General Psychology Flashcards
General Psychology
Tell me about the nature-nurture issue within psychology.
There’s been friction between individuals who form behaviors due to genetics inherited by parents and influences (nature). But behaviors are also formed by the environment , culture, and experiences (nurture).
There’s been debates of which one of these two is the primary source of one’s behavior.
What does it mean in psychology when something is objective? What does it mean in psychology when something is subjective?
- In science, objective truth is knowledge based on facts and evidence without bias.
- Subjective, in science, are personal beliefs and opinions.
What are 3 ways science uses to answer questions?
- Observation
- Experimentation
- Analysis of Data
Which one of the three ways-science uses to answer questions-is the LEAST biased?
Analyzing data research.
In science, replication is…
Repeating an experiment or study with new data to verify the original findings. (to confirm the results that a study is consistent and not due to chance)
What is an independent variable?
What is a dependent variable?
An independent variable is when a researcher manipulates and controls an experiment.
A dependent variable are facts and evidence that are measured that cannot be manipulated.
Give an example of a behavior. Tell me WHY it is a behavior.
Ex: I open the door for my dog to go outside because he is whining by the door. This is a behavior because it is an OBSERVATIONAL action or response to a stimulus (the whining of my dog means desperation or sadness, which prompts me to take action).
Give an example of an affect. Tell me WHY it is an affect.
A co-worker smiled at me, so I smiled and waved back. This is an affect because I expressed happiness caused by positive stimuli.
Give me an example of a perception. Tell me WHY it is a perception.
Hearing a sudden rustling in the bushes at night has caused me to freeze. This is a perception because I interpreted the unknown environment as unsafe, and unsure if the animal was a threat or not)
Give me an example of a cognition. Tell me WHY it is a cognition.
Ex: I approach a yellow light and eased my foot onto the brakes. I perceived the traffic light, using my visual senses. I recall yellow means it’ll be red soon. I make a judgement or decision, then decided to stop.
What is behavior in psychology?
An organism’s observable actions or reactions to its environment, essentially encompassing the external physical responses and individual exhibits as a result of stimuli, excluding internal thoughts or emotions which are not directly visible.
What is affect in psychology?
The experience of feeling or emotion, encompassing both the outward display and internal state of emotions, moods, and related experiences.
What is perception in psychology?
The process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information from the environment.
(Encountering a bright colored snake signals a threat because of rumors and past research).
What is cognition in psychology?
The mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.
What is a delusion?
a fixed false belief that is not amenable to change, even when confronted with contradictory evidence. It refers to a false belief based on an incorrect interpretation of reality or an incorrect inference about what is real.
What is a hallucination?
A hallucination is a perception of sensory information that is not present in the environment. It may be caused by certain substances such as hallucinogenic drugs, or other medical conditions.
What is an illusion?
An illusion is a false interpretation of perception and can occur in various forms. It is not a psychiatric symptom, but rather a misinterpretation of sensory data.
At what probability level is something “statistically significant” in the science of psychology?
if the p-value is equal to or less than 0.05 or 5%, the result is considered statistically significant. A p-value equal to 5% indicates that there is a 95% confidence level in the study.
At what probability level is something “statistically significant” in the science of psychology?
In the field of psychology, a result is typically considered statistically significant if the probability (p-value) associated with it is 0.05 or less (p < 0.05), meaning there’s a 5% or less chance the observed effect occurred due to random chance.
what two things does the facial-feedback theory state?
:) :(
Our facial expressions can influence our emotions. When we smile, our facial muscles can lead us to experience happiness. While frowning leads us to sadness.
Practice smiling regularly.
What is a pan am smile?
A type of smile that is forced when expressing nervousness or smiling for a selfie.
What two muscle groups are active during a smile associated with happiness?
The Zygomatic Major (muscles by cheekbones) and Orbicularis Oculi (the area around the eyes)
Tell me (with an example) how you can objectively tell someone is “attracted” to something?
Sally’s eyes “light up” when Connor presents his speech with confidence. When the professor added a comment to Connor’s speech, she reverts back to her neutral face. Then when Connor resumed to his speech, she begins smiling again with eyes lit up.
What is the most abundant behavior humans will perform over their lifetimes?
To communicate.
what is the name of the large bundle of neural fibers that connect the left and right hemisphere to one another?
Generally larger in women than in men.
Corpus Callosum
(right hemisphere)
Do perception and cognition occur at the same time?
They occur simultaneuously, with perception as the foundation for cognition.
Describe the Muller-Lyer Illusion. What do either of these illusions tell us about what our visual system “want” to see?
My false interpretation of perception based off of this illusion wants to believe one line is longer than the other. But in reality, the lengths of these lines are the same.
What is Proprioception?
Proprioception is your body’s “sixth sense” that allows you to know where your body parts are in space, even without looking, and how they are moving. It’s like an internal map of your body.
