious reinforcement

A

Observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour and the consequences of their actions

Psychology-Approaches in Psychology (8 decks)

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