Final Exam Flashcards
- Rhea is an exceptionally friendly and outgoing person. Give an interpersonal level explanation of why she might be this way.
Rhea values connection and enjoys building relationships and meeting new people. Rhea feels energized by social interactions.
- Annika hates spicy food. Give a sociocultural level explanation why she might have this preference.
could be influenced by sociocultural factors like upbringing and cultural background. If she wasnt exposed to spicy foods as a child she may have not developed a taste for them.
- Wen has an exceptionally good episodic memory. They can remember with perfect clarity literally everything that ever happened to them. Give a biological level explanation why Wen might be able to do this
Wens brain may have hyperactivity within the structures directly involved with memory like the amygdala and hippocampus.
- When you ask people to list their favourite food, the list typically contains a lot of foods high in fat, sugar, and calories. How would an evolutionary psychologist explain this?
Food preferences should be from past when food was scarce.
Avoid starvation by lots of calories and fats
brains still wired to crave and prefer these types of foods even though its no longer needed.
- What is confirmation bias and why is it important to understand?
Confirmation bias is the idea that the researcher searches for or gives more attention to information that supports their pre-existing hypothesis. It is important to understand as it can often be unconscious and could potentially skew results of research trials.
- List two of Freud’s main contributions to psychology.
Introduced concepts like the unconscious mind and psychoanalysis.
- Researchers are interested in the effect of owning a dog on people’s stress levels. They give a standard stress questionnaire to a group of dog owners and a group of people who do not own pets to measure their stress levels. Is this study observational, correlational, or an experiment? Why?
This study is observational. The researchers are simply observing and measuring stress levels in two groups without manipulating any variables.
- Researchers are interested in the effect of owning a dog on people’s stress levels. They give participants a standard stress questionnaire, then they have half of the participants sit in a room with a trained pet therapy dog for an hour and the other half sit in an identical room with no dog. Then they give them the questionnaire again. Is this study observational, correlational, or an experiment? Why?
This study is an experimental because the researchers are actively manipulating the independent variable. Researchers observe changes directly caused by the intervention.
- Researchers are interested in whether regular exercise improves sleep quality.
a. What is the independent variable.
b. What is the dependent variable.
c. Provide an operational definition for the dependent variable.
- Regular exercise is independent variable
- Sleep quality is dependent variable
- The number of hours of uninterrupted sleep per night, as recorded on a sleep tracking device over a 7 day period.
- Researchers are interested in whether regular spending time in nature causes an increase in feelings of well-being.
a. What is the independent variable.
b. What is the dependent variable.
c. Provide an operational definition for the dependent variable.
- Regular spending time in nature
- Feelings of well-being
- Participants average score on the well being index, completed weekly for one month
- Researchers are interested in whether smiling improves mood.
a. What is the independent variable.
b. What is the dependent variable.
c. Provide an operational definition for the dependent variable.
- Smiling
- Mood
- Participants self reported mood rating on 1-10 scale where 1 = very negative and 10 = very positive, recorded immediately after smiling
- Draw a longitudinal cross-section of an axon, like you did for the chapter activity. Show the position of the Na+ channels and location of the majority of the Na+ ions when the cell is at rest.
- Draw a neuron. Include and clearly label the following:
a. dendrites
b. cell body
c. axon
d. axon terminals
e. myelin sheath
- John had his corpus callosum cut in order to control his epilepsy. If John was shown an image of a cup in his left visual field, which is processed in his right hemisphere, and asked what he saw, what would he say? Why?
He would say he didn’t see anything because the communication between the right and left hemispheres was severed resulting in the right hemisphere not being able to share information with the left hemisphere, even though his brain perceived it.
- John had his corpus callosum cut to control his epilepsy. If John was shown an image of a pen in his right visual field, which is processed in his left hemisphere, and asked what he saw, what would he say? Why?
John would likely say he saw a pen. Since the image is shown in his right visual field, it’s processed in his left hemisphere, which is dominant for language. This means he can verbally identify the image.
- Define neuroplasticity and give an example of it.
brains ability to change its structure and function in response to experience or damage
Examples includes remembering someone’s name who you met yesterday.
- What is error management theory? (3 pts.) Give an example. (2 pts.)
In situations where no clear answer about how we should behave but there are cost asymmetries make judgement with least cost.
how smoke detectors are designed; they’re more prone to false alarms (type I) because the cost of failing to detect a fire (type II) is far greater.
- What is the main difference between evolutionary psychology and behaviour genetics? (5 pts.)
Evolutionary psychologists focus on the evolution of behaviour and mental processes.
Behaviour genetics explores how genetic influences and environmental factors shape individual differences in behavior.
- In class I used the analogy of making cookies to describe the complex interaction between genes and environment. Explain the analogy. (5 pts.)
Imagine genes as the recipe for making cookies, and the environment as the baking conditions and ingredients you have available. The recipe (genes) provides a framework for the cookie, but the final product (the individual) is also shaped by the specific environment (baking conditions and ingredients). Just as different ovens and ingredient substitutions can lead to variations in the cookie, different environments can influence how genes are expressed and lead to unique outcomes.
- How is classical conditioning used in advertising? (3 pts.) Give an example. (2 pts.)
Advertisers try to create positive associations between their products and particular responses or feelings helping to increase the associations.
- What is higher order conditioning? (3 pts.) Give an example. (2 pts.)
Higher order conditioning uses a condition stimulus to create association with condition response. Ex. dog has learned to salivate when it hears a bell, then a trainer starts flashing a light just before ringing the bell. Eventually, the dog will begin to salivate when it sees the light alone, even without the bell being rung.
- Slot machines or VLTs use a very specific type of partial reinforcement. What is it? (3 pts.) What type of response rate does it lead to? (1 pt.) How resistant is it extinction. (1 pt.)
rewards after certain try’s, number of tries changes till get reward, fastest response rate of all, takes long time to loose e.g. slot machine
- What is the misinformation effect? (2 pts.) Give an example. (3 pts.)
where exposure to misleading information after an event can distort a person’s memory of that event. When an eyewitness, after witnessing a car accident, later hears a news report claiming the driver was speeding. They might then add that detail to their recollection of the accident, even if it wasn’t true.
- What is LTP? (2 pts.) What are the three phases of it? (3 pts.)
the synamptic connectections between neurons become stronger and more efficient the more frequently they are activated. an initial LTP (I-LTP), early LTP (E-LTP), and late LTP (L-LTP).
- What is a memory palace? (2 pts.) Give an example of how you might use one to remember your grocery list. (3 pts.)
A mnemonic technique where you mentally associate items you want to remember with locations in a familiar spatial environment. This allows you to “walk” through the environment and recall the associated information. Example list is milk, eggs, bread, and cheese, you might mentally place a carton of milk on your front porch, a basket of eggs inside the window of your bedroom, a loaf of bread on the kitchen counter, and a block of cheese on the top shelf of your pantry.
- Explain what we mean when we say that memories are reconstructed.
When we recall past eventswe are actively building a new version of that event based on our existing knowledge, beliefs, and experiences, rather than a perfect copy of what happened.
- At the start of the memory chapter I read you the story of Odon the Giant and then recall it in a later class. What point about memory did this exercise illustrate?
That sometimes information interferes with the memory’s creation, storage or encoding which can create biases and or inaccuracies.
- What is state dependent memory? (2 pts.) Give an example. (3 pts.)
recalling information is easier when the individual is in the same physical or mental state as when they originally learned it. This means that if someone learns something while under the influence of a drug or in a particular mood, they will likely remember it better if they are in the same state when they try to retrieve the memory.
- In class we learned that all categories have fuzzy boundaries. Explain why this is true, using the category of “sandwich” as an example.
Typically when we think of a sandwich we think of two slices or bread and some sort of filling. However, there will always be a item that does not fit with that category. For example a lettuce wrap. Most people would not consider it a sandwich as it does not have a bun.
- In class we learned that all categories have fuzzy boundaries. Explain why this is true, using the category of “bread” as an example.
Hard crust with soft inside. Pita bread
- In class we learned that all categories have fuzzy boundaries. Explain why this is true, using the category of “fruit” as an example.
Seeds colorful grows on trees
- In class we learned about three main properties of language. List (2 pts.) and explain (3 pts.) one of them.
The three main properties of language are productivity, displacement, and arbitrariness. Productivity means that language users can generate and understand novel sentences that they have never heard before, based on the existing rules and vocabulary.
- In the 1980’s, deaf children in Nicaragua, who had previously been isolated, were brought together with the intent of teaching them sign language. What happened?
They began to communicate with each other without the help of others by developing their own system of gestures to get their message across. This developed into their own language.
- Typical adult English speakers cannot tell the difference between the Hindi sounds ढ and ड. If 6-month-old baby Lisa hears them, will she be able to tell the difference? Why or why not?
Yes, she would likely be able to tell the difference between the Hindi because young infants have a broader “perceptual window” for speech sounds than adults, allowing them to discriminate between sounds not present in their native language.
- Joerg has been classified as having an avoidant attachment style. How did he likely respond when placed in Ainsworth’s strange situation?
Would likely show minimal distress during separation and little interest or engagement upon reunion with their caregiver. They would also engage in less exploration and show little emotional response to the caregiver’s presence.
- Tessa has been classified as having a secure attachment style. How did she likely respond when placed in Ainsworth’s strange situation?
Explores freely while the caregiver is present and may engage with the stranger.
- Kai has been classified as having a resistant attachment style. How did they likely respond when placed in Ainsworth’s strange situation?
Intense distress upon separation from their caregiver and then show ambivalence when reunited, potentially resisting comfort and even displaying anger or pushing away upon approach.
- List and briefly describe the three developmental stages of a child’s understanding of gender.
Gender Identity (2-3 years), Gender Stability (4-5 years), and Gender Constancy (6-7 years). Children become aware of the physical differences between boys and girls and can label themselves and others as such. Children understand that their gender is permanent and won’t change over time. Children understand that gender is not tied to physical appearance, activities, or traits and remains constant despite changes.
- Why is it harder for youth with bicultural identities to achieve Identity in Eriksons’s stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion?
because they must navigate the expectations and pressures of two or more cultural groups, making it harder to establish a unified sense of self
- Explain one way in which traditional Inuit parenting practices differ from Western parenting styes.
Inuit parents avoid yelling, scolding, or physical punishment, preferring instead to teach self-regulation through patience, play, and indirect guidance. Western parenting, on the other hand, may more frequently utilize direct verbal reprimands or physical discipline to correct behavior.
- What are projective tests and why are they generally poor ways to measure personality?
words, images, or situations are presented to a person and the responses analyzed for the unconscious expression of elements of personality that they reveal. considered unreliable because they rely heavily on subjective interpretation and are less standardized, making it difficult to compare results across individuals.
- What kind of assessment is the Rorschach Inkblot Method and why is it a poor way to measure personality?
projective psychological test.
poor way to measure personality due to a lack of standardization and poor reliability
- What type of personality assessment is the IPIP-neo? What theory of personality is it based on?
The IPIP-NEO is a self-report personality inventory that measures personality based on the Five-Factor Model (FFM), also known as the Big Five.
- How do trait theorists determine what counts as a personality trait?
A trait is a personality characteristic that meets three criteria: it must be consistent, stable, and vary from person to person
- What common criticism is leveled against behaviorist and social cognitivist theories of personality?
They tend to overemphasize the role of the environment and external factors while potentially overlooking the importance of internal, cognitive processes and individual differences.
- What is the difference between the culture-comparative approach and the indigenous approach to personality?
The culture-comparative approach tests western personality theories in other cultures while indigenous approach develops personality assessment instruments based on constructs relevant to the specific culture being studies.
- What is intergroup contact theory? When does it work best?
The intergroup contact theory suggests that positive contact between members of different groups under specific conditions can reduce prejudice and promote better intergroup relations.
- What does the IAT measure? How does it do this?
The IAT measures the strength of associations between concepts and evaluations or stereotypes which reveal an individual’s hidden or subconscious bias. The IAT uses a reaction time based categorization test where participants have to sort words or images into different categories.
- What is the difference between stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination?
Stereotypes are oversimplified generalizations about a group while prejudice is an attitude based on those stereotypes and discrimination is the act of treating someone differently based on their group membership
- What is bystander apathy? When is it most likely to occur?
individuals are less likely to intervene on an emergency or help someone in need when other people are present due to a perceived diffusion of responsibility. Its most likely to occur in situations when there are many people around.
- In class we discussed several sources of discrimination. List and explain one of them.
Social Stereotypes: Preconceived notions and generalizations about entire groups of people can lead to unfair and discriminatory treatment of individuals.
- What was the inequality monopoly activity designed to demonstrate?
simulates how individuals experience privilege and disadvantage in real-world scenarios. By starting with unequal resources and modified rules, participants experience the impacts of social stratification and how it affects their ability to succeed in the game.
