Chapters 1-2 Flashcards
Psychology is defined as
scientific study of behavior and mental processes
psychologists attempt to understand behavior and mental processes by
using the scientific method
psychology began to be a separate field of scientific study in
1879
Behaviorism emphasizes the study of
oversable actions
which is not a goal of psychology
to observe
hypotheses can fall into one of 2 categories
predicitive and casual
debriefing is
the attempt to fully disclose the true purposes and nature of aaa psychological study
John Watson conditioned an infant names Albert to
fear a white rat
The scientific method is used by
all scientist, including psychologists
In order to test casual hypotheses, the researchers must use
experiments
a negative correlation describes a realtionship which
one variable decreases while another variable increases
one of the biggest disadvantages of case studies is a lack of
generalizability
quasi-experiments are studies which
involve manipulation of the main variables, but no random assignment
when may research participants withdraw from a study
they may withdraw anytime during the study
if a research study involves the manipulation of one of the main variables, the study is more likely an
experiment
____are the information-carrying cells of the nervous system
neurons
without an axon, a neuron would not be able to
send neural impulses to other neurons
inhibition occurs when
a neurotransmitter makes a postsynaptic neuron less likely to fire an action potential
Cell body
Contains nucleus
axons
branch of a neuron that is usually responsible for transmitting info to other neurons
dendrite
branch from neural cell body that usually receives input from other neurons
synapse
junction between 2 neurons where the axon bulb of the neuron comes into close proximity with specialized receptor sites on other neurons
excitiation occurs when
neurotransmitter makes the post synaptic cell more likely to fire an action potential.
move the neuron closer to its threshold of excitation by causing the post synaptic neuron to become more positive on the inside
inhibition occurs when
neurotransmitter makes post synaptic cell less likely to fire an action potential. Inhibitory neurotransmitters cause the inside of the cells to become more NEG moving it AWAY from threshold of excitiation
STOP THE MESSAGE FROM CONTINUING ONWARD
Peripheral Nervous System
must ensure that the CNS is informed abut what is happening in and outside of our body- equipped with sensory neurons that convey info to CNS
ex. aches,pains
Automatic nervous system
Control smooth muscles of internal organs-, the muscles of the heart, and the glands. * regulates organ functions and is equipped with separate divisions to help us survive in an ever-changing and sometimes dangerous world**
