Final Exam Definitions

Question 1

Confirmation Bias

Answer 1

Tendency to seek out evidence that supports our beliefs and to deny, dismiss, or distort evidence that contradicts them.

Question 2

Reliability (experimental design)

Question 3

Validity (experimental design)

Question 4

Deception

Answer 4

When a researcher gives false information to subjects or intentionally misleads them about some key aspects of the research.

Question 5

Institutional Review Board

Question 6

Dendrite

Answer 6

Portion of neuron that receives signals

Question 7

Axon

Answer 7

Portion of neuron that sends signals

Question 8

Synapse

Question 9

Action potential

Answer 9

Electrical impulse that travels down the axon triggering the release of NTs.

Question 10

Neurotransmitters

Question 11

Hormones

Question 12

Selective attention

Question 13

Inattentional blindness

Question 14

Bottom-up processing

Answer 14

Processing in which a whole is constructed from parts.

Question 15

Top-down processing

Question 16

Subliminal Perception

Question 17

Respondent conditioning

Question 18

Operant Conditioning

Question 19

Latent Learning

Question 20

Observational Learning

Question 21

Encoding

Answer 21

Process of getting information into our memory banks

Question 22

Storage

Question 23

Retrieval

Question 24

State-dependent learning

Question 25

Flashbulb memory

Answer 25

Emotional memory that is extraordinarily vivid and detailed.

Question 26

False memory

Answer 26

A recollection that seems real in your mind but is fabricated in part or in whole

Question 27

Algorithm

Answer 27

step-by-step learned procedure used to solve a problem

Question 28

Heuristic

Question 29

Intelligence quotient (IQ)

Question 30

Culture-fair IQ test

Answer 30

Abstract reasoning measure that doesn’t depend on language is often believed to be less influenced by cultural factors than other IQ tests are.

Question 31

g-factor (intelligence)

Question 32

Object permanence

Question 33

Theory of mind

Question 34

Attachment

Answer 34

The strong emotional connection we share with those whom we feel closest to.

Question 35

Learned helplessness

Question 36

Psychophysiological illness

Question 37

Individualism

Question 38

Collectivism

Answer 38

A worldview in whcih behaviors is guided largely by goals that are shared by a collective, such as a family, tribe, work group, or political or religious association.

Question 39

Fundamental attribution error

Question 40

Conformity

Answer 40

Tendency of people to alter their behavior as a result of group pressure.

Question 41

Obedience

Question 42

Bystander effect

Answer 42

Occurs when the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation, against a bully, or during an assault or other crimes.

Question 43

Groupthink

Question 44

Stereotype threat

Question 45

Big Five

Answer 45

Five traits that surfaced repeatedly in factor analyses of personality measures.

Question 46

id

Question 47

Ego

Answer 47

Psyche’s executive and principle decision maker.

Question 48

Superego

Question 49

Defense mechanism

Answer 49

Unconscious maneuvers intended to minimize anxiety

Question 50

Psychosexual stage

Question 51

Client-centered therapy

Answer 51

An approach to psychotherapy based on a belief that the client is best able to decide what to exploree and how

Question 52

Unconditional positive regard

Question 53

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Answer 53

Treatment that attempts to replace irrational cognition and maladaptive behaviors with more rational cognitions and adaptive behaviors.

Question 54

Exposure therapy

Answer 54

Therapy that confronts clients with what they fear with the goal of reducing the fear

Question 55

Systematic desensitization

Question 56

Electroconvulsive therapy

Answer 56

Treatment for serious psychological problems in which patients receive brief electrical pulses to the brain that produces a seizure.