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VCE Psychology 1/2 > Exam Revision > Flashcards

Exam Revision Flashcards

Units 1 and 2 VCE Psychology definitions

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1
Q

Ablation

A

the surgical removal, destruction or cutting of tissue p. 77

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2
Q

Accommodation

A

the cognitive process of restructuring an existing schema in order to fit in new information p. 206

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3
Q

Adaptive behaviours

A

activity that enhances an individual’s ability to match the changing demands of their everyday life p. 244

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4
Q

Adaptive plasticity

A

the brain’s ability to restore and enhance neural functioning over time due to experience p. 144

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5
Q

Addiction disorder

A

a category of psychological disorder characterised by a dependence on a particular substance or behaviour despite negative consequences p. 259

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6
Q

Adolescence

A

the developmental period beginning after the onset of puberty from approximately 10 to 19 years old p. 136

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7
Q

Advertising

A

the process of using media to persuade people to purchase commercial products p. 419

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8
Q

Affective component

A

our emotions and intuitive feelings towards something p. 346

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9
Q

Aim

A

a statement outlining the purpose of the study p. 3

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10
Q

Allocation

A

the process of assigning participants to conditions in the experiment for the research p. 23

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11
Q

Anxiety disorder

A

a category of psychological disorder characterised by extreme, ongoing worry and distress p. 261

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12
Q

Assimilation

A

the cognitive process of incorporating new information into an existing schema p. 206

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13
Q

Attachment

A

a long-lasting emotional bond between two individuals p. 183

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14
Q

Attachment theory

A

a theory that suggests that the bond formed between children and their primary caregivers determines the nature of the child’s emotional development into adulthood p. 183

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15
Q

Attitude

A

an evaluation of something, such as a person, object, event, or idea p. 345

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16
Q

Attribution

A

an evaluation made about the causes of behaviour and the process of making this evaluation p. 359

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17
Q

Attributional style

A

tendencies and repeated patterns in the way someone makes attributions. Also known as a person’s explanatory style p. 361

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18
Q

Atypical behaviours

A

activity that is unusual or unnatural according to how an individual usually behaves p. 243

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19
Q

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

A

the branch of the PNS responsible for connecting the CNS and the body’s visceral (non-skeletal) organs, muscles and glands p. 92

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20
Q

Autopsy

A

the examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death or the cause of a disease or disorder that a person suffered p. 76

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21
Q

Axon

A

the long strand-like part of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body to the sending end of a neuron p. 101

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22
Q

Axon terminals

A

the ends of a neuron that release a message into the synapse p. 101

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23
Q

Bar chart

A

a graph that depicts the relationship between two variables using rectangular bars p. 49

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24
Q

Behavioural component

A

our outward and observable actions that reflect our point of view of something p. 346

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25
Q

Biological factors

A

factors relating to genetic makeup and physiological functioning of the body p. 251

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26
Q

Bipolar disorder

A

a category of mood disorder characterised by disabling alternations between periods of low moods and periods of heightened moods (mania or hypomania) p. 263

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27
Q

Brain

A

an organ contained in the skull that coordinates thought, behaviour and nervous system activity p. 71, 90

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28
Q

Brain stem

A

a part of the brain which is an extension of the spinal cord, including the midbrain, medulla, and pons p. 107

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29
Q

Brain versus heart debate

A

a historical debate surrounding whether the heart or the brain was responsible for central functions including thought, emotion, and behaviour p. 72

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30
Q

Broca’s area

A

the area of the frontal lobe responsible for the production of speech and some aspect of speech interpretation p. 119

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31
Q

Bullying

A

intentionally and repeatedly causing an individual or group to feel distressed through verbal, social or physical behaviours p. 413

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32
Q

Case study

A

an in-depth study of an individual or a very small group of individuals p. 12

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33
Q

Central nervous system (CNS)

A

the brain and spinal cord p. 90

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34
Q

Centration

A

the act of focusing only on one feature or characteristic of an object to the exclusion of all others p. 214

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35
Q

Cerebellum

A

the ball-like structure at the lower back of the brain behind the brain stem, primarily involved in skeletal muscle movement and coordination p. 108

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36
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

the thin outer layer of the cerebrum p. 116

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37
Q

Cerebrum

A

the largest expanse of brain matter, including the outer cerebral cortex and inner tissue of the forebrain, responsible for a range of sophisticated functions p. 111

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38
Q

Choosing an experimental research design

A

the process of choosing an appropriate experimental research design in order to reduce possible extraneous and confounding variables p. 29

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39
Q

Classification

A

the ability to group objects or concepts into categories which are organised on the basis of common features p. 215

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40
Q

Cognition

A

the ability to produce thought as well as comprehend and organise information from the internal and external environment p. 205

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41
Q

Cognitive bias

A

an error in thought processes that impacts rational decision making and reasoning p. 362

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42
Q

Cognitive component

A

our thoughts and beliefs towards something p. 346

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43
Q

Computerised tomography (CT)

A

a neuroimaging technique that involves taking continuous two-dimensional x-ray images of a person’s brain or body in order to provide both two and three-dimensional images p. 82, 151

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44
Q

Conclusion

A

a statement regarding the results of an investigation as to whether the hypothesis was supported or not p. 55

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45
Q

Concrete thinking

A

a type of thought based on knowledge acquired through personal experience which involves literal interpretations of tangible concepts p. 216

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46
Q

Cones

A

photoreceptors that allow someone to see colour and fine details in well-lit conditions p. 308

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47
Q

Confidentiality

A

the right of the participant for their personal details to remain private p. 36

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48
Q

Conformity

A

the alignment of one’s thoughts, feelings, or behaviour to match those of others or societal expectations p. 393

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49
Q

Confounding variables

A

variables other than the independent variable that have directly and systematically had an effect on the dependent variable p. 28

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50
Q

Conservation

A

the ability to understand that the properties of an object stay the same even when the object’s appearance is altered p. 215

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51
Q

Contralateral functions

A

the role of each cerebral hemisphere to receive sensory information from, and control the movement of, the opposite side of the body p. 117

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52
Q

Control group

A

a group that is used as a basis for comparison; participants are not exposed to the experimental conditions (the IV) p. 15

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53
Q

Convenience sampling

A

when a sample is selected using the quickest and easiest means possible, selecting people who are readily available from the population p. 22

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54
Q

Coping

A

the ability to meet and overcome the challenges and setbacks faced during everyday life p. 252

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55
Q

Counterbalancing

A

a method used in repeated measures experimental designs to reduce order effects p. 30

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56
Q

Covert bullying

A

indirect forms of bullying, such as excluding people from group events or talking about them behind their backs p. 414

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57
Q

Cranial nerves

A

the nerves which extend from the tongue to the brain, along which gustatory information is transmitted p. 320

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58
Q

Critical periods

A

the narrow, rigid developmental period in which a specific skill or function must be learnt p. 177

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59
Q

Cross-sectional study

A

when data is collected from participants from different segments of the population (pre-existing cohorts) to represent a ‘snapshot’ in time p. 12

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60
Q

Cyberbullying

A

bullying that involves intentionally harmful behaviour that occurs repeatedly in online spaces, such as on social media p. 414

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61
Q

Debriefing

A

a process which occurs at the conclusion of a study and involves the researcher outlining the nature of the study to participants and includes ensuring that participants do not leave the study with lasting harm p. 36

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62
Q

Deception

A

when the participant is unaware of the true nature of the study p. 36

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63
Q

Deep brain stimulation

A

a treatment for neurological disorders that involves creating an electrical current through a pulse generator to stimulate a particular region of the brain with depleted neural activity due to degenerated and damaged levels of neurons p. 150

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64
Q

Deindividuation

A

the tendency for individuals to lose their sense of identity and individuality within a group p. 399

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65
Q

Dendrites

A

the bushy spines of a neuron that receive a message p. 101

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66
Q

Dependent variable (DV)

A

the variable that is being measured in an experiment for changes it experiences due to the effect of something (i.e. the independent variable) p. 5

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67
Q

Depressive disorder

A

a category of mood disorder characterised by a disabling low mood p. 263

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68
Q

Depth cues

A

visual clues that allow someone to judge the distance or depth of stimuli in their environment p. 312

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69
Q

Descriptive statistics

A

statistics that are used to organise and summarise data p. 47

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70
Q

Developmental plasticity

A

changes in the brain that occur in response to ageing and maturation p. 135

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71
Q

Difficult temperament

A

a relatively stable disposition in which infants are unhappy and have irregular sleeping and eating patterns p. 188

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72
Q

Discrimination

A

the unjust treatment of people due to their membership within a certain social category p. 355

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73
Q

Disorganised attachment

A

a style of attachment in which the infant displays problematic and unpredictable behaviours, usually due to extremely negative early life experiences p. 199

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74
Q

Dizygotic twins

A

twins who are not identical due to variations in the genes they inherited p. 168

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75
Q

Dopamine

A

a neurotransmitter responsible for the coordination of voluntary movement and experiences of pleasure and pain p. 148

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76
Q

Double-blind procedure

A

a procedure in which both the participants and the person conducting the experiment are unaware of which condition participants have been allocated to in order to reduce experimenter bias and participant expectations p. 31

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77
Q

Dualism

A

in the mind-body problem, the view that the mind and the body are separate and distinguishable things p. 73

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78
Q

Easy temperament

A

a relatively stable disposition in which infants are warm and friendly and have established sleeping and eating patterns p. 188

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79
Q

Egocentrism

A

the inability to understand the perspectives of others p. 214

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80
Q

Electrical brain stimulation (EBS)

A

a research or therapeutic technique that involves electrically stimulating parts of the brain p. 78

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81
Q

Emotional development

A

the continuous, life-long development of skills which allow individuals to control, express, and recognise emotions in an appropriate way p. 185

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82
Q

Empirical evidence

A

data that is collected through direct observation or through experiments p. 2

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83
Q

Environmental factors

A

factors which influence development that arise from an individual’s physical and social surroundings p. 164

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84
Q

Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development

A

a theory of development proposed by Erikson in which the behaviour and personality of individuals is shaped by the desire to meet social and cultural expectations p. 225

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85
Q

Ethical guidelines

A

a set of rules and considerations that researchers must abide by when conducting research p. 34

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86
Q

Ethics committee

A

a group of people who review research proposals and consider the potential risks, benefits and implications in order to either approve or disapprove them for research p. 35

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87
Q

Experiment

A

a study conducted in a carefully controlled environment to measure the cause and effect relationship between variables p. 11

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88
Q

Experimental group

A

the group within an experiment that are exposed to experimental conditions (the IV) p. 15

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89
Q

Experimenter effects

A

when an experimenter’s expectations about the study influence the results p. 31

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90
Q

External attribution

A

a judgement of the causes of a behaviour as resulting from forces outside the individual performing the behaviour p. 360

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91
Q

External factors

A

factors which arise from the environment of an individual and contribute to their mental health p. 251

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92
Q

External validity

A

the extent to which the results of an investigation can be applied to other settings, people and time p. 57

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93
Q

Extraneous variables

A

variables other than the independent variable that may produce unwanted results in an experiment p. 28

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94
Q

Eye

A

the sensory organ for vision p. 308

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95
Q

Fallibility

A

the quality of being prone to error or experiencing difficulties in judgement p. 327

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96
Q

Forebrain

A

the largest area of the brain, located at the top and front of the brain p. 110

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97
Q

Frontal lobe

A

the largest lobe of the cerebral cortex at the front of the cerebral hemispheres with the functions of high-order mental processes, regulation and expression of emotions, voluntary movement, and the production speech p. 118

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98
Q

Frontal lobe development

A

the growth and neural maturation of the frontal lobe p. 137

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99
Q

Functional approach to normality

A

defining normality in terms of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that enable the individual to meet the demands of everyday life p. 241

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100
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

a neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to take two and three-dimensional images of the brain and its activity levels p. 84, 151

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101
Q

Gambling disorder

A

an addiction disorder which involves an individual compulsively risking their own money or object of value in an attempt to win back more of it p. 259

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102
Q

Generalisability

A

the extent to which the results of an investigation can be applied to the wider research population p. 56

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103
Q

Genetics

A

the unique, cellular makeup of each individual which is inherited from biological parents p. 187

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104
Q

Gestalt principles

A

guiding rules of perception that allow us to organise independent visual signals into meaningful wholes p. 310

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105
Q

Glial cells

A

a specialised cell that protects and supports neurons and their functioning p. 101

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106
Q

Goal-directed behaviour

A

the ability to behave in a way which meets the demands of a goal that has been purposefully set out p. 213

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107
Q

Group

A

two or more people who interact and influence each other and share a common objective p. 374

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108
Q

Gustatory receptors

A

the sensory receptors which detect chemical molecules in food p. 320

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109
Q

Hemispheric specialisation

A

the idea that each of the brain’s cerebral hemispheres has its own specialisations p. 116

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110
Q

Hereditary factors

A

factors which influence development that are genetically passed down from biological parents to their offspring p. 164

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111
Q

Hindbrain

A

an area at the base of the brain, including the medulla and pons (in the brain stem) and the cerebellum p. 107

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112
Q

Historical approach to normality

A

defining normality in terms of the dominant customs of a specific period of time p. 241

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113
Q

Hypothalamus

A

an almond-sized structure in the forebrain, primarily involved in homeostatic functioning as well as motivated and emotional behaviours p. 111

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114
Q

Hypothesis

A

a testable prediction about the outcome of an experiment; it is written in the form of a statement and includes the variables that will be tested p. 3

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115
Q

Independent groups design

A

an experimental design in which participants are split into two or more groups; typically a control group and an experimental groups p. 16

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116
Q

Independent variable (IV)

A

the variable that the experimenter manipulates in order to observe the effect it has on something (i.e. the dependent variable) p. 5

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117
Q

Infancy

A

the developmental period from birth until one years old p. 136

118
Q

Inferential statistics

A

statistics that provide information on the statistical significance of the results and suggest how they might apply to a wider population p. 47

119
Q

Informational influence

A

the influence of observable behaviours and information on an individual, influencing their behaviour in certain situations or environments p. 398

120
Q

Informed consent

A

the right of the participant to have a thorough understanding of the nature of the study, before agreeing to participate p. 36

121
Q

Insecure-anxious attachment

A

a style of attachment in which the infant may be reluctant to or avoid contact from their primary caregiver, usually formed due to a lack of responsiveness to their needs p. 198

122
Q

Insecure-avoidant attachment

A

a style of attachment in which the infant fluctuates between clinging to and rejecting their primary caregiver, usually due to the caregiver inconsistently meeting the infant’s needs p. 198

123
Q

Internal attribution

A

a judgement of the causes of a behaviour as resulting from features of the individual performing the behaviour p. 360

124
Q

Internal factors

A

factors which arise from within the individual and contribute to their mental health p. 251

125
Q

Internal validity

A

the extent to which the changes in the dependent variable are caused by the independent variable, and not other variables p. 57

126
Q

Interpretation

A

the process of understanding and assigning meaning to sensory information p. 303

127
Q

Interview

A

a type of questionnaire that is usually conducted verbally, involving the researcher asking participants questions and recording their responses p. 11

128
Q

Levodopa

A

a Parkison’s disease medication that is converted to dopamine by neurons in the brain upon consumption to improve motor functioning outcomes p. 149

129
Q

Line graph

A

a graph that depicts the relationship between two variables using a line that connects each data point p. 49

130
Q

Localisation of function

A

the psychological principle that suggests that different areas of the brain are responsible for different behaviours and mental processes p. 117

131
Q

Longitudinal study

A

a type of investigation in which data is gathered from participants over an extended period of time, and the participants are followed up after specific time intervals p. 12

132
Q

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A

a neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to take two and three-dimensional images of the brain p. 82, 151

133
Q

Maladaptive behaviours

A

activity that impairs an individual’s ability to match the changing demands of their everyday life p. 244

134
Q

Matched participants design

A

an experimental design in which participants are paired based upon relevant characteristics, where one member of the pair is tested in one condition, and the other member is tested in the other p. 16

135
Q

Maturation

A

the biologically programmed changes which facilitate development from conception through to adulthood p. 175

136
Q

Mean

A

a measure of central tendency, expressed numerically, that represents the average of a data set p. 47

137
Q

Media

A

the form in which information is spread throughout society p. 419

138
Q

Medical approach to normality

A

defining normality in terms of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that do not fit the clearly outlined diagnostic criteria for a particular p. 242

139
Q

Medulla

A

a mass of neurons located at the bottom of the brain stem, just above the spinal cord, primarily involved in regulating autonomic functions p. 108

140
Q

Mental health

A

the current state of a person’s psychological wellbeing and functioning p. 244, 250

141
Q

Mental health continuum

A

a tool used to track progression of mental health which consistently fluctuates over time, progressing from mentally healthy, to mental health problems, to mental health disorders p. 245

142
Q

Mental health disorder

A

a diagnosed psychological state characterised by the presence of a severe disturbance and sense of distress, involving thoughts, feelings, and or behaviours that are atypical of the person and that significantly impact their ability to function independently p. 244, 250, 256

143
Q

Midbrain

A

a part of the brain stem in the centre of the brain p. 109

144
Q

Mind-body problem

A

a debate that questions whether our mind and body are separate and distinguishable things or whether they are the same thing p. 73

145
Q

Monism

A

in the mind-body problem, the view that the mind and the body are one and the same thing p. 73

146
Q

Monozygotic twins

A

twins who are identical due to inheriting the exact same genes p. 168

147
Q

Mood disorder

A

a category of psychological disorder characterised by a disabling lowering or heightening of mood p. 262

148
Q

Motor messages

A

information about voluntary movement transmitted from the CNS to the skeletal muscles p. 91

149
Q

Myelin

A

the fat and protein substance that surrounds and insulates the axon of a neuron p. 101

150
Q

Myelination

A

the formation of myelin around the axons of neurons p. 136

151
Q

Nature versus nurture debate

A

a debate which questions whether development is dependent on hereditary (nature) or environmental (nurture) factors p. 163

152
Q

Nervous system

A

the complex network of specialised cells in the body that allows the communication of information around the body about the internal and external environment p. 88

153
Q

Neurodegenerative disorder

A

a disease characterised by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain p. 148

154
Q

Neuroimaging

A

a range of techniques used to capture images of the brain’s structure, function and activities p. 81

155
Q

Neurological disorder

A

a disease characterised by any damage or malfunctioning of the nervous system p. 148

156
Q

Neuron

A

a nerve cell responsible for transmitting, receiving, and processing information p. 98

157
Q

Neuronal reception

A

the process in which a neuron accepts (receives) a message p. 99

158
Q

Neurotransmission

A

the process in which a neuron sends a message p. 99

159
Q

No-harm principle

A

the role of the researcher to ensure that all participants within an investigation do not experience mental or physical harm p. 35

160
Q

Non-standardised testing procedures

A

when instructions and procedures in an experiment are not consistent for all participants, therefore affecting the results obtained p. 31

161
Q

Normality

A

the state of having thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that are considered common and acceptable p. 240

162
Q

Normative influence

A

the influence of social norms on an individual, influencing a person to act in certain ways which align with social norms p. 397

163
Q

Obedience

A

adhering to the instructions of authority figures or the rules or laws of society p. 383

164
Q

Object permanence

A

the understanding that an object still exists when it is unable to be seen, heard, or touched p. 213

165
Q

Objective data

A

data that does not rely on personal opinion and is independent of the interpreter; it can be observed or measured by multiple people and obtain the same results p. 41

166
Q

Observational study

A

a type of study in which data is collected through careful monitoring of participants p. 12

167
Q

Occipital lobe

A

the rearmost lobe of the cerebral cortex behind the parietal lobe, with the primary function of processing visual stimuli p. 121

168
Q

Operationalisation

A

the process of defining variables in terms of how they will be manipulated or measured in the experiment p. 6

169
Q

Optic nerve

A

the two nerves which extend from the back of the eye to the brain, along which visual information is transmitted to the brain p. 308

170
Q

Order effects

A

a source of error in repeated measures designs due to the order the participants participate in the experimental and control conditions p. 30

171
Q

Organisation

A

the process of regrouping features of sensory stimuli together in order to form cohesive and meaningful information p. 302

172
Q

Outlier

A

a value that differs significantly from the other values in a data set p. 48

173
Q

Overt bullying

A

visible forms of bullying, such as causing physical harm or name calling p. 413

174
Q

Parasympathetic nervous system

A

a branch of the ANS responsible for returning and maintaining the body’s visceral organs, muscles and glands at optimal and balanced functioning p. 92

175
Q

Parietal lobe

A

the lobe of the cerebral cortex behind the frontal lobe with the functions of receiving and processing sensory stimuli and spatial awareness p. 120

176
Q

Parkinson’s disease

A

a progressive disease of the nervous system characterised by both motor and non-motor symptoms p. 148

177
Q

Participant-related variables

A

individual participant differences that can affect the results p. 29

178
Q

Perception

A

the process of selecting, organising, and interpreting sensory information to be able to understand it p. 302

179
Q

Perceptual distortion

A

an error in the judgement or interpretation of sensory stimuli p. 327

180
Q

Perceptual set

A

a predisposition to perceive stimuli in a certain way due to a range of factors including a perceiver’s mood, motivations, context, and past experiences p. 314, 323

181
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

all nerves outside the CNS, responsible for carrying information to and from the CNS p. 90

182
Q

Person perception

A

the different mental processes used to understand and form impressions of other people p. 353

183
Q

Personal factors

A

influences on helping that stem from within the individual who is or is not going to help p. 406

184
Q

Personality

A

the unique qualities and characteristics that an individual possesses and expresses through their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours p. 224

185
Q

Personality disorder

A

a category of mental disorders that are characterised by a set of enduring personality traits and behaviours which diverge significantly from cultural and societal norms, causing marked distress or harm for an individual p. 264

186
Q

Photoreceptors

A

the sensory receptors of the eye which receive light and are responsible for the process of transduction p. 308

187
Q

Phrenology

A

the study of the shape and size of the human skull to determine personality and mental functioning p. 74

188
Q

Placebo

A

an inactive medication, procedure or treatment that is used to control for participant expectations p. 30

189
Q

Placebo effect

A

when an inactive treatment or procedure has an effect due to the participants’ expectations p. 30

190
Q

Plasticity

A

the ability of the brain to physically change in response to experience and learning p. 134

191
Q

Pons

A

a small structure located directly above the medulla in the brain stem, primarily involved in relaying information between different brain areas and regulating the respiratory system p. 108

192
Q

Population

A

the group of people of interest to an experiment, to which the results of the experiment are generalised to p. 4, 20

193
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A

a neuroimaging technique that uses a scanning device to take coloured images of the brain, showing its functional activity and structure by tracing the levels of a radioactive substance in the brain p. 83, 151

194
Q

Postsynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that receives a message from the synapse p. 100

195
Q

Power

A

the extent to which an individual can influence or control another individual’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour p. 375

196
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

an area of the frontal lobe responsible for higher-order cognitive processes p. 118

197
Q

Prejudice

A

a negative feeling held against people within a certain group or social category p. 355

198
Q

Premotor cortex

A

an area of the frontal lobe responsible for planning necessary sequences for motor movements p. 118

199
Q

Presynaptic neuron

A

the neuron that releases a message into the synapse p. 100

200
Q

Primary auditory cortex

A

the area of the temporal lobe that is responsible for the perception of sound p. 122

201
Q

Primary data collection

A

a method of data collection involving data being collected directly by the researcher p. 40

202
Q

Primary motor cortex

A

an area of the frontal lobe that initiates voluntary movements by sending motor neural messages to our skeletal muscles p. 118

203
Q

Primary somatosensory cortex

A

the area of the parietal lobe responsible for receiving and processing sensory information p. 120

204
Q

Primary visual cortex

A

the area of the occipital lobe involved in receiving visual information from the sensory receptors located on the retina of our eyes p. 121

205
Q

Prosocial behaviour

A

behaviour that is intentionally and voluntarily performed in order to help another person or society p. 403

206
Q

Psychological development

A

an individual’s changes across multiple domains, including the life-long growth across emotional, cognitive and social domains p. 163

207
Q

Psychological factors

A

factors relating to cognitive and affective functioning p. 251

208
Q

Psychology

A

the scientific study of human mental states and beaviour p. 70

209
Q

Psychosis

A

a psychological state in which an individual’s grasp of reality is impaired and inaccurate p. 266

210
Q

Psychosocial crisis

A

a point of tension between an individual’s capabilities and the desire to meet the expectations of society p. 225

211
Q

Psychosocial development

A

the interactions between cognitive and social processes throughout the lifespan that affect development and growth p. 223

212
Q

Psychotic disorder

A

a category of psychological disorder characterised by the state of psychosis p. 266

213
Q

Qualitative data

A

data of concepts that is measured or expressed non-numerically p. 41

214
Q

Quantitative data

A

data concerning numerical amounts and is expressed numerically p. 41

215
Q

Questionnaire

A

a list of questions that participants can respond to in a variety of formats p. 11

216
Q

Random allocation

A

when every member of the sample has an equal chance of being assigned to each condition in an experiment p. 23

217
Q

Random sampling

A

when every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample p. 22

218
Q

Rating scale

A

a form of questionnaire collecting numerical data from participants’ responses p. 11

219
Q

Reception

A

when a sensory stimulus is first detected by a sensory organ p. 299

220
Q

Receptive field

A

the space in which a sensory stimulus can be detected by a sensory receptor p. 300

221
Q

Reliability

A

how likely it is that the results are consistent and that the same results could be obtained by another researcher p. 57

222
Q

Repeated measures design

A

an experimental design in which the same participants are in every condition of the experiment p. 16

223
Q

Rerouting

A

a neuron’s ability to form a new connection with another undamaged neuron p. 144

224
Q

Reticular formation

A

a net-like structure of neurons extending along the brain stem, connecting various parts of the brain and spinal cord via pathways and projections p. 109

225
Q

Reversibility

A

the understanding that objects can experience change and then return to their original form p. 214

226
Q

Risk factor

A

a biological, psychological, or social factor which can increase a person’s susceptibility to or contribute to the development of a psychological disorder p. 258

227
Q

Rods

A

photoreceptors that allow someone to see in low levels of light p. 308

228
Q

Sample

A

a subset of the population, commonly referred to as the research participants p. 21

229
Q

Sampling

A

the process through which the participants for a study are selected from the population of interest p. 21

230
Q

Sampling procedures

A

the different methods through which a sample can be drawn from a population p. 29

231
Q

Schema

A

a mental representation of a concept developed through experience p. 206

232
Q

Schizophrenia

A

a specific kind of psychotic disorder characterised by the presence of longer-term psychosis and impairment to functioning p. 266, 274

233
Q

Secure attachment

A

a style of attachment formed by a strong emotional bond between the infant and their primary caregiver due to the caregiver consistently meeting the needs of the infant p. 198

234
Q

Selection

A

the process of attending to certain features of sensory stimuli to the exclusion of others p. 302

235
Q

Self-report

A

a participant’s subjective account of an experience; this type of investigation can be conducted through the use of a questionnaire, interview or rating scale p. 11

236
Q

Sensation

A

the process of receiving and detecting raw sensory information via our sensory organs and sending it to the brain p. 299

237
Q

Sensitive periods

A

the optimal developmental period for a specific function or skill to be learnt p. 177

238
Q

Sensory messages

A

information about the body’s sensations transmitted from the PNS to the CNS p. 91

239
Q

Sensory receptors

A

the receptors on a neuron that specialise in receiving information about specific kinds of sensory stimuli p. 299

240
Q

Single-blind procedure

A

a procedure in which participants are unaware of which condition they have been allocated to in order to reduce participant expectations p. 31

241
Q

Situational approach to normality

A

defining normality according to what is standard and accepted in specific contexts p. 242

242
Q

Situational factors

A

elements of the environment or context a person is in that influences whether they help p. 404

243
Q

Skeletal muscles

A

muscles connected to the skeleton that are involved in conscious, voluntary movement p. 91

244
Q

Social factors

A

factors relating to an individual’s interaction with their external environment and other people p. 251

245
Q

Social factors (on helping)

A

influences on helping that stem from other people and societal expectations p. 408

246
Q

Social loafing

A

the tendency to put in less effort when in a group than a person would when alone p. 398

247
Q

Social media

A

types of media that allow people to interact with others p. 419

248
Q

Social norms

A

society’s unofficial rules and expectations regarding how we ought to act that most people follow without thinking p. 394, 408

249
Q

Socio-cultural approach to normality

A

defining normality according what is standard according to social and cultural beliefs and practices p. 241

250
Q

Somatic nervous system (SNS)

A

the branch of the PNS responsible for sending motor information from the CNS to the body’s skeletal muscles, and bringing sensory information from the body to the CNS in order to formulate voluntary responses p. 91

251
Q

Spinal cord

A

a long cable of nerve tissue connecting the brain to the peripheral nervous system, responsible for carrying motor information from the brain, and sensory information from the body p. 90

252
Q

Sprouting

A

a neuron’s ability to develop new branches on the dendrites or axons p. 144

253
Q

Standard deviation

A

a measure of central tendency, expressed numerically, that represents the spread of data around the mean p. 48

254
Q

Standardised instructions and procedures

A

the consistent use of instructions and procedures for all participants p. 31

255
Q

Statistical approach to normality

A

defining normality in terms of what has been measured as commonly occurring thoughts, feeling and behaviours p. 242

256
Q

Status

A

an individual’s position within a group as perceived by other members of that group p. 375

257
Q

Stereotype

A

a widely held belief and generalisation about a group of people p. 354

258
Q

Stratified sampling

A

when the population is divided into groups based upon relevant characteristics, and participants are selected from each group in proportion to how they appear in the population p. 22

259
Q

Subjective data

A

data that relies on personal opinion or self-report p. 41

260
Q

Symbolic thinking

A

a more sophisticated type of thought based on the ability to represent concepts, draw conclusions, and understand hypothetical constructs p. 216

261
Q

Sympathetic nervous system

A

a branch of the ANS responsible for activating the body’s visceral organs, muscles, and glands for increased activity or when under threat p. 92

262
Q

Synaesthesia

A

a perceptual phenomenon characterised by the experience of unusual perceptions in one sensory system after another sensory system has been activated p. 331

263
Q

Synaesthete

A

a person who experiences synaesthesia p. 331

264
Q

Synapse

A

the area in which neurotransmission occurs between two neurons, including the sending end of the presynaptic neuron, the gap between two neurons, and the receiving end of the postsynaptic neuron p. 100

265
Q

Synaptic gap

A

the space between two neurons into which a neuronal message is transmitted p. 100

266
Q

Synaptic pruning

A

the elimination of underused synapses p. 137

267
Q

Table

A

a method of presenting data using columns and rows p. 49

268
Q

Taste

A

the sensation and perception of flavour p. 319

269
Q

Taste buds

A

clusters of gustatory receptors on the tongue p. 320

270
Q

Temperament

A

the relatively stable disposition of an individual, including the typical behaviours and emotions they express p. 188

271
Q

Temporal lobe

A

the lower central lobe of the cerebral cortex, responsible for auditory perception, as well as being involved in memory, visual perception, and emotional responses p. 122

272
Q

Thalamus

A

a structure comprising two egg-shaped globes within the forebrain, primarily involved as a relay centre and filtering system for sensory and motor signals, as well as regulating arousal, attention and activity p. 110

273
Q

The ‘two-hit’ hypothesis

A

a framework which suggests that schizophrenia arises when a person experiences two different types of events: a genetic factor followed by an environmental factor p. 275

274
Q

The biopsychosocial model

A

a framework for approaching mental health that suggests that biological, psychological, and social factors all interact and contribute to mental health p. 250

275
Q

The bystander effect

A

the social psychological phenomenon which suggests that the presence (or imagined presence) of other people in an emergency situation reduces the likelihood that someone will provide help p. 405

276
Q

Tongue

A

the primary sensory organ involved in taste p. 320

277
Q

Transduction

A

the conversion of raw sensory information detected by sensory receptors into a form that can be sent to the brain p. 300

278
Q

Transmission

A

the process of sending sensory information as a neural impulse to the part of the brain responsible for processing sensory information p. 301

279
Q

Tri-component model of attitudes

A

a model which illustrates the relationship between the affective, behavioural and cognitive components of our attitudes p. 346

280
Q

Typical behaviours

A

activity that is consistent with how an individual usually behaves p. 243

281
Q

Unanimity

A

complete agreement among two or more individuals p. 397

282
Q

Validity

A

the extent to which the investigation measures what it intends to measure p. 57

283
Q

Variable

A

a factor or element of an experiment that may be manipulated or measured p. 4

284
Q

Visceral muscles organs glands

A

the body’s non-skeletal muscles, organs and glands p. 92

285
Q

Vision

A

the sensory system which allows us to see our internal and external environment p. 307

286
Q

Visual constancy

A

our ability to perceive visual objects as staying the same even though the sensation of the objects may change p. 312

287
Q

Visual illusion

A

the perception of a visual stimulus in a way that conflicts with how it is in physical reality p. 327

288
Q

Visual perception principles

A

guiding rules that apply to visual signals and determine how they are organised and interpreted p. 310

289
Q

Voluntary participation

A

the right of the participant to willingly choose to participate p. 36

290
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

the area of the temporal lobe responsible for the comprehension of speech p. 122

291
Q

Withdrawal rights

A

the right of the participant to leave the study at any point, without fear of consequence p. 36

VCE Psychology 1/2 (1 decks)

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