Exam Revision Flashcards
Psychology
A science that studies behaviour and mental processes of human beings.
Neutrotransmitters
Chemical messengers released by the axon that travel across the synapse (a gap) to neighbouring neurons.
Spacial neglect
Damage to one hemisphere of the brain that results in loss of awareness for the contralateral (opposite side) of the body.
K-complexes
Single sharp spikes in a low-voltage series of brain waves.
Sleep talking
A common sleep phenomenon whereby the sleeper talks in their sleep. Generally, they don’t make sense although some sleepers will hold conversations.
Microsleeps
When a sleep deprived person falls into a quick sleep that lasts for seconds. Micro sleeps can have significant consequences.
Lucid dreams
Being able to control your dreams can be enlightening and empowering experience. You realise that you are dreaming and you can train yourself to control your dreams.
Mass murderer
A person who kills many people in a single event or very short period of time.
Weapon focus
The presence of a weapon in a situation has been shown to influence the memory of the event. Our focus goes to the weapon instead of the situation.
Contralateral
They control the opposite sides of the body.
Organised killer
They have a:
- carefully selected location
- the victim is carefully selected
- the location is isolated and not easily observed.
- planned
Pseudoscience
It does not follow a scientific method, it appeals to people’s beliefs or faiths. It may have religious or magical overtones. It is a fake science.
Cerebrospinal fluid
The fluid that surrounds and protects the brain.
Change blindness
When objects around you change without you realising.
Spindles
Short bursts of high frequency activity in brain waves.
Sleep eating
When the sleeper binge eats during sleep. They have no recollection of it upon walking.
REM rebound
The increase in the amount of time spent in REM sleep following a period of REM sleep deprivation.
Forensic psychology
An area of psychology which combines an understanding of the legal system and how people interact with the legal system.
Serial killer
A person who has committed three or more separate murders in separate locations, often with a ‘cooling off’ period in between each killing.
Reconstructed memory
We recall an event, we are reconstructing the event in our minds. Reconstructive memory may be shaped by our own beliefs and prejudices.
Clinical psychology
A branch of psychology concerned with prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and psychological problems.
Disorganised killer
- lacks confidence
- lacks control
- lower than average intelligence
- low self- esteem
- Victim chosen randomly
Ethics
Rules or standards governing how people live their lives and make decisions.
Hemisphere
Half of a sphere; in psychology, the left or right half of the brain.
EEG
An Electroencephalograph is a device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp.
Sleep walking
A common sleep disturbance where people walk and carry out daily activities while they are asleep.
REM behaviour disorder
An uncommon disorder whereby the sleeper acts out their dreams.
Daydreams
They are a normal state of consciousness and occur when we pay attention to our own thoughts and ignore the external world. They are visualised thoughts that are usually positive.
Stalking
Repeated and persistent harassment where a person imposes on another person with unwanted communications and contact.
E.g. messages, letters, cyber stalking, following, email, phone calls, watching/spying.
Eyewitness testimony
The details obtained from an eyewitness present at the scene of an accident or crime.
Identikit/ photokit
A picture of person (someone wanted by the police). It is reconstructed from typical facial features according to witnesses’ descriptions.
Profile
It is a tool that is intended to help investigators accurately predict and profile the characteristics of a person.
Polygraph
A machine designed to detect and record changes in physiological characteristics, such as a person’s pulse and breathing rates. It can be used as a lie detector.
Hypothesis
A hypothesis is an educated guess.
Polysomnography
It is a test to diagnose sleep disorders. They record brainwaves, the oxygen levels in the blood, heart rate and breathing, as well as eye and leg movements.
Psychopath
A person who suffers from psychopathy. They tend to be impulsive and reckless, and show little remorse or guilt for antisocial behaviours.
Profiler
The act or process of finding information about a person based on their known traits or tenancies.
