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Psychology > Chap 1:what Is Psychology? > Flashcards

Chap 1:what Is Psychology? Flashcards

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1
Q

Psychology:

A

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

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2
Q

Behavior

A

Everything we do that can be directly observed

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3
Q

Mental processes

A

Thoughts feelings and motives that we experience privately but cannot be observed

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4
Q

Critical thinking

A

The process of reflecting deeply asking questions and evaluating the evidence

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5
Q

Emperical method

A

Gaining knowledge through the observation of events, collection of data and logical reasoning

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6
Q

Pseudoscience

A

Info that is couched by scientific terminology but isnt supported by scientific research

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7
Q

What makes psych a science

A

The use of emperical method

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8
Q

William wundt

A

(1832-1920) founded his 1st psych labotory in 1879 at the uni of leipzig - founder of structuralism

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9
Q

What is structuralism

A

Wundt’s approach to discovering the basic elements or structures of mental processes; so called because of its focus on identifying the structures of the human mind

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10
Q

Introspection

A

Means looking inside on our minds and focusing on our own thoughts

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11
Q

Functionalism

A

James’s apporach to mental processes, empathizing on the functions and purpose of the mind and behavior in the individual’s adaptation to the environment

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12
Q

Natural selection

A

Darwin’s principle of the evolutionary process in which organisms that are better adapted to their environment will survive and produce more offsprings

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13
Q

Biological approach

A

An approach to psychology focusing on the body, especually the brain and the nervous system

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14
Q

Neuroscience

A

The scientific study of the genetics structure function developement and biochemistry of the nervous system emphasizing that brain and the ns are central to understanding behavior thought and emotion

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15
Q

Behavioral approach

A

An approach to psych focusing on the scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determinants

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16
Q

Psychodynamic approach

A

Approach that focuses on unconscious thoughts and the conflict between society’s demands and the biological drive and early childhood experiences

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17
Q

Altruism

A

Selflessness

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18
Q

Humanistic approach

A

An approach that focuses on a human’s positive qualities, the capability of personal growth and the freedom to choose one’s destiny

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19
Q

Scientific method

A 
Observing a phenomenon 
Formulating a hypothesis 
Testing through empirical research 
Drawing conclusions
Evaluating the theory
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20
Q

Moments that might inspire a scientific inquiry

A 
Current events (public protest of various policies)
Social issues (low #of women in engineering)
Personal experience (argument with a spouse )
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21
Q

Theory

A

Broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations

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22
Q

Hypothesis

A

An educated guess that derived logically from a theory

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23
Q

Prediction

A

Specific expectation for the outcome of a study

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24
Q

Operational definition

A

A definition that provides an objective description of how a variable is going to be measured in a study

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25
Q

Ed Diener study

A

Questionnaire that measures how satisfied a person is with his life

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26
Q

What is a key aspect of testing hypothesis

A

Data analysis

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27
Q

Self determination theory

A

People are likely to feel fullfilled with their lives meet imp needs: relatedness autonomy and competence

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28
Q

Meta analysis

A

A statistical procedure that summarizes a large body of evidence from the research literature on a particular topic allowing the researcher to assess the strength of the relationship between the variables

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29
Q

Descriptive research

A

Research that determines the basic dimensions of a phenomenon defining what it is how often it occurs and so on

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30
Q

Case study or case history

A

An in depth look at a single individual

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31
Q

third variable problem

A

the circumstance in which a variable that has not been measured accounts for the relationship between the two other variables

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32
Q

cross-sectional design

A

a type of correlational study in which variables are measured at a single point in time

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33
Q

value of correlational study

A

they allow us to use one variable to predict a person’s score on another /

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34
Q

experimental sampling method

A

when researchers are interested in studying everyday experiences

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35
Q

longitudinal design

A

a kind of systematic observation that involves maintaining measures of variables in multiple waves over time

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36
Q

nun study

A

a longitudinal design

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37
Q

experimental research

A

a carefully regulated procedure in which the experimenter manipulates one or more variables that is believed to influence some other variables

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38
Q

random assignment

A

the assignment of participantsto experimental groups by chance to reduce the likelihood that a study’s results is due to preexisting differences between the groups

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39
Q

independent variable

A

a manipulated experimental factor; a variable that experimenter changes to see what its effects are

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40
Q

dependent variable

A

the outcome; the variable that changes due to changes in the independent variable

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41
Q

confederate

A

a person who is given a role in an experiment so that social context can be manipulated

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42
Q

David Cwir

A

the confederate experiment (socially connected to someone causes us to experience the same as him
)

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43
Q

experimental group

A

those who are exposed to the change that the independent variable represents

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44
Q

control group

A

the participants in this group who are much like the experimental group as possible and who are treated the same except for the manipulated factor; the independent variable

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45
Q

quasi- experimental design

A

no random assignment since it can be impossible or unethical

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46
Q

external validity

A

the degree to which the experimental design actually reflects the real world issue it’s supposed

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47
Q

internal validity

A

the degree to which the change in the dependent variable is due to the manipulation of the independent variable

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48
Q

experimenter bias

A

the influence of the experimenter’s expectation on the outcome of the research

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49
Q

demand characteristics

A

any aspect of the study that communicates to the participant how the experimenter wants them to behave

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50
Q

research participant bias

A

in an experiment, the influence of the participants’s expectations and of their thought on how they should behave, on their behavior

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51
Q

placebo effect

A

a phenomenon in which the participants’ expectation, rather than the actual treatment produces an outcome

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52
Q

placebo

A

in a drug study, a harmless substance that has no physiological effect, that is given to the control group so they are treated identically to the experimental group except for the active agent

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53
Q

double blind experiment

A

an experimental degree in which neither the experimentor nor the participants are aware of which participants are in the control group or the experimental group until the results are calculated

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54
Q

population

A

the entire group about which the investigator wants to draw conclusions

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55
Q

sample

A

the subset of the population that the investigator is going to study

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56
Q

random sample

A

a sample that gives every member of the population an equal chance of being chosen

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57
Q

naturalistic observation

A

an observation of behavior in real world settings

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58
Q

descriptive statistics

A

mathematical procedures that are used to describe and summarize sets of data in a meaningful way

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59
Q

mean

A

measure of central tendency that is the average for a sample

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60
Q

median

A

measure of central tendency that is the middle score of the sample

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61
Q

mode

A

measure of central tendency that is the most common score in a sample

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62
Q

measure of dispersion

A

describes how much the scores in a sample differ from one another

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63
Q

range

A

a measure of dispersion that is the difference between the highest and the lowest scores

64
Q

standard deviation

A

a measure of dispersion that indicated how much the scores in a sample differ from the mean

65
Q

inferential statistics

A

mathematical methods that are used to indicate whether the data sufficiently satisfies a research hypothesis

66
Q

ethics guidelines

A

informed consent, debriefing, deception, confidentiality

67
Q

nervous system

A

body’s electrochemical communication circuitry

68
Q

characteristics of NS

A

complexity integration adaptation and electrochemical transmission

69
Q

central nervous system

A

brain and spinal chord

70
Q

peripheral nervous system

A

somatic(sensory&motor) & autonomic (parasympathetic &sympathetic )

71
Q

sympathetic

A

arouses the body

72
Q

parasympathetic

A

calms the body

73
Q

resting potential

A

-65 to -70

74
Q

acetylcholine

A

muscle action learning and memory

75
Q

GABA

A

regulate neuron firing control precision of signal being transmitted from one neuron to another

76
Q

glutamate

A

learning and memory

77
Q

norepinephrine

A

inhibits firing neurons in the CNS but also excites the heart muscle intestines and urogenital tract

78
Q

dopamine

A

voluntary movements sleep mood attention ability to recognize opportunities for rewarding experiences

79
Q

serotonin

A

sleep mood attention learning

80
Q

endorphins

A

depress nervous system and eliminates pain

81
Q

oxytocin

A

experience of love and social bonding

82
Q

neural network

A

networks of nerve cells that integrate sensory input and motor output

83
Q

brain lesioning

A

abnormal disruption in the tissue of the brain resulting from injury

84
Q

CT scans

A

three dimentional image obtained from X-rays, provides info about the location of the damage

85
Q

PET

A

measures amount of glucose in areas of the brain and sends info to comp for analysis

86
Q

MRI

A

creating magnetic field around person and using radio waves to construct image of the person’s tissues and biochemical activities

87
Q

fmri

A

to see whats happening in the brain

88
Q

TMS

A

combined with brain imagine techniques to establish causal relationship between brain activity and behavior uses magnetic field to introduce electrical current pulses in the brain and they create action potential

89
Q

hindbrain

A

medulla pons and cerebellum

90
Q

medulla

A

breathing and heart rate

91
Q

cerebellum

A

motor coordination

92
Q

midbrain

A

relays info between the brain and the eyes&ears

93
Q

reticular formation

A

diffuse collection of neurons invloved in stereotyped behavior such as walking sleeping and turning to sudden noise

94
Q

forebrain

A

the brain’s largest division and its most forward part

95
Q

limbic system

A

a loosly connected network of structures under the cerebral cortex has a function in emotion and memory

96
Q

amygdala

A

almond shaped structure that is involved in discrimination of objects such as social rivals food and mates

97
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

associated with planning self control and decision making

98
Q

hippocampus

A

has a role in memory

99
Q

thalamus

A

forebrain structure that sits on top brain stem serves as an imp relay station

100
Q

basal ganglia

A

large neuron clusters located above the thalamus and under the cerebral cortex that work with cerebellum &c.c ti control and coordinate voluntary movements

101
Q

hypothalamus

A

a small forebrain structure located below the thalamus monitors activities such as eating drinking and sex as well as emotions and stress

102
Q

cerebral cortex

A

part of the forebrain, the outer layer of the brain responsible for the most complex functions such as thinking and analyzing

103
Q

occipital lobe

A

structures located at the back of the head involved in visual stimuli

104
Q

temporal

A

located above the ears involved in hearing language processing and memory

105
Q

frontal lobes

A

behind the forehead involved in personality intelligenc and the control of voluntary muscles

106
Q

parietal

A

top and toward the rear of the head involved in registering spacial location attention and motor control

107
Q

somatosensory cortex

A

a region in the cerebral cortex that is responsible for processing info about body sensations located at the front of the parietal cortex

108
Q

motor cortex

A

a region in the cerebral cortex that is responsible for processing info about voluntary movement located just behind the frontal lobe

109
Q

association cortex

A

a region in the cerebral cortex that is the site of the highest intellectual functions such as thinking and planning

110
Q

left hemisphere (broca)

A

aphasia: problem in production of speech

111
Q

left hemisphere (wernicke )

A

problem in comprehension of language

112
Q

corpus callosum

A

large bundle of axons that connect that brain’s two hemisphere responsible for relaying info between the two

113
Q

left hemisphere function

A

processing language

114
Q

right hemisphere function

A

processing of info such as spatial perception visual recognition and emotion

115
Q

endocrine system

A

the body system consisting of glands that regulate the activities of certain organs by releasing chemical products into the blood stream

116
Q

glands

A

organs or tissues that create chemicals that control many bodily functions

117
Q

hormones

A

chemical messengers that are produced by endocrine glands and carried by the bloodstream all over the body

118
Q

pituitary gland

A

a pea sized gland just beneath the hypothalamus that controls growth and regulates other glands

119
Q

adrenal gland

A

glands on top of each kidney that are responsible for regulating mood energy level and the ability to cope with stress

120
Q

pancreas

A

a dual purpose gland under stomach that performs both digestive and endocrine functions

121
Q

ovaries /testes

A

sex related endocrine glands that produce hormones involved in male/female sexual develepment and reproduction

122
Q

brain repair

A

collateral sprouting ,substitution of function , neurogenesis

123
Q

stem cells

A

unique primitive cells that have the capacity to develop into most types of human cells

124
Q

genotype

A

an individual’s genetic heritage

125
Q

phenotype

A

an individual’s observable characteristics

126
Q

stream of consciousness

A

term used by william james to describe the mind as a continuous flow of changing sensations images thoughts and feelings

127
Q

metacognition

A

process of thinking about thinking

128
Q

consciousness

A

individual’s awareness of external events and internal sensations under the condition of arousal

129
Q

arousal

A

the physiological state of being engaged with the environment

130
Q

reticular activating system

A

network of structures including the brain stem, medulla and the thalamus that are involved in the experience of arousal and engagement with the environment

131
Q

theory of mind

A

individual’s understanding that they and others think feel perceive and have private experiences

132
Q

5 levels of awareness

A

higher level consciousness, lower level consciousness, altered state of consciousness , subconscious awareness no awareness

133
Q

controlled processes

A

the most alert state of human consciousness during which individuals focus their efforts toward a goal

134
Q

executive functions

A

higher order complex cognitive processes including thinking planning and problem solving

135
Q

automatic processes

A

states of consciousness that require little attention and do not interfere with ongoing activities

136
Q

incubation

A

subconscious processing that leads to a solution after a break from conscious thought about the problem

137
Q

biological rhythms

A

periodic physiological fluctuations in the body, such as the rise or fall of hormones and accelerated and decelerated cycles of brain activity, that can influence behavior

138
Q

circadian rhythms

A

daily behavriol or physiological cycles that involve the sleep/wake cycle body temp blood pressure and blood sugar level

139
Q

suprachiasmatic nucleus SCN

A

a small brain structure that uses input from the retina to synchronize its own rhythm with the daily cycle of light and dark, the body’s way of monitoring the change from day to night

140
Q

REM sleep

A

an active stage of sleep which dreaming occurs

141
Q

manifest content

A

according to freud, the surface content of a dream, containing dream symbols that disguise that dream’s true meaning

142
Q

latent content

A

according to freud a dream’s hidden content; its unconscious and true meaning

143
Q

cognitive theory of dreaming

A

theory proposing that dreaming can be understood by applying the same cognitive concepts used to study the waking mind

144
Q

activation synthesis theory of dreaming

A

theory that dreaming occurs when the cerebral cortex synthesizes neural signals generated from activity in the lower part of the brain and that dreams result from the brain’s attempt to find logic in random brain activity that occurs during sleep

145
Q

psychoactive drugs

A

drugs that act in the nervous system to alter consciousness, modify perception, and change mood

146
Q

tolerance

A

the need to take increasing amounts of a drug to get the same effect

147
Q

physical dependence

A

the physiological n need for a drug that causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms such as physical pain and craving for the drug when it’s discontinued

148
Q

psychological dependence

A

the strong desire to repeat the use of a drug for emotional reasons such as the feeling of well being and reduction of stress

149
Q

addiction

A

either a physical or psychological, or both, dependence on drugs

150
Q

depressants

A

psychoactive drugs that slow down mental and physical activity

151
Q

alcoholism

A

a disorder that involves long term repeated uncontrolled compulsive and excessive use of alcoholic beverages and it impairs the drinker’s health and social relationships

152
Q

barbiturates

A

depressants drugs such as nembutal and seconal that decrease central nervous system activity

153
Q

tranquilizers

A

depressant drugs, such as valium and xanax that reuse anxiety and induce relaxation

154
Q

opiates

A

opium and its derivatives; narcotic drugs that depress the central nervous system’s activity and eliminate pain

155
Q

stimulants

A

psychoactive drugs including caffeine nicotine cocaine and amphetamines that increase the central nervous system’s activity

156
Q

hallucinogens

A

psychoactive drugs that modify a person’s perceptual experiences and produce visual images that are not real

157
Q

divided consciousness view of hypnosis

A

Hilgard’s view that hypnosis involves splitting of consciousness into two separate components one that follow’s the hypnotist’s commands and the other acts a s a hidden observer

Psychology (1 decks)

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