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PSY 101 > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

4 goals of psychology

A

Describe, Explain, Predict, and Change behavior

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2
Q

Psychology

A

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

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3
Q

William Wundt

A

Studies what the mind is (structuralism). Father of psychology. (Parts of the brain)

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4
Q

Structuralism

A

Inside the mind (physically)

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5
Q

Functionalism

A

Purpose of thought

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6
Q

Biological Approach

A

Focus on the body (especially the brain and nervous system)

Ex. Why your hands sweat when you lie, why heart races when nervous

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7
Q

Sensation

A

Receiving energies from the external environment and transforming them into neural energy

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8
Q

Perception

A

Process of organizing and interpreting sensory information so that it makes sense
Brain provides meaning to encounters

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9
Q

Behavioral Approach

A

Emphasizes the study of physical, behavioral responses and their environmental determinants.

Skinner emphasized that psychology is what people do, not what can’t be seen.
Rewards and punishment determine behavior

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10
Q

Psychodynamic Approach

A

emphasizes unconscious thought, the conflict between biological drives.

The drive for sex, societies demands, and early childhood experiences.

Sigmund Frued- father of psychodynamic approach. Theorized that early relationships with parents shape an individual’s personality.

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11
Q

Cognitive Approach

A

emphasizes the mental processes involved in knowing: how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think and solve problems. Remember, make decisions, plan, set goals, be creative.

Ex. how we solve math problems, why we remember things for certain amount of
time, how we plan for the future

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12
Q

Absolute threshold

A

The lowest about of stimulus energy that a person can detect

Dim light, faint sound

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13
Q

Weber’s Law

A

2 stimuli must differ by a constant proportion to be perceived as different

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14
Q

Difference Threshold

A

The degree of difference that must exist for a difference to be detected

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15
Q

Subliminal perception

A

The detection of information below the level of conscious awareness
-eat popcorn and drink coke example

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16
Q

Theory

A

a board idea or set of closely related ideas that attempt to explain observations

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17
Q

Hypothesis

A

a testable prediction that is derived logically from a theory (educated guess)

Test hypothesis through empirical research (collecting and analyzing data)

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18
Q

Correlation and Causation

A

Correlation is NOT causation

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19
Q

Correlational Research

A

Discovering relationship between variables. Examines how two variables change each other.

Are married men happier than single men in the US?

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20
Q

Positive and Negative Correlations

A

The closer the number is to 1, the stronger the relationship.

Positive Correlation = changing in the same direction
Negative Correlation = changing in different directions

The example of ice cream and crime rates is a positive correlation because both variables increase when temperatures are warmer.

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21
Q

Correlation Coefficient

A

Represented by the letter “r”. Tells us the strength and direction of relationship between variables.

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22
Q

Correlation and Causation

A

Correlation is NOT causation

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23
Q

Sensory aptitude

A

A change in responsiveness of a sensory system based on an average level of surrounding stimuli

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24
Q

Pupil

A

Black opening in the center of the iris

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25
Q

Retina

A

Light sensitive surface that records electromagnetic energy and converts is to neural impulses
Made of Rods and Cones

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26
Q

Rods

A

Tall, thin, receptor cells that are sensitive to light (work well in the dark)

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27
Q

Cones

A

Short fat receptor cells that are sensitive to color (work well in the light)

28
Q

Optic nerve

A

Carries visual information to the brain

29
Q

Blind spot

A

Spot on the retina where the optic nerve leaves the eye

30
Q

Experimental Method

A

Establishing causal relationships between variables.

If men smile, do women perceive them as more attractive in the US?

31
Q

Random Assignment

A

Assign participants to group by chance

The larger the group, the better because better sample size

32
Q

Independent Variables

A

A manipulated experimental factor

33
Q

Dependent Variables

A

Outcome to the independent variable.

As researchers manipulate independent variable, they measure dependent variable.

34
Q

Experimental Group

A

Participants who receive treatment that is of interest or researcher

Participants that are exposed to the independent variable

35
Q

Control Group

A

Treated just like experimental group but without the independent variable

36
Q

Plasticity

A

The brain’s special ability for change (the cab driver example)

37
Q

Central Nervous System (CNS)

A

The brain and spinal cord.

More than 99% of nerves are in the central nervous system.

38
Q

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

A

Connects brain and spinal cord to body, Carries out commands of CNS to execute muscular and glandular activities.

39
Q

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

A

Involuntary bodily functions

40
Q

Somatic Nervous System (SNS)

A

Consists of sensory nerves (afferent)

-voluntary movement (efferent nerves), sensory information, brain to muscle impulses

41
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

Arouses the body to mobilize it for action

Fight or Flight

42
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

Calms the body down

43
Q

Cell body

A

Contains the nucleus which directs the manufacture of substance neurons need for
growth.

44
Q

Axon

A

Part of the nucleus that carries information away from cell body to other cells

45
Q

Dendrite

A

Tree like fibers projecting from the neuron. They receive information and orient
towards the neuron’s cell body

46
Q

Myelin sheath

A

A layer of cells, containing fat, that encase and insulate most axons.
Speeds up transmission of nerve pulses. Glial cells provide Myalin.

47
Q

Action potential

A

A brief wave of positive electrical charge that sweeps down the Axon
Lasts 1/10,000 of a second

48
Q

Resting potential

A

The polarization of cellular fluid within a neuron that provides the potential to produce an action

49
Q

Synapses

A

Tiny spaces between neurons

50
Q

Serotonin

A

Regulation of sleep, mood, attention, and learning

51
Q

Dopamine

A

Controls voluntary movement and affects sleep, mood, attention, learning, and ability to recognise rewards
Related to the personality trait of extraversion

52
Q

Norepinephrine

A

Inhibits the firing of neurons in the central nervous system, but excites the heart, intestinal, and urogenital muscles

53
Q

GABA

A

(Gama aminobutyric acid)- found in central nervous system
Keeps many neurons from firing
-Precise control of signal

54
Q

Brain lesioning

A

Abnormal disruption in the tissue of the brain ( perform on rats)

55
Q

PET

A

Based on metabolic changes in the brain. Monitors amount of glucose

56
Q

CT

A

Produce 3d images of the brain

57
Q

MRI

A

Magnetism and radio waves. Less exposure to radiation

58
Q

EEG

A

Tracks and records brain wave patterns.

59
Q

Limbic system

A

A network of structures under the cerebral cortex.

Important for memory and emotion

60
Q

Amygdala

A

Almond shaped structure inside the brain towards the base (one on each side)
Involved in the discrimination of objects needed for survival
Food, mates, social rivals

61
Q

Hippocampus

A

Special role in the storage of memories

Extensive damage to the hippocampus results in the inability to remember new memories

62
Q

Hypothalamus

A

Monitors eating, drinking, sex
Regulates the bodies internal state
Responsible for the secretion of hormones and neural outputs
Ex- blood near the hypothalamus increases by 1-2 degrees, the hypo increases circulation to the sweat glands to cool off

63
Q

Broca’s area

A

Area of the brain that plays in important role in speech.

64
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

Damage here causes problems with comprehension

65
Q

Endocrine system

A

Series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones

66
Q

Hormones

A

Chemical messengers released from endocrine glands that influence the nervous system to regulate the physiology and behavior of individuals.

PSY 101 (5 decks)

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