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psychology > Intro to Psych > Flashcards

Intro to Psych Flashcards

unit 1

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1
Q

Psychology

A

science of behavior and mental processes: to understand, control and predict behavior.

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2
Q

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)

A
  • Leipzig, Germany
  • wrote the first psychology textbook
  • applied laboratory techniques to study of the mind
  • structuralism
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3
Q

Structuralism

A
  • to identify ‘atoms’ of the mind
  • focused on basic sensory and perceptual processes
  • measured reaction times
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4
Q

Functionalism

A
  • to focus on how behaviors help us adapt to the environment
  • William James (1842-1910)
  • various mental experiences served was important
  • opposed to Wundt approach
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5
Q

Biological perspective

A
  • the physiological mechanisms in the brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior
  • at various levels:
  • individual neurons
  • areas of the brain
  • specific functions like eating, emotion or learning
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6
Q

Evolutionary perspective

A

behavior today is the result of behaviors that aided survival in the past

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7
Q

Psychodynamic (psychoanalytic) perspective

A
  • focus is on unconscious processes
  • drives and urges within the unconscious component of mind influence thought and behavior
  • early childhood experiences shape unconscious motivations
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8
Q

Cross-cultural perspective

A

psychological differences among people living in different cultural groups

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9
Q

Behavioral perspective

A
  • behavior and mental processes are a result of learning
  • using pouting to get one’s way
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10
Q

Humanistic perspective

A
  • behavior is determined by his/her unique and individual perceptions of the world
  • focus on conscious forces and self-perception
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11
Q

Theory

A

an integrated set of principles that can be used to explain and predict phenomena

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12
Q

Hypothesis

A

a specific, testable prediction or proposition about a phenomenon

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13
Q

Operational definition

A

precise definition of a word or statement

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14
Q

Survey

A

collecting data using interviews or questionnaires

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15
Q

Case study

A

in-depth analysis of a single case or several closely related cases
* useful when the phenomenon being studied is rare

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16
Q

Longitudinal study

A

researcher follows same group of subjects over a period of time

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17
Q

Cross-sectional study

A

study two or more groups of subjects and compare their data

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18
Q

Correlational research

A
  • collects a set of facts organized into two or more categories
  • measure parents’ disciplinary style
  • measure children’s behavior
  • examine the relation between categories
  • correlation reveals relationships
    among facts
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19
Q

Positive correlation

A
  • relationship between two variables that move in the same direction
  • can be an increase or decrease in value
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20
Q

Negative correlation

A

relationship between two variables in which one variable increases as the other decreases, and vice versa

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21
Q

Experiment

A
  • has element of control
  • is best method to use to determine a cause and effect relationship
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22
Q

Sample

A

segment or portion of a larger group

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23
Q

Randomized

A

each person in the group has an equal chance of being selected to be in the sample

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24
Q

Variable

A

something that can vary, something that is capable of change

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25
Q

Independent variable

A

variable that the experimenter manipulates
* cause

26
Q

Dependent variable

A

variable that the experimenter measures
* effect

27
Q

Confound variable

A

any factor(s), other than the variable being manipulated by the experimenter, that might affect the DV

28
Q

Extraneous variable

A

factor(s) in an experiment that need to be controlled or eliminated so as not to affect the DV
* gender

29
Q

Experimental group

A

the group that undergoes the experimental treatment

30
Q

Control condition

A

group who is exposed to all the same factors as the experimental group besides the factor being manipulated

31
Q

Placebo effect

A

a physical or psychological treatment that contains no active ingredient but produces an effect because the person receiving believes it will

32
Q

Experimenter effect (bias)

A

occurs when an experimenter unintentionally encourages subjects to respond in a way that supports the hypothesis

33
Q

Double-blind experiment

A

neither the experimenter nor the subjects know which subjects are in the treatment group and which are in the
control group
* helps avoid the experimenter effect

34
Q

Social desirability bias

A

answering or acting in a socially approved manner

35
Q

Informed consent

A

subjects must be informed of significant factors which might influence his/her willingness to participate in the study

36
Q

Debrief

A

corrects any misconceptions that participants may have had about the research

37
Q

Nervous System

A
  • central nervous system
  • peripheral nervous system
38
Q

Central Nervous System

A

composed of the brain and the spinal cord

39
Q

Peripheral Nervous System

A

network of nerves that
connects the brain and
spinal cord to other parts of the body
* two major systems:
somatic nervous system
autonomic nervous system

40
Q

Somatic system

A

sensory nerves
* conveys info from the skin and muscles to the CNS
* connects CNS to voluntary muscles

41
Q

Autonomic system

A
  • connects CNS to non-voluntary muscles and glands
  • relays messages to and from the body’s internal organs
42
Q

Neuron

A
  • the “basic building block of the brain”
  • these cells receive input from other nerve cells and distribute information to other neurons; the information integration underlies the simplest and most complex of our thoughts and behaviors
  • consists of cell body, dendrites, axon, axon terminals and myelin sheath
43
Q

Brain cell

A

consists of cell body, dendrites, axon, axon terminals, myelin sheath

44
Q

Dendrites

A

receiving electrical signal

45
Q

Axon

A

transmitting electrical signals

46
Q

Cell body

A

cell’s life support center

47
Q

Myelin sheath

A

covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses
insulates the axon

48
Q

Terminal branches of axon

A

stores chemicals called neurotransmitters

49
Q

Neurotransmitters

A

chemical substances which are released by the
pre-synaptic neuron at synapses that transmits information to the next neuron

50
Q

Synapses (synaptic gap)

A

tiny gaps between neurons

51
Q

Action potential

A

neurons send info down axon as brief impulses (or waves) of electricity

52
Q

Action potential process

A
  • through dendrite, neuron receives impulse from neighboring neuron
  • neuron then passes that impulse along its axon to axon terminals
  • at terminal, impulse leaps across small gap (synapse) to the next neuron
  • this “leap” is caused by the neurotransmitters
53
Q

Brain

A

nervous systems command center
consists of:
* forebrain
* midbrain
* hindbrain

54
Q

Hindbrain (brainstem)

A
  • pons: sleep and arousal
  • medulla: breathing and relaxation
  • cerebellum: motor control
55
Q

Midbrain

A

between hindbrain and forebrain
involved in visual and auditory reflexes

56
Q

Forebrain

A
  • thalamus: relays info between lower and higher brain centers
  • hypothalamus: governs eating, drinking and sex needs
  • pituitary: takes care of the endocrine system
  • cerebral cortex: higher brain functions: thinking, learning, consciousness
57
Q

Cerebral cortex

A

thin layer of cells that covers the entire surface of the forebrain
* divided into four separate areas (lobes), each lobe has a different function

58
Q

Frontal lobe

A

personality, emotions, motor behaviors

59
Q

Parietal lobe

A

perception and sensory
experiences

60
Q

Temporal lobe

A

hearing and speaking

61
Q

Occipital lobe

A

processes visual
information

62
Q

Hemispheres

A

connected by wide band of fibers (called corpus callosum)

psychology (4 decks)

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