exam 1 Flashcards
1
Q
psychology definition
A
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
2
Q
goals of psychology
A
describe, understand, predict, control
3
Q
psychology was developed from…
A
philosophy and biology
4
Q
plato/descartes belief of knowledge
A
Knowledge is innate (nature)
5
Q
aristotle/locke belief of knowledge
A
knowledge acquired through experience (nurture)
6
Q
plato’s idea of knowledge
A
we inherit character and intelligence
certain ideas are inborn
7
Q
descarte’s idea of knowledge
A
some ideas are innate
8
Q
aristotle idea of knowledge
A
there’s nothing in the mind that does not first come from the external
9
Q
locke idea of knowledge
A
mind is a blank sheet on which experience writes
10
Q
who established the first psychology lab?
A
wilhelm wundt
11
Q
why did wilhelm wundt start psychology??
A
he wanted to study consciousness scientifically
12
Q
wundt’s early experiment
A
how do you measure the speed of thought?
people told to listen for tone and hit button as fast as they can; some people told to just hit button; difference is how long “perception of sound takes”
just hit button was shorter
13
Q
structuralism
A
the mind (consciousness) is composed of many parts, we can study the individual parts to understand the whole
emphasis on structure and organization of mind
14
Q
which psychologist is associated with introspection
A
titchener
15
Q
how did titchener use introspection
A
he just asked people what they thought/felt
used introspection to search for the mind’s structural elements
16
Q
what is wrong with introspection
A
its unreliable
it required smart, verbal people
results varied greatly
17
Q
what psychologist is associated with functionalism
A
william james
18
Q
functionalism
A
the study of the purpose of mental processes in adaptive behavior (not the elements)
19
Q
who thought that consciousness cannot be dissected and studied, but must be studied as a whole
A
william james
20
Q
why did william james say that thinking developed
A
becuase it was adaptive (darwinian)
21
Q
which psychologist was associated with psychoanalysis
A
freud
22
Q
sigmund freud emphasized the importance of:
A
the unconscious mind and its effects on human behavior
23
Q
psychoanalysis
A
ways our unconscious thought processes and emotional responses to childhood experiences affect our behavior
24
Q
which psychologist is associated with behaviorism
A
watson
25
how did watson redefine psychology
as the scientific study of observable behavior
26
what do behaviorists think?
all behavior is a result of learning
our experiences with rewards and punishments shapes our behavior
scientists shouldnt study what they cannot see (consciousness)
27
cognitive revolution
dissatisfaction with behaviorism becuase it couldnt explain all behavior
led field of psych back to its early interest in mental processes
1960s onward
28
modern computer as metaphor of mind
receives input, processes info, outputs info
active processes occur in software that arent visible
29
cognitive psychology approach
explores the ways we percieve, process, and remember information
30
levels of analysis
different complementary views for analyzing phenomena
31
biopsychosocial approach
integrated approach that incorporated biological, psychological, and sociocultural levels of analysis
32
united goal of all subfields of psychology
describing and explaining behavior and the mind underlying it
33
what do biological psychologists do
explore the links between brain and mind
34
what do developmental psychologists do
study changing abilities from womb to tomb
35
what do cognitive psychologists do
study how we perceive, think, and solve problems
36
what do personality psychologists do
investigate our persistent traits
37
what do social psychologists do
explore how we view and affect one another
38
what do clinical psychologists do
studies, assessses, and treats people with psychological disorders
39
what do counseling psychologists do
help people cope with academic, vocational, and marital challenges
40
what do educational psychologists do
study and help individuals in school and educational settings
41
what do industrial/organizational psychologists do
study and advise on behavior in the workplace
42
what do human factors psychologists do
study human capabilities and limitations in complex settings
43
hindsight bias
"i knew it all along"
after learning the outcome of an event, many people believe they could have predicted that very outcome
leads to overconfidence in intuition
44
overconfidence
sometimes we think we know more than we actually know
(length of time to do anagram)
45
purpose of research in psychology
to examine the world in a critical and discerning manner
46
scientific method
specific, self-correcting method for asking questions and getting answers
47
theory
an explanation that can predict behavior or events
48
hypothesis
a testable prediction, often prompted by a theory, to enable us to accept, reject, or revise the theory
49
variables
specific factors that are manipulated and measured in research
50
operational definitions
hypothesis must be stated in terms of the operations and methods which will be used to measure it
51
in the scientific method, what do you have to do if your hypothesis is confirmed>
replicate findings
extend findings
test alternative explanations
52
in the scientific method, what do you have to do if your hypothesis is disconfirmed>
reformulate hypothesis
determine meaning for theory
53
research process
theories --> hypothesis --> research and observations
then, confirm/reject/revise, and get back to theories
54
ways of gathering evidence
naturalistic observation
case studies
surveys
experiments
55
naturalistic observation
process of watching without interfering as behavior occurs in natural environment
56
advantages of naturalistic observation
lots of rich data
difficult to duplicate in lab setting
57
disadvantages of naturalistic observation
people may act differently if they know
observations can be distorted by observer's expectations
58
case studies
intensive study of behavior or mental processes in a particular infividual, group, or situation
often combine observations, tests, interviews, and analysis of written records
59
advantages of case studies
useful when phenomenon is new/complex/rare
60
disadvanatages of case studies
not always representative
61
surveys
ask people ab their behavior, attitudes, beliefs, etc through interviews and questionnaires
62
advantages of surveys
low cost, lots of data
p quick
63
disadvantages of surveys
phrasing v important
participants must represent population being studied
people may be reluctant to admit undesirable things
return rate very low
64
experiment
researcher changes one factor (IV)
measures the effect of this change on another variable (DV)
65
2 kinds of statistics used in psychology
descriptive
inferential
66
descriptive statistics
summary of data
describes data
67
inferential statistics
evaluating the possibility that the observed results represent a real and reliable phenomenon (or it was chance)
68
statisticially significant
the likelihood of getting a certain result by random chance has low probability
69
what is statistically significant criteria in psychology
0.05 (p < .05)
70
what does p= .05 mean
5% likelihood results are due to chance
95% likelihood results are real and not due to chance
71
correlation coefficient
statistical measure of the relationship between two variables
represented by r
72
r value can range from what to what
-1 to +1
73
value of r represents:
strength of relationship
74
sign of r represents:
its direction (positive or negative)
75
illusory correlations
seeing a relationship when none exists
result of bad science; bias
76
biological psychology
study of the cells and organs of the body and the physical and chemical changes involved in behavior and mental processes
77
basic unit of nervous system
neuron
78
nervous system is made up of
brain and spinal cord
79
longest axon in humans
spine to big toe
80
sensory neurons
neurons that carry incoming info from sensory receptors to brain and spinal cord
81
motor neurons
neurons that carry outgoing info from brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands
82
interneurons
neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between sensory inputs and motor outputs
83
dendrites
neuron's branching extensions that RECEIVE messages and conduct impulses toward cell body
listen/receive messages from other cells
84
axon
the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles/glands
85
cell body
cell's life-support center
86
neural impulse (action potential)
electrical signal traveling down axon
87
myelin sheath
fatty tissue layer encasing axon of neurons
helps speed neural impulses
88
terminal branches of axon
form junctions with other cells
89
multiple sclerosis is caused by what
degredatio of myelin sheath
90
at rest, what is the charge difference between the inside and outside of a neuron
-70 mV
91
when does a neural impulse fire?
when threshold exceeds a certain value, neural impulse fires and travels down axon
92
how do neurons communicate w each other (depolarization, etc)
1. neuron stimulation causes brief change in electric charge. if strong enough, this produces depolarization and action potential
2. this produces another action potential further down axon. gates open and charged sodium atoms rush in. pump transports sodium bavk outside cell
3. as action potential vpntinues down axon, first section has now copmltely recharged
93
how do neurons code intensity
rate of on-off impulses
number of neurons transmitting
94
synapse
junction between axon tip of the sending neuron and dendrite of receiving neuron
95
neurotransmitter
chemical messengers that cross synapses
96
reuptake
the sending neuron reabsorbs excess NT after flooding synapse
reabsorbs andbreaks down NT
97
NT involved in muscle actions, learning, memory
acetylcholine
98
NT involved in movement, learning, attention, emotion
dopamine
99
NT involved in mood regulation, sleep
serotonin
100
NT involved in memory (excitatory)
glutamate
101
inhibitory neurotransmitter (calms activity in brain)
GABA
102
NT involved in alertness, arousal
norepinephrine
103
undersupply of what NT is linked to siezures, tremors, insomnia
GABA
104
endorphins
natural, opiatelike NT linked to pain control and pleasure
105
in the lock and key mechanism, what is the lock?
receptor
106
in the lock and key mechanism, what is the key?
neurotransmitter (NT opens receptor site)
107
agonist molecules
molecules similar enough to a NT to bind to its receptor and mimic its effects
108
morphine is a ___ for endorphins
agonist (it mimics endorphins)
109
antagonist molecules
molecules that are structurally similar enough to a NT to bind to its receptor site, but they do it to block the NT from binding.
110
3 functions of nervous system
input
processing
output
111
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
112
peripheral nervous system
sensory and motor neurons that connect CNS to rest of body
113
somatic nervous system
division of PNS that controls body's skeletal muscles
114
autonomic nervous system
division of PNS that controls the glands and muscles of internal organs
115
sympathetic nervous system
division of autonomic nervous system that arouses body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
116
how does sympathtic nervous system affect the body?
increase heart rate
increase bp
slow digestion
increase blood sugar
increase perspiration
117
parasympathetic nervous system
division of autonomic nervous system that calms body, conserving its energy
118
how does parasympathetic nervous system affect the body?
opposite of sympathetic
119
nervous system that sends sensory info TO CNS for processing and sends messages FROM CNS to muscles to direct motion
somatic nervous system
120
nervous system that controls activities that are generally autonomous or independedndt of one's control
autonomic nervous system
121
nervous system that mobilizes the body for action in face of stress (fight or flight)
sympathetic nervous system
122
nervous system that regulates the body's functions to conserve energy (relax)
parasympathetic
123
part of nervous system involved in simple reflexes that bypass the brain
spinal cord
124
clusters of neurons working together (neural networks)
CNS
125
how many neurons, connections, and synapses are there in CNS
40 billion neurons
each with 10k connections
40 trillion synapses
126
parts of brain
forebrain
midbrain
hindbrain
127
parts of hindbrain
reticular formation
cerebellum
locus coeruleus
medulla
128
brainstem is located where
at base of brain
129
oldest part of brain
brainstem
130
brainstem function
autonomic regulation, arousal, motor movement
131
where is the medulla located
brainstem
132
medulla
base of brainstem
controls heartbeat and breathing
133
where is reticular formation located
brainstem
134
reticular formation
nerve network in brainstem that plays important role in controlling arousal (awakeness)
135
where is thalamus located
brainstem
136
thalamus
brain's sensory switchboard
directs messages to sensory areas in cortex; transmits replies to cerebellum and medulla
137
"little brain" attached to rear of brainstem
cerebellum
138
function of cerebellum
helps coordinate voluntary movements and baalnce
139
componenets of midbrain
limibic system
hypothalamus
pituitary gland
amygdala
hippocampus
140
hypothalamus
maintenence activities like eating, drinking, body temp, emotion control
controls endocrine system via pituitary gland (hormones)
141
how does hypothalamus control endocrine ssytem
pituitary gland
142
hormones
chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through blodstream and affect other tissues
143
amygdala
2 lima bean sized neural clusters linked to fear and anger
144
endocrine system
the body's slow chemical communication system
set of glands that secrete hormones into bloodstreamq
145
hippocampus
critical in new memory formation
located in midbrain
146
nervous system's way to communicae with other parts of body
endocrine system
147
brain lesion
tissue destruction; naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue to study behaviors
148
Phineas Gage
survived frontal lobe lesion
became v angry
149
electroencephelogram (EEG)
amplified recording of the electrical waves sweeping across the brain's surface, measured by electrodes placed on scalp
150
PET scan
detects radioactive form of glucose while brain performs a given task
shows us each brain area's consumption of glucose
151
MRI scan
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-genrated images that distinguish among diff types of brain tissue
152
neural networks
interconnected neurons form networks in the brain
these networks are complex and modify with growth and experience
153
cerebral cortex
the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres
the body's ultimate control and information processing center
154
structure of cerebral cortex
frontal lobe
parietal lobe
occipatal lobe
temporal lobe
155
where is frontal lobe
forehead
156
where is parietal lobe
top to rear head
157
where is occipital lobe
back of head
158
where is temporal lobe
side of head
159
motor cortex
area at rear of frontal lobes that control voluntary movements
160
sensory cortex (parietal cortex)
receives info from skin surface and sense organs
161
t/f more intelligent animals have increased association areas of cortex
true
162
association areas
areas of cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor or sensory functions
theyre involved in higher mental functions usch as learning, remmebring, thiinking, speaking
163
which areas of brain affect language
Broca's area
Wernicke's are
164
broca's area
controls speech expression (controls muscles of speech via motor cortex)
165
wernicke's area
interprets speech (auditory/visual)
166
brain activity when hearing words
auditory cortex
wernickes area
167
brain activity when seeing words
visual cortex
angular gyrus
168
brain activity when speaking words
brocas area
motor cortex
169
brain activity when speaking words
brocas area
motor cortex
170
angular gyrus
transforms visual representations into auditory code
171
corpus callosum
large band of neural fibers connecting the 2 brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them
172
in split brain patients, objects presented in ___ visual field can be names; objects in ___ visual field cannot
right; left
173
which hemisphere controls speech
left
174
consciousness
awareness of the outside world and of one's mental processes, thoughts, feeelings and perceptions
175
cocktail party affect- and what is it an example of?
your ability to attend to only one voice among many when they say your name
selective attention
176
selective attention
the focusing of conscious awareness on a aprticular stimulus
177
dual processing
the principle that info is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
178
conscious track of dual processing
(your convo)
not much info, but we are awware of it and it immediately guides our actions
179
non conscious track of dual processing
(your name being called)
a massive amount of sensory info but you are unaware (unless it is brought into consciousness)
180
inattention blindness
failing to see visible objects when our atention is directed elsewhere
info that is not attended to dissipates quickly- you are "blind" to it
181
change blindness
failing to notice changes in the environment
182
circadian rhythms
the biological clock
regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24 hr cycle
include sleep and wakefulness
183
t/f circadian rhythms can be altered by artificial light
true
184
sleep
periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness
185
sleep theories
sleep protects
sleep helps us recover
sleep helps us remember
sleep may play a role in the growth process
186
effects of sleep deprivation
fatigue and death
impaired concentration
emotional irritability
depressed immune system
greater vulnerability to accident
187
REM sleep
rapid eye movement
recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams occur
188
every 90 min we cycle thru 4 sleep stages- what are they?
REM, NREM 1, NREM 2, NREM 3
189
alpha waves
the releatively slow waves of relaxed, awake state
190
what is the first stage of sleep
NREM 1
191
during NREM 1, you may experience ___
halluciantions
192
during NREM 2, you may experience _____
sleep spindles
193
during NREM 3, which waves are produced
delta waves
194
a meditating person exhibits _____ brain activity
alpha
195
beta waves
awake and aroused
also seen in REM sleep
196
theta waves
during early, light sleeo
seenin stages NREM 1 - NREM 2
197
a person who is daydreaming shows ___ activity
theta
