approaches key terminology Flashcards
define introspection (approaches - origins)
- the first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind
- breaks up the conscious awareness into basic thoughts, images & sensations
define structuralism (approaches - origins)
- a method of interpretation & analysis of aspects of cognition, behaviour & experience
- focuses on relationships of constraint between parts of a system
define what is meant by the psychodynamic approach (approaches - psychodynamic)
- a perspective that describes the different dynamics (most of which are unconscious) that operate on the mind & direct human behaviour/experience
define what is meant by the unconscious (approaches - psychodynamic)
- the part of the mind that we are unaware of but directs lots of our behaviour
define what is meant by defence mechanisms (approaches - psychodynamic)
- unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id & superego
define what is meant by psychosexual stages (approaches - psychodynamic)
- five developmental stages that all children pass through
- at each stage there is a different conflict, the outcome of which determines future development
define what is meant by the behaviourist approach (approaches - behaviourism)
- a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable & in terms of learning
define reinforcement (approaches - behaviourism)
- a consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated
- can be positive or negative
what are token economy systems? (approaches - behaviourism)
- a type of behavioural therapy
- acceptable behaviours are rewarded with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges
define what is meant by the humanistic approach (approaches - humanistic)
- an approach to understanding behaviour that emphasises the importance of subjective experience & each person’s capacity for self-determination
what are physiological needs? (approaches - humanistic)
- needs that every person has & are required to survive
- e.g. food, water, sleep
what is meant by safety & security in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? (approaches - humanistic)
- feeling secure & having a good sense of safety (both in life & with friends)
what is meant by love & belonging in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? (approaches - humanistic)
- feeling cared for by other people & caring for them
- having a sense of belonging
define the term self (approaches - humanistic)
- the ideas & values that characterise ‘I’ & ‘me’
- includes perception of valuing of ‘what I am’ & ‘what I can do’
define what is meant by the cognitive approach (approaches - cognitive)
- the term ‘cognitive’ has come to mean ‘mental processes’
- focused on how our mental processes affect behaviour
what is meant by internal mental processes? (approaches - cognitive)
- ‘private’ operations of the mind (such as perception & attention) that mediate between stimulus & response
define schema (approaches - cognitive)
- a mental framework of beliefs & expectations that influence cognitive processing
- are developed from experience
define inference (approaches - cognitive)
- the process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour
what is meant by machine reductionism? (approaches - cognitive)
- explanations which liken human behaviour to that of a machine
- this means that explanations tend to overlook the influence of emotional & social factors
what is an fMRI scan? (approaches - cognitive)
- functional magnetic resonance imaging
- a method used to scan brain activity while a person is performing a task
what is a PET scan? (approaches - cognitive)
- positron emission tomography
- a brain scanning method used to study activity in the brain
define what is meant by social learning theory (approaches - SLT)
- a way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct & indirect reinforcement
- combines learning theory with the role of cognitive factors
define imitation (approaches - SLT)
- copying the behaviour of others
define modelling (approaches - SLT)
- observers perspective —> imitating the behaviour of a role model
- role models perspective —> the demonstration of a specific behaviour that may be imitated by an observer
define vicarious reinforcement (approaches - SLT)
- reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour
- key factor in imitation
define vicarious reinforcement (approaches - SLT)
- reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour
- key factor in imitation
what are mediational processes? (approaches - SLT)
- cognitive factors that influence learning & come between stimulus & response
- e.g. thinking
define reciprocal determinism (approaches - cognitive)
- a person’s behaviour both influences & is influences by personal & social factors
define what is meant by the biological approach
- a perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body
- e.g. genetic inheritance & neural function
what is a biological structure? (approaches - biological)
- an arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing
define neurochemistry (approaches - biological)
- relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning
what are neurotransmitters? (approaches - biological)
- brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another
what is the nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)
- consists of the central nervous system & the peripheral nervous system
- communicates using electrical signals
what is the central nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)
- CNS
- consists of the brain & the spinal cord
- is the origin of all complex commands & decisions
what is the peripheral nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)
- PNS
- send information to the CNS from the outside world
- transmits messages from the CNS to muscles & glands
what is the somatic nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)
- part of the PNS
- transmits information from receptor cells in the sense of organs to the CNS
- receives information from the CNS that directs the muscles to act
what is the autonomic nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)
- part of the PNS
- transmits information to & from internal bodily organs
- automatic because the system operates involuntarily
- has two main divisions (the sympathetic & parasympatheic nervous systems)
what is the sympathetic nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)
- a division of the ANS
- activates internal organs for vigorous activities & emergencies (e.g. the fight or flight response)
- consists of nerves that control, for example, increased heart rate & breathing & decrease digestive activity
- works in opposition to the parasympathetic branch of the ANS
what is the parasympathetic nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)
- a division of the ANS
- controls the relaxed state (rest & digest), conserving resources & promoting digestion & metabolism
- works in opposition to the sympathetic nervous system
- one or the other is active at any given time
what is the endocrine system? (approaches - biopsychology)
- a major information system in the body
- instructs glands to release hormones directly into the bloodstream
- hormones are carried towards target organs
- communicates via chemicals
what is adrenaline? (approaches - biopsychology)
- chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream
- only affect target organs
- they are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly
- have powerful effects
what are sensory neurons? (approaches - biopsychology)
- carry messages from the PNS to the CNS
- have long dendrites & short axons
what are relay neurons? (approaches - biopsychology)
- connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons
- have short dendrites & short axons
what are motor neurons? (approaches - biopsychology)
- connect the CNS to effectors like muscles & glands
- have short dendrites & long axons
what is synaptic transmission? (approaches - biological)
- the process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapse that separates them
define excitation (approaches - biopsychology)
- when a neurotransmitter (e.g. adrenaline) increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron
- increases the likelihood it will pass on the electrical impulse
define inhibition (approaches - biopsychology)
- when a neurotransmitter (e.g. serotonin increases the negative charge of the postsynaptic neuron
- decreases the likelihood that it will pass on the electrical impulse
define summation (approaches - biopsychology)
- the process that determines whether or not action potential will be triggered based on the combined effects of the excitatory & inhibitory signals of neurotransmitters
define action potential (approaches - biopsychology)
- the electrical impulse that travels down the axon towards the end of the neurone
