Exam Revision

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

A science that studies behaviour and mental processes of human beings.

Question 2

Neutrotransmitters

Answer 2

Chemical messengers released by the axon that travel across the synapse (a gap) to neighbouring neurons.

Question 3

Spacial neglect

Answer 3

Damage to one hemisphere of the brain that results in loss of awareness for the contralateral (opposite side) of the body.

Question 4

K-complexes

Answer 4

Single sharp spikes in a low-voltage series of brain waves.

Question 5

Sleep talking

Answer 5

A common sleep phenomenon whereby the sleeper talks in their sleep. Generally, they don’t make sense although some sleepers will hold conversations.

Question 6

Microsleeps

Answer 6

When a sleep deprived person falls into a quick sleep that lasts for seconds. Micro sleeps can have significant consequences.

Question 7

Lucid dreams

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Mass murderer

Answer 8

A person who kills many people in a single event or very short period of time.

Question 9

Weapon focus

Answer 9

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.

Question 10

Contralateral

Answer 10

They control the opposite sides of the body.

Question 11

Organised killer

Answer 11

They have a:

• carefully selected location
• the victim is carefully selected
• the location is isolated and not easily observed.
• planned

Question 12

Pseudoscience

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Cerebrospinal fluid

Answer 13

The fluid that surrounds and protects the brain.

Question 14

Change blindness

Answer 14

When objects around you change without you realising.

Question 15

Spindles

Answer 15

Short bursts of high frequency activity in brain waves.

Question 16

Sleep eating

Answer 16

When the sleeper binge eats during sleep. They have no recollection of it upon walking.

Question 17

REM rebound

Answer 17

The increase in the amount of time spent in REM sleep following a period of REM sleep deprivation.

Question 18

Forensic psychology

Answer 18

An area of psychology which combines an understanding of the legal system and how people interact with the legal system.

Question 19

Serial killer

Answer 19

A person who has committed three or more separate murders in separate locations, often with a ‘cooling off’ period in between each killing.

Question 20

Reconstructed memory

Answer 20

We recall an event, we are reconstructing the event in our minds. Reconstructive memory may be shaped by our own beliefs and prejudices.

Question 21

Clinical psychology

Answer 21

A branch of psychology concerned with prevention, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and psychological problems.

Question 22

Disorganised killer

Answer 22

• lacks confidence
• lacks control
• lower than average intelligence
• low self- esteem
• Victim chosen randomly

Question 23

Ethics

Answer 23

Rules or standards governing how people live their lives and make decisions.

Question 24

Hemisphere

Answer 24

Half of a sphere; in psychology, the left or right half of the brain.

Question 25

EEG

Answer 25

An Electroencephalograph is a device that detects, amplifies and records the electrical activity of the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp.

Question 26

Sleep walking

Answer 26

A common sleep disturbance where people walk and carry out daily activities while they are asleep.

Question 27

REM behaviour disorder

Answer 27

An uncommon disorder whereby the sleeper acts out their dreams.

Question 28

Daydreams

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Stalking

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Eyewitness testimony

Answer 30

The details obtained from an eyewitness present at the scene of an accident or crime.

Question 31

Identikit/ photokit

Answer 31

A picture of person (someone wanted by the police). It is reconstructed from typical facial features according to witnesses’ descriptions.

Question 32

Profile

Answer 32

It is a tool that is intended to help investigators accurately predict and profile the characteristics of a person.

Question 33

Polygraph

Answer 33

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.

Question 34

Hypothesis

Answer 34

A hypothesis is an educated guess.

Question 35

Polysomnography

Answer 35

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.

Question 36

Psychopath

Answer 36

A person who suffers from psychopathy. They tend to be impulsive and reckless, and show little remorse or guilt for antisocial behaviours.

Question 37

Profiler

Answer 37

The act or process of finding information about a person based on their known traits or tenancies.