Key definitions Flashcards
Somatic Nervous System:
The subsection of the peripheral nervous system that is connected to the skeletal muscles and sense organs
Autonomic Nervous System:
The subsection of the peripheral nervous system that is connected to internal organs
Sympathetic Nervous System:
The subsection of the autonomic nervous system that is active during states of stress or strenuous activity, responsible for the fight or flight response
Parasympathetic Nervous System:
The subsection of the autonomic nervous system that is active during states of relaxation, responsible for rest and digest processes
Nerve:
Bundles of axons extending from many neurons.
Neuron:
Nervous system cells that communicate via electrochemical signals.
Neurotransmitter:
Chemicals which allow the transmission from one neuron to the next across synapses
Action Potential:
A short-lived change in electric charge inside a neuron which results in the transmission of an electrical impulse
Resting Potential:
The slight negative charge inside an inactive neuron.
Threshold:
The level of depolarisation before an action potential will fire.
Dopamine:
A neurotransmitter involved in conscious movement, learning, memory, and emotion.
Serotonin:
A neurotransmitter involved in sleep, wakefulness, appetite and mood.
Adrenaline:
A hormone created in response to stress and/or fear which acts to instigate the fight or flight response.
Learning:
A relatively permanent change, often of behaviour, that occurs as a result of experience
Classical Conditioning:
a learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired: a response which is at first elicited by the first stimulus is eventually elicited by the second stimulus alone (Pavlov,
Operant Conditioning:
Learning that occurs as a result of rewards or punishments as a consequences of behaviours.
Observational learning:
New behaviour or modification of a current behaviour which occurs as a result of watching others and copying them
Modelling:
To exhibit a behaviour in such a way as to promote similar behaviours in others.
Attention:
The extent to which the subject is focused on the behaviour and/or interested by it
Retention:
The extent to which a subject remembers the behaviour
Reproduction:
The ability of the subject to reproduce the behaviour
Motivation:
The extent to which the subject is willing to perform the behaviour
Token Economies:
A type of psychotherapy in which people are rewarded for good behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges or tangible rewards
Saturation:
The overexposure of one type of reinforcement or punishment
Phobias:
An anxiety response to something that is out of proportion to the threat
Systematic Desensitization:
The application of classical conditioning to treat phobias and other anxiety problems
Graduated Exposure:
When patients are gradually exposed to a stimuli they are unreasonably afraid of so that they will realise that they are not in danger
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy:
A form of psychotherapy that aims to change behaviours by modifying the thought process that leads to them
Language:
The method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way.
LAD:
Chomsky: Language Acquisition Device; the innate biological ability of humans to acquire and develop language.
LASS:
Bruner: Language Acquisition Support System; the process in which adults help children learn language
Scaffolding:
process in which parents model or demonstrate a task, then encourage the child to do the same while offering support if needed.
Joint attention:
the shared focus of parent and child on an object
Communication style:
The distinctive way in which people of different cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds and genders use language
Restricted code:
Berenstein: speech patterns that are characteristic of working class people
Elaborative code:
Berenstein: a style of language associated with upper/ middle-class people and formal situations
Report talk:
Tannen: A style of speech used to gain and hold attention, and to negotiate or maintain status
Rapport talk:
Tannen: a style of speech used to establish relationships, develop understanding and negotiate differences.
Socialisation:
The acquisition of beliefs, values and behaviours necessary to function effectively as a member of society.
Attachment:
A close emotional bond between a child and their parent or caregiver (Harlow, Bowlby)
Critical Period:
A period during development in which a particular skill or characteristic is believed to be most readily acquired
(Harlow, Bowlby)
Strange Situation:
The strange situation classification is an attachment assessment technique designed for young children, which was developed by psychologist Mary Ainsworth