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psychology 🧠 > approaches key terminology > Flashcards

approaches key terminology Flashcards

1
Q

define introspection (approaches - origins)

A
  • the first systematic experimental attempt to study the mind
  • breaks up the conscious awareness into basic thoughts, images & sensations
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2
Q

define structuralism (approaches - origins)

A
  • a method of interpretation & analysis of aspects of cognition, behaviour & experience
  • focuses on relationships of constraint between parts of a system
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3
Q

define what is meant by the psychodynamic approach (approaches - psychodynamic)

A
  • a perspective that describes the different dynamics (most of which are unconscious) that operate on the mind & direct human behaviour/experience
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4
Q

define what is meant by the unconscious (approaches - psychodynamic)

A
  • the part of the mind that we are unaware of but directs lots of our behaviour
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5
Q

define what is meant by defence mechanisms (approaches - psychodynamic)

A
  • unconscious strategies that the ego uses to manage the conflict between the id & superego
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6
Q

define what is meant by psychosexual stages (approaches - psychodynamic)

A
  • five developmental stages that all children pass through
  • at each stage there is a different conflict, the outcome of which determines future development
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7
Q

define what is meant by the behaviourist approach (approaches - behaviourism)

A
  • a way of explaining behaviour in terms of what is observable & in terms of learning
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8
Q

define reinforcement (approaches - behaviourism)

A
  • a consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood of that behaviour being repeated
  • can be positive or negative
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9
Q

what are token economy systems? (approaches - behaviourism)

A
  • a type of behavioural therapy
  • acceptable behaviours are rewarded with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges
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10
Q

define what is meant by the humanistic approach (approaches - humanistic)

A
  • an approach to understanding behaviour that emphasises the importance of subjective experience & each person’s capacity for self-determination
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11
Q

what are physiological needs? (approaches - humanistic)

A
  • needs that every person has & are required to survive
  • e.g. food, water, sleep
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12
Q

what is meant by safety & security in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? (approaches - humanistic)

A
  • feeling secure & having a good sense of safety (both in life & with friends)
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13
Q

what is meant by love & belonging in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs? (approaches - humanistic)

A
  • feeling cared for by other people & caring for them
  • having a sense of belonging
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14
Q

define the term self (approaches - humanistic)

A
  • the ideas & values that characterise ‘I’ & ‘me’
  • includes perception of valuing of ‘what I am’ & ‘what I can do’
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15
Q

define what is meant by the cognitive approach (approaches - cognitive)

A
  • the term ‘cognitive’ has come to mean ‘mental processes’
  • focused on how our mental processes affect behaviour
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16
Q

what is meant by internal mental processes? (approaches - cognitive)

A
  • ‘private’ operations of the mind (such as perception & attention) that mediate between stimulus & response
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17
Q

define schema (approaches - cognitive)

A
  • a mental framework of beliefs & expectations that influence cognitive processing
  • are developed from experience
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18
Q

define inference (approaches - cognitive)

A
  • the process whereby cognitive psychologists draw conclusions about the way mental processes operate on the basis of observed behaviour
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19
Q

what is meant by machine reductionism? (approaches - cognitive)

A
  • explanations which liken human behaviour to that of a machine
  • this means that explanations tend to overlook the influence of emotional & social factors
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20
Q

what is an fMRI scan? (approaches - cognitive)

A
  • functional magnetic resonance imaging
  • a method used to scan brain activity while a person is performing a task
21
Q

what is a PET scan? (approaches - cognitive)

A
  • positron emission tomography
  • a brain scanning method used to study activity in the brain
22
Q

define what is meant by social learning theory (approaches - SLT)

A
  • a way of explaining behaviour that includes both direct & indirect reinforcement
  • combines learning theory with the role of cognitive factors
23
Q

define imitation (approaches - SLT)

A
  • copying the behaviour of others
24
Q

define modelling (approaches - SLT)

A
  • 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
25
Q

define vicarious reinforcement (approaches - SLT)

A
  • reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour
  • key factor in imitation
26
Q

define vicarious reinforcement (approaches - SLT)

A
  • reinforcement which is not directly experienced but occurs through observing someone else being reinforced for a behaviour
  • key factor in imitation
27
Q

what are mediational processes? (approaches - SLT)

A
  • cognitive factors that influence learning & come between stimulus & response
  • e.g. thinking
28
Q

define reciprocal determinism (approaches - cognitive)

A
  • a person’s behaviour both influences & is influences by personal & social factors
29
Q

define what is meant by the biological approach

A
  • a perspective that emphasises the importance of physical processes in the body
  • e.g. genetic inheritance & neural function
30
Q

what is a biological structure? (approaches - biological)

A
  • an arrangement or organisation of parts to form an organ, system or living thing
31
Q

define neurochemistry (approaches - biological)

A
  • relating to chemicals in the brain that regulate psychological functioning
32
Q

what are neurotransmitters? (approaches - biological)

A
  • brain chemicals released from synaptic vesicles that relay signals across the synapse from one neuron to another
33
Q

what is the nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • consists of the central nervous system & the peripheral nervous system
  • communicates using electrical signals
34
Q

what is the central nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • CNS
  • consists of the brain & the spinal cord
  • is the origin of all complex commands & decisions
35
Q

what is the peripheral nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • PNS
  • send information to the CNS from the outside world
  • transmits messages from the CNS to muscles & glands
36
Q

what is the somatic nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • 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
37
Q

what is the autonomic nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • 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)
38
Q

what is the sympathetic nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • 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
39
Q

what is the parasympathetic nervous system? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • 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
40
Q

what is the endocrine system? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • 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
41
Q

what is adrenaline? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • chemical substances that circulate in the bloodstream
  • only affect target organs
  • they are produced in large quantities but disappear quickly
  • have powerful effects
42
Q

what are sensory neurons? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • carry messages from the PNS to the CNS
  • have long dendrites & short axons
43
Q

what are relay neurons? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • connect the sensory neurons to the motor or other relay neurons
  • have short dendrites & short axons
44
Q

what are motor neurons? (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • connect the CNS to effectors like muscles & glands
  • have short dendrites & long axons
45
Q

what is synaptic transmission? (approaches - biological)

A
  • the process by which neighbouring neurons communicate with each other by sending chemical messages across the synapse that separates them
46
Q

define excitation (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • when a neurotransmitter (e.g. adrenaline) increases the positive charge of the postsynaptic neuron
  • increases the likelihood it will pass on the electrical impulse
47
Q

define inhibition (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • 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
48
Q

define summation (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • the process that determines whether or not action potential will be triggered based on the combined effects of the excitatory & inhibitory signals of neurotransmitters
49
Q

define action potential (approaches - biopsychology)

A
  • the electrical impulse that travels down the axon towards the end of the neurone

psychology 🧠 (10 decks)

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