EXAM 1 Flashcards
1
Q
empiricism
A
practice of relying on observation
2
Q
empirical
A
systematic observation
3
Q
non-empirical
A
philosophy
4
Q
determinism
A
everything in the world has a cause/determinant (observable world)
5
Q
hard determinism
A
choices are an illusion
6
Q
soft determinism
A
everything we do is influenced by our environment, experiences, and genetics
7
Q
free will
A
rejection of determinism
8
Q
nature-nurture issue
A
how genes (nature) and experience (nurture) make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors
9
Q
critical thinking
A
does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions - examines all points of view
10
Q
Bernstein et al’s five critical thinking questions
A
- what am I being asked to believe/accept
- what evidence is available to support the assertion
- are there alternative ways of interpreting the evidence
- what additional evidence would help to evaluate the alternatives
- what conclusions are most reasonable
11
Q
biopsychosocial approach
A
incorporates from biological, psychological, and social-cultural perspectives
12
Q
culture
A
the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next
13
Q
dual processing
A
the principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks
14
Q
positive psychology
A
the scientific study of human functioning with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive
15
Q
founder of psychology
A
Wilhelm Wundt
16
Q
First US Psychologist
A
William James
17
Q
structuralism
A
focus on the structure and elements of the conscious experience (Wundt)
18
Q
functionalism
A
focused on the mind, awareness, and function (James)
19
Q
psychoanalytic perspective
A
id, ego, supergo (Freud)
20
Q
id
A
primal desires and impulses
21
Q
ego
A
realistic mediator
22
Q
superego
A
moral compass
23
Q
behaviorism perspective
A
studies overt, observable behavior learned from environment (Watson and Skinner)
24
Q
humanistic perspective
A
emphasized uniqueness of self, subjective experience, free will of the individual (Rogers and Maslow)
25
cognitive perspective
study the mental processes (basis of behavior)
26
psychologist
licensed Ph.D. in clinical/counseling psychology
27
psychiatrist
M.D. who works with mental and emotional disorders
28
counselor
master's level and usually licensed
29
psychoanalyst
many fields, analysis of unconscious motivations
30
% of Ph.D.'s earned by women
70
31
behavior
the study of an animal's observable actions
32
mental processes
internal state and events such as thoughts, feelings, and beliefs
33
why is psychology a science
objectivity, systematic observation, and replicability
34
applied research
when the results are applied in the real world
35
basic research
theory driven research for the sake of knowledge
36
hypothesis
a testable statement of how you think two variables are related with predicted outcome
37
theory
an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes and predicts observations (more broad and abstract)
38
variable
a quality about people or their environments that can vary or change or a symbol/name that stands for value that may vary
39
scientific method
1. state the problem
2. develop hypothesis
3. design a study
4. collect and analyze data
5. conclusions and results
40
correlational relationship
descriptive research
41
experimental research
can establish cause and effect (frequently theoretical)
42
independent variable
the variable being manipulated
43
dependent variable
the variable that changes as a result of the independent variable; usually a behavior or mental process
44
experimental group
the group that gets the treatment
45
control group
the group that receives the baseline/no treatment
46
confounding variables
any variables that can serve as an alternative explanation for an effect
47
the 5 types of descriptive methods
case studies, surveys, correlational studies, naturalistic observation, and ex post facto studies
48
r
correlation coefficient (closer to 1 = stronger relationship)
49
mean
average
50
mode
number that occurs the most
51
median
the middle value
52
range
the highest value minus the lowest value
53
center
mean, mode, median
54
variability
range, standard deviation
55
quantitative research
uses statistical methods and usually results in numerical values
56
qualitative research
analysis is interpretative, subjective, and diagnostic
57
ethnocentrism
believing one's group to be the standard upon which others are judged
58
statistical significance
when p < 0.05
59
two parts of nervous system
peripheral and central systems
60
two parts of central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
61
two parts of peripheral nervous system
autonomic and somatic
62
two parts of autonomic peripheral nervous system
sympathetic and parasympathetic
63
spinal cord
controls spinal reflexes and communicates information
64
midbrain
involved in smooth movement, temperature, and some reflexes
65
cerebrum
connected by the corpus callosum, two hemispheres, largest structure, covered by cerebral cortex
66
the four lobes
frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital
67
somatic nervous system
responds to and acts on the outside world
68
autonomic nervous system
controls automatic processes
69
parasympathetic
controls normal operations and calms the body
70
sympathetic
activates fight or flight responses; adrenaline
71
neuron
building block of nervous system (bundle = nerve/tract)
72
afferent neurons
input to brain
73
efferent
output from brain to muscles
74
interneurons
connect sensory and motor neurons
75
synapse
gap between neurons
76
electrochemical process
within neurons: electrical
between neurons: chemical
77
neurotransmitters
naturally occurring chemicals in the synapses
78
serotonin
affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal
79
dopamine
influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion
80
acetylcholine (ACh)
enables muscle action, learning, and memory
81
norepinephrine
hels control alertness and arousal
82
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
inhibitory neurotransmitter
83
glutamate
memory; excitatory neurotransmitter
84
electroencephalography (EEG)
measures electrical activity
85
computerized tomography scans (CT)
computer-enhanced x-rays
86
magnetic resonance imaging (mri)
uses magnetic fields, more detailed than CT scans
87
functional MRI (fMRI)
shows differences in activity in brain regions
88
positron emission tomography (PET)
radioactive liquid that is injected into the bloodstream
89
right brain
superior at performing nonverbal, spatial, emotional, creative functions
90
left brain
superior at performing verbal, analytical, rational and math functions
91
plasticity
brain's ability to heal itself through re-tasking neurons
92
neurogenesis
producing new neurons
93
hormones
chemicals produced by endocrine glands and regulates activities
94
dendrites
receive messages from other cells
95
axon
passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles or glands
96
genotype
a person's genetic material
97
phenotype
observable, physical characteristics
98
98
cerebellum
coordinating movement and balance
99
cerebrum
coordinates movement and regulates temperature
100
hypothalamus
hormones that control body temperature, heart rate, and hunger
101
amygdala
major emotion processing center
102
frontal lobes
voluntary movement, language, and higher functions
103
maturation
biologically determined changes that follow an orderly sequence
104
change
the acquisition or loss of a behavior/function
105
genes
pieces of DNA that can be expressed or inactive that control emergence of trait characteristics
106
heredity
genes are passed from parents to offspring
107
5 stages of psychosexual development
oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital (Freud)
108
8 stages of psychosocial development
trust vs mistrust, autonomy vs shame, initiative vs guilt, industry vs inferiority, identity vs role confusion, intimacy vs isolation, generatively vs stagnation, integrity vs despair (Erikson)
109
morality
the rules that people use to balance the conflicting interests of themselves and others
110
3 stages of moral development
pre conventional, conventional, and post conventional (Kohlberg)
111
central moral problem for women
the conflict between self and other
112
language acquisition device
an innate module that allows young children to develop language (Chomsky)
113
orienting reflex
tendency to pay greater attention to novel than to familiar stimuli
114
sucking reflex
sucking rate increases with novel stimuli and decreases to familiar stimuli
115
schemas
concepts for frameworks for organizing information
116
assimilation
involves interpreting new information in light of an old schema
117
accommodation
process by which old schemas are modified to fit new situations
118
object permanence
realization that an object continues to exist even if it cannot be seen
119
egocentrism
understands the world to have only his/her view
120
animism
the belief that inanimate objects have lifelike qualities and are capable of action
121
centration
focusing on only one aspect of an object or person
122
5 stages of cognitive development
sensorimotor, pre operational, concrete operational, formal operational, post formal
123
enureis
lack of bladder control
124
encopresis
lack of bowel control
125
overeating
eating in excess of daily caloric needs
126
anorexia nervosa
self starvation or sustained loss of appetite
127
pica
eating or chewing inedible ojects
128
learning disorders
problems with reading, math, or writing, affects 10-15% of school kids
129
dyslexia
inability to read with understanding
130
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
short attention span, rapid speech, impulsivity, and rarely finishing work (more common in boys)
131
conduct disorder
aggressive, harm others, engage in vandalism, lying, or stealing; persistently violate rules (childhood bully)
132
autism
mutism, sensory spin-outs, sensory blocking tantrums, and unresponsiveness to others, echolalia, etc.
133
child abuse
physical/emotional harm caused by violence, mistreatment, or neglect (3.5-14% of all kids)
134
sex-linked abnormalities
presence of an extra chromosome or absence of one (Klinefelter, turner, xyy, fragile x)
135
gene-linked abnormalities
pky, sickle-cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, spina bifida, Huntington disease, etc
136
authoritarian parents
controlling and value full obedience, leads to withdrawn and unhappy children
137
permissive parents
non-controlling, non-demanding, but kids are immature, unhappy, and have no self control
138
authoritative parents
loving, demanding, and respectful, results in the best kids
139
puberty
the sole purpose of preparing the organism for reproduction
140
primary sex characteristics
compromise the sexual organs and the internal organs that get the body ready for reproductions
141
secondary sex characteristics
the physical changes related to aspects of reproduction and general maturation
142
social identity
the "we" aspect of our self-concept that comes from group memberships
143
role confusion
when worlds/groups that define self characteristics overlap
144
crisis
period of conscious decision making; considering alternatives
145
commitment
personal investment in occupation or system of beliefs; adherence to a path of action
146
identity achievement identity state
one takes time thinking about the important issues in one's life, makes crucial choices and commits to those choices by acting upon theme
147
foreclosure identity state
made a commitment without considering alternative choices; accepted others' plans for their life
148
identity diffusion identity state
no commitment, possible period of considering alternatives
149
moratorium identity state
ambivalent struggle, but will achieve identity
150
Piaget's stage of formal operational thought
able to speculate, form hypotheses, fantasization, manipulate information, abstract thought
151
selfcenteredness fables
personal and invincibility
152
the two parts of a sexual identity
sexual behavior and sexual orientation
153
homeostasis
the automatic regulation of functions such as body temp, breathing, etc
154
cognitive development
considering both sides of an idea simultaneously and then forming a thought that integrates both sides
155
halo effect
if you are beautiful people also think you are good
156
fluid intelligence
basic mental abilities (stm, abstract thinking, thinking speed, etc) - decreases when older
157
crystallized intelligence
accumulation of facts, info, language, vocabulary, general info, etc - increases when older
158
empty nest syndrome
becoming depressed after the last child leaves
159
stressors
adverse and emotional reactions to demands put on the individual as a result of unsettling conditions/experiences
160
Type A
explosive, fast, competitive, achievement orientated, impatience, irritable,
161
Type B
relaxed, unhurried, low aggression, low motivation
162
disengagement theory
assumes that it is normal and desirable for people to withdraw from society as they age (not valid)
163
activity theory
people who remain active physically, mentally, and socially will adjust better to aging
164
ageism
discrimination or prejudice based on age
165
dementia
the loss in mental functioning caused by physical changes in the brain
20% over age 80
<1% at age 65
166
causes of population graying
high birth rates and immigration rates, and medical advances
167
bereavement
period of adjustment that follows death of a loved one
168
grief
intense sorrow and distress following death of a loved one
169
mourning
outward, public expression of grief
170
shock
emotional numbness experienced after loss
171
pangs of grief
intense and anguished yearning for one who has died
172
resolution
acceptance of loss
173
5 stages of grief
denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance
174
175
hospice care
comfort care only, optimize remaining time, less expensive, family and patients decide decisions, counseling provided
176
6 stages of egocentrism
fault with authority, argumentativeness, self-consciousness, self-centeredness, indecisiveness, hypocrisy
