Exam 1

Question 1

Empiricism

Answer 1

the premise that knowledge should be acquired through observation

Question 2

Theoretical Diversity

Answer 2

a variety of perspective are needed to fully understand behavior

Question 3

Sociohistorical Context

Answer 3

dense connections exist between what happens in psychology and what happens in society

Question 4

Mulifactorial Causation

Answer 4

complex causation is the rule and single cause explanations are usually incomplete.

Question 5

Cultural Heritage

Answer 5

cultural factors exert influence over most aspects of behavior

Question 6

Heredity and Environment

Answer 6

nature and nurture interactively shape most behavioral traits.

Question 7

Subjectivity of Experience

Answer 7

people tend to see what they expect to see and what they want to see.

Question 8

Sampling Bias

Answer 8

exists when a sample is not representative of the population from which it was drawn

Question 9

Placebo Effect

Answer 9

occur when participants’ expectations lead them to experience some change even though they receive empty, fake, or ineffectual treatment

Question 10

Distortions in Self-Report Data

Answer 10

Result from problems, such as social desirability bias and response sets, that happen when participants give verbal accounts of their behavior

Question 11

Experimenter Bias

Answer 11

occurs when a researcher’s expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained

Question 12

The Scientific Approach

Answer 12

• measurement and description
• understanding and prediction
• application and control

Question 13

What is the first step of investigation?

Answer 13

formulate a hypothesis

Question 14

What is the second step of investigation?

Answer 14

select a method and design study

Question 15

What is the third step of investigation?

Answer 15

collect data

Question 16

what is the fourth step of investigation?

Answer 16

analyze and draw conclusions

Question 17

what is the fourth step of investigation?

Answer 17

report findings

Question 18

independent variable

Answer 18

a condition or event manipulated by experimenter.

Question 19

Dependent variable

Answer 19

aspect of behavior thought to be affected by the independent variable

Question 20

Experimental Group

Answer 20

participants or subjects who receive special treatments

Question 21

Extraneous Variable

Answer 21

factors besides the independent variable that might affect the dependent variable, hence, they need to be controlled.

Question 22

soma

Answer 22

cell body

Question 23

dendrites

Answer 23

branching structures that receive signals from other cells

Question 24

axon

Answer 24

fiber that carries signals away soma to other cells

Question 25

myelin sheath

Answer 25

insulating material that encases some axons

Question 26

terminal buttons

Answer 26

Small knobs at the end of axons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters at synapses

Question 27

resting potential

Answer 27

a neuron’s stable, negative charge when the cell is inactive

Question 28

action potential

Answer 28

voltage spike that travels along axon

Question 29

Absolute Refractory Period

Answer 29

brief time after an action potential, before another action potential can occur

Question 30

All or no law

Answer 30

a neuron either fires or doesn’t fire or doesn’t fire

Question 31

Acetylcholine

Answer 31

released by neurons that control skeletal muscles

Question 32

Serotonin

Answer 32

involved in regulation of sleep and arousal, and aggression; abnormal levels linked to depression

Question 33

Dopamine

Answer 33

abnormal levels linked to schizophrenia; dopamine circuits activated by cocaine and amphetamine

Question 34

Norepinophine

Answer 34

abnormal levels linked to depression, epinephrine circuits can be activated by cocaine and amphetamines

Question 35

GABA

Answer 35

inhibitory transmitter that contributes to regulation of anxiety

Question 36

Endorphins

Answer 36

opiate-like chemicals involved in modulation of pain