Exam 1 Flashcards
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and neural processes, addressing the full range of human functioning
Nativism
Some knowledge is innate - Plato
Empiricism
All knowledge is acquired from experience - Aristotle
Structuralism
Interested in the structure of the mind, the elements of the mind and their capacities, often gained through introspection
Functionalism
Created as an alternative to structuralism, focused on the purpose of the mind’s functions and how the mind reacts to its environment
Hysteria
diagnosed in women during days of early clinical psychology, characterized by a loss of mental and physical functioning and emotional distress
Psychoanalytic Theory
Developed by Freud after studying Hysteria, based upon the idea that unconscious mental processes influence thoughts, feelings, and behavior
Behaviorism
Created in response to criticisms of Freud’s psychoanalytic theory, focuses upon objective, observable behavior from an outside view
Cognitive Psychology
In response to behaviorism, focuses on objective but not observable functions (memory, attention, reasoning), that are not explained by behaviorism
Cognitive Psychology and the Development of Computers
With the rise of computers, psychologists became to think of the human mind as a computer (experience to cognition to behavior), “software” of the brain
20th century global events shaping psychology
1930’s - increasing “human achievement” (strayed into eugenics)
1940’s - cognitive psychology used to increase soldier performance
Post WWII - Psychology around authority, what led people to commit atrocities
Cultural Psychology
The study of how cultural influences shape psychological functioning (absolutism: culture has no bearing, relativism: psychological functioning is culture-specific)
Dogmatism
Beliefs that persist without or in spite of proof
Empiricism
Our knowledge comes through use of the five senses
Theory vs. Hypothesis
Hypothesis (testable and falsifiable) is based upon initial theory (hypothetical explanation)
Validity
how close is the measure to the subject of interest?
Power of measurement
can the measure detect variation?
Reliability
How consistent and accurate is the measurement? Is it repeatable?
Positive correlation
variables increase or decrease together (+, farther from 0)
Negative correlation
variables increase/decrease inversely (-, farther from 0)
Psychological research ethics
Safety, confidentiality, use of data, informed consent
Cell body
center of neuron, “headquarters”
dendrites
receive neurotransmitters
axon
the path that the signal follows
myelin sheath
insulates the axon, makes the electrical signal more potent
Terminal button
Release neurotransmitters
Vesicle
Sacs that carry neurotransmitters
Synaptic gap
the space between the receiving and sending parts of 2 neurons which neurotransmitters travel between
Neuron cycle
Resting potential, action potential, and refractory period
Serotonin
Controls mood, obsessions, compulsions, memory, anxiety
Norepinephrine
Controls alertness, concentration, energy, attention
Dopamine
Controls pleasure, motivation, reward systems, sex
Triune Brain theory
reptilian (survival), limbic brain (feeling), neocortex (rational)
Occipital lobe
processes visual information
parietal lobe
processes touch, home to the somatosensory cortex
temporal lobe
hearing and auditory processing, forming new memories
frontal lobe
planning and reasoning, judgement, and self regulation
Plasticity
The brain is capable of changing and adapting based on need and different environmental factors
Connectome
All the synapses in the brain, connectome = stream bed and neural activity = water, both shape one another
Sensation
The process by which we receive physical energy and chemical stimuli
Perception
Understanding and making sense of stimuli
Transduction
The process of sensory information making its way into the brain
Sensory adaptation
Getting used to constant sensory stimuli and tuning it out, useful so we don’t have too much to process
Top down processing
analyzing stimuli by drawing on experience and expectations
Bottom up processing
analyzing stimuli beginning with sense receptors and working up to brain level
Figure-ground principle
we recognize figures by distinguishing them from the background
Proximity principle
we group together things that are near one another
Closure principle
the brain automatically fills in gaps in figures
Similarity Principle
The brain groups together things that look alike
connectedness principle
The brain groups together elements that are connected
Continuity principle
The brain groups together marks that fall along a smooth curve or straight line
Common fate and movement principle
when stimuli move together, we perceive them as one thing
monocular depth cues
cues of depth that can be perceived without the use of both eyes
binocular disparity
the slight difference between left and right retinal images, letting us see depth
change blindness
change that goes unnoticed by the observer because they are focusing on something else (map and tourist example)
