Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is psychology
Scientific study of behavior and mental processes
What is critical thinking ?
Process of objectively evaluating, comparing, analyzing, and synthesizing information
What is pseudopsychologies
Psychology that relies upon non scientific or fraudulent methods to explain personality
What are psychology’s 4 main goals
DEPC
Description (what)
Explication (why)
Prédiction (when)
Change ( how can we improve)
Nature vs Nature controversy
Humans are being controlled by biological and genetic factors vs humans being controlled by their environment and learning
Introspection
Looking inward to monitor and report on the contents of consciousness (bias for structuralism)
Structuralism
Founded by Edward Titchener
Seeks to identify the elements of thought through introspection and then determine how the basic building blocks (structures) form the experience
Functionalism
Strongly influenced by Darwin studies how the mind functions to adapt to others in their environment
Psychoanalytic approach
Founded by Sigmund Freud says that the unconscious thoughts and desires greatly influence behavior
Psychodynamic
Psychology perspective focuses on the unconscious dynamics, internal motives, and childhood experiences
Behavioral
Psychology perspective
Focuses on objective and observable influences on behavior
Humanistic
Psychology perspective
Emphasizes free will, self actualization, and human nature as naturally positive and growth seeking
Information processing approach
Used by cognitive psychologist likens the mind to a computer that sequentially take in information processes it and produces response
Biological
Psychology perspectives emphasizes genetics and biological processes in the brain (parts of the nervous system) as an influence to behavior
Evolutionary
Major psychology perspectives focuses on natural selection, adaptation and evolution of behavior and mental processes
Sociocultural
Major psychology perspectives focuses on social interaction and cultural determinants of behavior and mental processes
Boipsychosocial model
Widely accepted approach views biological processes, psychological factors, and social forces as interrelated influences that interacts with the seven major perspectives
Basic research
Research conducted to advance scientific knowledge
Applied research
Research designed to solve practical problems
Theory
Systematic, interrelated set of concepts that explain a body of data
Informed consent
APA guideline regarding human participants saying they much agree to take part in the study after knowing what to expect
DĂ©briefing
After completion of the experiment the explanation for conducting the research and clearing up the misconceptions, questions, or concerns
Experimental research
Most powerful research method allows experiments to manipulate isolate and control variables and determine cause and effect
Variables
Factors in the experiment- Independent (manipulated) or dependent (measured and is affect by dependent) or extraneous (others that could affect study’s outcome)
Exoerimenter bias
Occurs when researcher influences research results in the expected direction
Single blind study
Only the researcher and not the participants knows who is in either the experimental or control group
Double blind study
Both the researcher and participants are unaware (blind) of who is in the experimental or control
Ethnocentrism
Believing one’s culture is typical of all cultures and viewing their own as central and correct
Placebo
Inactive substance treatment used as a control technique usually in drug research or given to patient
Placebo effect
When patients are given a placebo and have a perceived or actual improvement in medical condition
Sample bias
Occurs when research participants are not representative of the larger population
Random assignment
Using chance methods to assign participants to experimental or control conditions to avoid extraneous variables
Participants bias
Occurs when experimental conditions influence the participants behavior or mental processes
Descriptive research
Research methods that observe and record behavior and mental processes without producing casual explanations
Survey
Type of descriptive research where a large sample of people are questioned to assess their behaviors and attitudes
Case study
Type of descriptive research where an in-depth study is done on a single participant
Correlational research
Research method in where variables are observed or measured (without directly manipulation) to identify relationships between them
Biological research
Scientific studies of the brain and other parts of the nervous system
Cultural universals
Aspects of human behavior and mental processes that are true and pancultural for all people
Neuroscience
Field of studying how biological processes relate to behavior and mental processes
Neuron
Nerve cell that processes ans transmits information basic building blocks of nervous system responsible for receiving transmitting h electrochemical information
Cell body
Part of neuron containing call nucleus as well as other structures that help the neuron carry out its functions aka soma
Myelin sheath
Layer of fatty insulation wrapped around the axon of some neurons, which
increases the rate at which nerve impulses travel along the axon
Action poitential
Neural impulse, or brief electrical charge, that carries information along the axon
of a neuron.
The action potential is generated when positively charged ions move in and out
through channels in the axon’s membrane
Neurotransmitters
Chemicals released by neurons that travel across the synaptic gap and allow
neurons to communicate with one another
Endorphins
Chemicals released by neurons that travel across the synaptic gap and allow
neurons to communicate with one another
Central nervous system
Brain and spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
All nerves and neurons connecting the central nervous system to the rest of the
body
Stem cell
Immature (uncommitted) cells that have the potential to develop into almost any
type of cell depending on the chemical signals they receive
Reflex
Innate, automatic response to a stimulus
Somatic nervous system
Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that connects to sensory
receptors and controls skeletal muscles
Autonomic nervous system
Subdivision of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary functions,
such as heart rate and digestion.
Endocrine system
Collection of glands located throughout the body that manufacture and secrete
hormones into the bloodstream
Brain stem
Area of the brain that houses parts of the hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain, and
helps regulate reflex activities critical for survival (such as heartbeat and
respiration)
Hindbrain
Collection of brain structures including the medulla, pons, and cerebellum
Medulla
Hindbrain structure responsible for vital, automatic functions, such as respiration
and heartbeat
Cerebellum
Hindbrain structure responsible for coordinating fine muscle movement, balance,
and some perception and cognition
Midbrain
Collection of brain structures in the middle of the brain responsible for
coordinating movement patterns, sleep, and arousal
Forebrain
Collection of upper-level brain structures including the thalamus, hypothalamus,
limbic system, and cerebral cortex
Thalamus
Forebrain structure at the top of the brainstem, serves as the brain’s switchboard
relaying sensory messages to the cerebral cortex
Hypothalamus
Small brain structure beneath the thalamus that heps govern drives (hunger,
thirst, sex, and aggression) and hormones
Lambic system
Interconnected group of forebrain structures involved with emotions, drives, and
memory
Cerebral cortex
Thin surface layer on the cerebral hemispheres that regulates most complex
behavior, including sensations, motor control, and higher mental processes
Temporal lobes
Two lobes at the front of the brain governing motor control, speech production,
and higher functions, such as thinking, personality, emotion, and memory.
Occipital lobes
Two lobes at the back of the brain responsible for vision and visual perception
Association areas
So-called quiet areas in the cerebral cortex involved in interpreting, integrating,
and acting on information processed by other parts of the brain
Split brain surgery
Cutting of the corpus callossum to separate the brain’s two hemispheres. When
used medically to treat severe epilepsy, split-brain patients provide data on the
functions of the two hemispheres.
Behavioral genetics
Study of the relative effects of heredity and the environment on behavior and
mental processes
Evolutionary psychology
Branch of psychology that studies how evolutionary processes, like natural
selection and genetic mutations, affect behavior and mental processes
Chromosome
Treadlike molecule of DNA that carries genetic information
Gene
Segment of DNA that occupies a specific place on a particular chromosome and
carries the code for hereditary transmission
Heretabilty
Measure of the degree to which a characteristic is related to genetic, inherited
factors versus the environment
