MCAT Psych Soc Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 3 unique variables (aside from dependent and indepentent variables)?
A
Confounding variable–> affects both independant and dependant variables. Moderating Variable–> changes the intensity of relationship between the two variables. Mediating Variable–> Providing a mechanistic lick between two variables.
2
Q
Describe Positive and negative control groups.
A
Positive Control groups compares two known things with one another. Negative control groups control validity of things, such as, the use of a medication compared with a placebo and those who do not use said medication.
3
Q
What is Social Desirability Bias?
A
Social Desirability Bias –> A tendency to reply to a question is a way that is seen as socially acceptable.
4
Q
What studies have a potential for bias?
A
ALL study’s have the potential for bias
5
Q
What is the term used to describe motivation behid addictive behavior?
A
Opponent Process theory–>A description of motivation behind addictive behavior.
6
Q
What is the definition of availability heuristic?
A
Available Heuristic –> Using readily available information–rather than information that would need to be gathered–to form and opinion and make a decision.
7
Q
What is the Fantasy Factor?
A
Fantasy Factor –> A developement of mental images or lists of things that stimulate a person to behave a certain way to hopefully make the fantasy come true.
8
Q
What is valence?
A
Valence –> value that a person will set on a reenforement or reward, which is ususally based on peoples wants and needs.
9
Q
What is the definition of mores? What is the definition for formal and informal norms?
A
Mores–> The essential or characteristic of customs of communities. Informal and formal norms–> Formal norms are hard, written out, or well know and spoken of norms of society (they are the most specific and clearly stated of the norms). Informal norms are those perceived or picked up via social cues that are put into practice but are generally used by a population.
10
Q
What is inclusive fitness?
A
Inclusive fitness–> Self-sacrificing behavior benefiting relatives. (essentially)
11
Q
What are the general affects of Dopamine on the body?
A
Dopamine–> Involved in reward pathways. Also, involved with certain motor functions. Too much or too little has adverse affects on the body.
12
Q
This mnemonic has to do with what neurons do and where they are located in the spinal cord. Memorize the mnemonic SAME DAVE!
A
SAME DAVE–> Sensory neurons are afferent neurons while Motor neurons are Efferent neurons (space) Dorsal location for Afferent neurons and Ventral location for Efferent neurons.
13
Q
What is the purpose and function of magnocelluar cells?
A
Magnocellular cells–> Have low spatial resolution but high temporal resolution, allowing them to form a basis for our detection of objects in motion.
14
Q
What is proprioception?
A
Proprioception–> Is the sense of where one’s own body parts are in space
15
Q
What is Top-Down Processing?
A
Top-down Processing—-> Uses previous experiences and expectations to make decisions. It is often used to recognize something familiar without having to look at all of its individual parts.
16
Q
What is the function of mechanoreceptors?
A
Mechanoreceptors—> Where touch is detected, or neurons that specialize in mechanial input.
17
Q
What is the theory of general adaptation syndrome?
A
Theory of General Adaptation Syndrome—> Involves stages that occur in the following sequence: 1) alarm 2) resistance and finally either 3) exhaustion or recovery.
18
Q
What is Anterograde Amnesia?
A
Anterograde Amnesia—-> The inabliity to form new memories after and accident (usually head trauma).
19
Q
What is operant conditioning?
A
Operant conditioning—-> The pairing of reinforcement with a learned behavior.
20
Q
What does neuroplsticity have to do with learning and remembering information?
A
Neuroplasticity is the brains ability to form multiple synaptic connnections about information. For example, using all of ones senses rather than just a few will help solidify new synaptic connections much faster.
21
Q
What is State-dependent retrieval?
A
State-dependent retrieval is the idea that a persons memory and retrieval will be best when both the physical and psychological aspects are the same for both learning and retrieval.
22
Q
What is the Palmer Grasp Reflex?
A
The Palmer grasp reflex–> When stroke your finger across a baby’s palm, their had will grab your finger. Also, another two important reflexes are the Rooting and Sucking reflexes. Very self explanitory.
23
Q
What is the Moro Reflex?
A
What is the Moro Reflex?The Moro Reflex–> In response to being strartled, a baby will extend its arms and legs, through its head back, and cry.
24
Q
What is the Babinski Reflex?
A
The Babinski Reflex–> When a baby’s foot is stroked, its’ big toe bends up, while the other tows fan out.
25
What are the medulla oblongata and pons, and where are they found? What is their role?
The medulla oblongota, controls general autonomic functions while the pons acts as a transition point between the medulla and the rest of the brain. The Pons, however, also has control over things like sleep, respiration, bladder control, taste, balance, and swallowing.
26
What is--and where is it located--Wernicke's Area?
Wernicke's area (located in the temporal lobe) is the part of the brain that is involved with language comprhension
27
What is (and where is it located), Broca's Area?
Broca's Area, part of the frontal lobe, is involved with actual language production and speaking
28
What is Bottom-up processing?
It's where you begin taking in small pieces of information (based of of sensory feelings in that moment) to create a whole picture in which to make a decision with.
29
What is attrition bias?
It's where participants dropout before the study ends.
30
What is reconstructive bias?
Has to do with bias related to memory. Usually, memory is slightly inaccurate and alludes to bias.
31
What is selection bias?
Selection bias has to do with those involved in a study for a specific purpose. For example, if someone was the recipient of unethical treatment in medical school, they would be more likely to participate in a study regarding ethics in medicine.
32
What's the difference between prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination?
Prejudice is an attitude; not a behavior. However, discrimination is a behavior/action taking place. Stereotypes is also strictly a cognitive action, not a behavior.
33
What is the r-value coefficient mean?
R-value coefficient has to do with correlation between two--or more--things. For example, if depression and suicide occur in very high rates with each other, they would have a higher r value (anywhere between -1 and 1). The positive or negative is determined by a negative or positive correlation.
34
What is the Cannon-Bard Theory?
If you see a wolf, your emotional and physical responses are separate--or independent--of each other.
35
What is the James-Lange Theory?
If you see a wolf, your heart begins pounding, which causes you to become afraid. You are physically aroused prior to the emotional arousal.
36
What is the Schachter-Singer Theory?
If you see a wolf, your heart begins pounding, then, you assess the situation and determine it to be dangerous. At this time you become afraid after you have determined it necessary.
37
What does the term Social Loafing mean?
It describes situations where people will work less if they're in a group with others or clap less loudly if there are others clapping.
38
What does the term structural functionalism mean?
Something that has manifest and latent functions of a decision. Manifest functions are those that are intended, while latent functions are unintended results.
39
What is Global Trend Theory?
Global Trend Theory is the concept that larger Core nations export a significant amount of goods, while importing very few, and periphery nations that import a significant amount of goods and export very few.
40
What and where is the Corpus Callosum?
The Corpus Callosum is a bundle of myelinated projections that connect the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This allows things that are seen in the right visual field to be comprhended and articulated in speech.
41
What does external locus of control mean?
External locus of control refers to the feeling that things are largely outside the conrtol of your actions. Things happen to you (like a victim mentality).
42
What does internal locus of control mean?
Internal locus of control refers to the feeling that you are responsible for your actions and behaviors. So, generally, you do NOT believe that things are outside of your control.
43
What is the Elaboration Liklihood Model?
Focuses on attitude change and the factors that tend to promote the change. It states that this can be processed thoroughly or surface level.
44
What does parallel play mean?
Parallel play is in young children who prefer to play by themselves, but observe other children playing and adjust their behavior. This does not involve direct interaction.
45
What is the general assumption of the functionalist theory?
One of the largest assumptions of functionalist theories is that aspects of the culture are necessary and need-based.
46
What does anomie mean?
Anomie refers to society feeing of fragmentation and lack of cohesiveness.
47
What is Relative Deprivation Theory?
Asserts that individuals who believe they have less than those around them will find ways to obtain those resources.
48
What does the term sexual selection mean?
Sexual selection has to do with directional selection towards a phenotypic feature that is preferable in the species.
49
Where are fear and agression processed in the brain?
The amygdala.
50
What is self-serving bias?
Self-serving bias describes people that attribute all of there succeses to their own qualities, while they see their failures are due to someone elses fault.
51
What is the "Looking Glass effect" described by Cooley?
States that we base our own identities on how others view us. Esentially, if someone thinks their friends view them as succesful, they will believe that about themeselves as well.
52
What are George Mead's Four Stages of self?
All of these generally happen at a young age, as well: 1) Imitation 2) play 3) game 4) Generalized other
53
What is Symbolic Interaction Theory?
Symbolyic Interaction Theory states that people act on the meaning of cultural symbols that are derived from social interactions. Imagine someone who wants to be a doctor in America (that is not from here) and adopts things that American doctors do to assimilate. This will also change their own beliefs, acts, and thoughts.
54
What does Surrounded Suppression mean?
Surrounded Suppression is preceiving tactile information while ignoring stimuli immediately surrounding it. For example, someone mistaking the letter 'D' written on their back for letter 'B'.
55
What is the condition called that effects the brain in late stage syphilis?
General paresis, which means general paralysis and a brain disorder from the late stages of syphilis.
56
What is the difference between cross-sectional and longitudinal studies?
Cross-sectional studies are done where all samples are taken at a single time point. Longitudinal studies are when one thing is compared across two separate time points.
57
What is a p-test?
If one group was getting victimized--and you were surveying them--and also asking being asked how often they felt victimized, then we would use this test. So, if both variables being studied came from the same group.
58
What is a linear regression test?
Is used to predict scores from two independent variables.
59
What is an independent sample t-test?
Used when researchers want to compare mean values of two groups.
60
What is the pearson correlation coefficient?
Calculated to compare two variables with one another.
61
What is tactile perception?
The activity of perceiving information with touch but does not require understanding or observation of others.
62
At what stage of sleep would sleep-walking, night terrors, and bedwetting occur in?
These both occur in stage four (delta waves) where one is most deeply asleep.
63
Define Intrinsic motivation.
Intrinsic motivation is motivation that is based on the feeling of autonomy or that one is choosing to participate through their own will.
64
What are the large differences in low vs. high sexual dimorphism?
Animals will low sexual dimorphism (look similar to each other) are expected to mate uncompetitively and mate for life whereas species with high dimorphism (look very different and possibly extravagant). This will mean intense competition for mates within the species
65
What are stimulus motives and are they essential for survival?
Stimulus motives are unlearned but create a stimulus--like curiosity. These motives are NOT necessary for survival.
66
What is Weber's Law?
Weber's Law (or test, rather) used to test the just-noticeable difference in different stimuli. This usually happens at an 8-10% difference
67
What are Meisnner's Corpuscles?
Trasmit impulses for light touch and if malfunctioning, can lead to hyper/hypo - sensativity to light touch.
68
What does the term Retinal disparity mean?
Retinal Disparity has to do with the binocular vision of the eyes seeing at different angles that ultimately helps with depth perception.
69
What is Treisman's Attenuation Model?
Treisman's Attenuation model states that the brain may block out distraction unconsciously in order to complete a task.
70
Out of these four traits, which of them are used in self-identity: 1) Physical description 2) social roles 3) existential self 4) permanent self ?
The first three compose self-identity answering the questions: what do I look like, what is my societal role, and religious/philosophical/ethical beliefs.
71
Regarding the amygdala, which one is false: 1) There are two amygdala in the brain. 2) The amygdala is located deep in the parietal lobe 3) It is heavily involved in fear conditioning 4) It is considered part of the limbic system.
Answer choice two is false. All the others are facts.
72
What role does the autonomic NS play in the body?
The autonomic nervous system is involved in a physiological arousal (or response).
73
What does the term self-monitoring mean?
Self-monitoring means that one will reflect on their actions, possibly journal, and over the period of a study, for example, they will continually reflect on their actions and response to situations.
74
What does utilitarian organization mean?
Organizations where people are compensated for their involvement (like employees).
75
What does normative organization mean?
Those that freely volunteer and ususally have a cohesive moral goal in mind.
76
What does mimetic organization mean?
Just attempting to copy other types of organizations.
77
What does coercive organization mean?
Organizations where members are forced to join. Prison is a classic example.
78
What is semantic memory?
Has to do with facts and concepts. If you know the 20 abbreviations for the amino acids, that's semantic memory.
79
What is epoisodic memory?
Refers to memeories of specific life experiences.
80
What is implicit memory?
Is subconscious memory that usually is procedural or conditioned responses.
81
What is Echoic memory?
A type of memory that pertains soley to auditory memory.
82
What does sublimation mean in psychological terms?
Sublimation is when a person channels unexceptable urges into something productive like a smoker--who just quit--helping others quit smoking when they feel the urge to smoke again.
83
What is the difference between descriptive and prescriptive behavior?
Prescriptive behavior is what individuals believe should occur. However, descriptive behavior is what one acutally preceives as occuring.
84
What does the term representativeness heuristic mean?
Representativeness heuristic is when we describe something or someone based off of what we believe they look like. For example, we think Steve is a librarian becuase he looks like what we assume a librarian would look like.
85
What is the difference between primary and secondary socialization?
Primary socialization has to do with learning the basic rules and norms of your culture (usually done in the home) Secondary socialization has to do with learning the norms and appropriate functioning inside of a sub group within a larger society.
86
What is the difference between retroactive and proactive interference?
Retroactive interference is when new information distorts the recall of previously held information. Proactive interference is when older information makes it harder to remember new information.
87
What does the term "spreading activation" mean?
Spreading activation is when a word or phrase triggers a false memory. For example, when trying to recall a list of words, and due to association, you miss rememeber the word used. This leads to words from related concepts, which is incorrect.
88
Are short-term and long-term memory in the same memory system?
No, STM and LTM constitute separate memory systems.
89
What does Latent Learning mean?
Latent learning refers to learning something without any explicit change in behavior.
90
What are Kohlberg's Stages of development?
Stage 1: Preconventional--avoiding punishment & seeking reward. Stage 2: Conventional--Good person attitude & Loyalty to Law and Order. Stage 3: Postconventional--Spirit of Law & Universal Ethics.
91
What are the two concepts compromising George Mead's theory of self-identity?
The two concepts are I--which refers to the spontaneous and autonomous version of ourselves and Me--which refers to the part of us that is formed during social interactions.
92
If someone was shown a color just to their left eye, and they had the connection severed between the two hemispheres of their brain, what would be a likely outcome? Would they be able to recognize the color?
So, this person would see the color in their left eye, but process it in their right hemisphere. Since language is primarily delt with in the left hemisphere, they probably would not be able to articulate the color of the image.
93
What is the difference between 'social capital' and 'social status'?
Social capital is when someone uses their social networks for gain. Social Status, on the other hand, is simply related to prestige among other social groups (doesn't really involve direct gain or loss).
94
What is feature detection and is it hindered by hearing loss?
Feature detection has to do with site and the ability to see. So, hearing loss would not affect feature detection at all.
95
Where would one predominantly see alpha waves in the sleep-wake cycle?
Beta is fully awake and alert, Alpha is at rest (but not usually asleep), theta is beginning of sleep, and delta is very asleep.
96
What is the definition for 'Deviant' behavior?
Diviant behavior is signified as behavior that violates sociital norms.
97
What are Erickson's Stages of life?
Erickson's stages of life!
98
What's the difference between correlation and causation?
Correlation simply means that two factors relate to each other. For example, people who have psychiatric illnesses tend to have poor economic outcomes. Causation would strictly say that A causes B; unlike the example above, one does not directly cause the other but does influence it.
99
Define cognitive process?
Cognitive process (or appraisal) is when we experience something, and correctly or incorrectly determine its meaning.
100
What is the term that describes a reduced response when there is a repeating stimuli?
This is called habituation. This is when, for example, a drop of water keeps dripping on you but you eventually don't notice it anymore. Also, dishabituation can happen and all that means is the response returns to baseline to start over again.
101
What is Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome mean?
According to Selye, peoples response to stressors will be similar. Does not make claims other than that.
102
What is the independent variable measuring?
The independent variable is what's being manipulated to see if there is a correlational/causal relationship between things.
103
What is the dependent variable measuring?
The dependent variable is what is staying the same. The independent variable, if it changes, will cause a direct change to the dependent variable. So, it doesn't change but is used to measure change from the independent variable to possibly establish a relationship.
104
What is Label Theory?
Label Theory states that whatever label is ascribed or achieved, will cause one to live up to the expectations--whether good or bad--of that label.
105
What brain structure is most involved with the physiological response to emotion?
The hypothalamus!
106
Define Place Theory and its relevance?
Essentially describes the perception of sound and pitch within the cochleae. Different sound waves will stimulate different vibrations of the basilar membrane at different loci.
107
What is the major--and general--function of the parietal lobe?
The parietal lobe is responsible for proprioception and somatosensation.
108
What does reliability and validity have to do with study replication?
Reliability directly correlates with consistency, while validity directly correlates to accuracy. Reliable means that you get consistent results and validity means that you have accurate measurements.
109
What is the first stage in Erikson's stages of development?
0-2 yrs, Hopes: Trust vs. Mistrust
110
What is the second stage in Erikson's stages of development?
2-4yrs, Will: Autonomy vs. Shame
111
What is the third stage of Erikson's stages of development?
4-5yrs, Purpose: Initiative vs. Guilt
112
What is the fourth stage of Erikson's stages of development?
5-12 yrs, Competence: Industry vs. Inferiority
113
What is the fifth stage in Erikson's stages of development?
13-19yrs, Fidelity: Identity vs. Role Confusion
114
What is the sixth stage in Erikson's stages of development?
20-39yrs, Love: Intimacy vs. Isolation
115
What is the seventh stage in Erikson's stages of development?
40-64yrs, Care: Generativity vs. Stagnation
116
What is the eigth stage in Erikson's stages of development?
65-death, Wisdom: Ego integrity vs. Despair
117
In Freud's theory of the superego, what does he constitute as its function?
Freud stated that the Superego controls our moral sense of right vs. wrong. The Superego is our sense of guilt if we did something--or believed we did something--wrong. It's partially conscious but mostly subconscious.
118
What role does the id play in Freud's theory?
Freud believed that this was the part of the brain that was fully subconscious and was the drive behind instinctive behaviors like aggression, sex, and hidden memories.
119
What role of the ego is played via Freud's theory?
Freud believed that the ego was what mediated and controled the desires coming from the id and super-ego. This happens both consciously and subconsciously.
120
What would be a good cultural explanation for how individuals learn to handle with and deal stress in an positive and emotional way?
People with strong ties to religion are usually better able to handle stressful and emotional difficult circumstances. They're usually more excepting, and often use more often, emotional coping strategies.
121
In order from most important to least important, list Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
Physiological needs > Safety needs > Belongingness and love needs > Esteem needs > Self-actualization
122
What's the difference between correlation and causation?
Correlation simply means that two factors relate to each other. For example, people who have psychiatric illnesses tend to have poor economic outcomes. Causation would strictly say that A causes B; unlike the example above, one does not directly cause the other but does influence it.
123
Define cognitive process?
Cognitive process (or appraisal) is when we experience something, and correctly or incorrectly determine its meaning.
124
What is the term that describes a reduced response when there is a repeating stimuli?
This is called habituation. This is when, for example, a drop of water keeps dripping on you but you eventually don't notice it anymore. Also, dishabituation can happen and all that means is the response returns to baseline to start over again.
125
What is the independent variable measuring?
The independent variable is what's being manipulated to see if there is a correlational/causal relationship between things.
126
What is the dependent variable measuring?
The dependent variable is what is staying the same. The independent variable, if it changes, will cause a direct change to the dependent variable. So, it doesn't change but is used to measure change from the independent variable to possibly establish a relationship.
127
What's the difference between positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia? A patient treated with a neuroleptic medication will experience a change in what symptoms?
Positive symptoms are the addition of something (hallucinations, disorganized speech, etc.) while negative emotions are things that are lacking (emotions, apathy, or lack of speech). Neuroleptic medications are good at taking positive symptoms but often make negative symptoms worse.
128
Define Place Theory and its relevance?
Essentially describes the perception of sound and pitch within the cochleae. Different sound waves will stimulate different vibrations of the basilar membrane at different loci.
129
What is the major--and general--function of the parietal lobe?
The parietal lobe is responsible for proprioception and somatosensation.
130
When are mirror neurons active?
Mirror neurons are active when you are observing the behavior of someone else AND when you a performing that behavior that was just witnessed
131
What does reliability and validity have to do with study replication?
Reliability directly correlates with consistency, while validity directly correlates to accuracy. Reliable means that you get consistent results and validity means that you have accurate measurements.
132
What is a phenomenological study?
A phenomenological study tries to use subjective elements of an experience by trying to understand peoples' perceptions, perspectives, and understand of situations. Often used when gathering narratives from multiple subjects regarding the same type of experience.
133
What is a dichotomous variable?
Dichotomous variables only have two categories. If asked a question where there are only two choices, and one answer, then it's a dichotomous variable.
134
What is an ordinal variable?
Variables that can be ranked--like levels of education.
135
What is social proof?
An example, if you were a first year medical student, and some third-year medical students told you to do something, you would be more likely to do what they said rather than what your fellow first-year peers said to do.
136
What is Echolalia?
Echolalia is the unintentional repetition of words hallmarked by those with autism and schizophrenia.
137
What is Hypochondriac disorder called now?
Hypochondriac disorder is now called somatic symptom disorder.
138
What is a catecholamine?
A catecholamine contains both a phenyl group and diols and have distinct structure.
139
What is social constructionism?
Basically, social constructionism is the theory that life is made up of things that people collectively ascribe meaning to. For example, people have collectively said money has value. Also, knowledge of the world is based off of interactions.
140
What does the term Source Monitoring Error mean?
It's when you misremember where you heard something. For example, if Paul told you a nice fact, but later, when you remembered the fact, you thought Ron told you that. That’s source monitoring error.
141
What does the Yerkes-Dodson law state?
The Yerkes-Dodson law states that optimal performance will be in the "sweet spot" between high and low levels of arousal.
142
What is a cohort study?
A cohort study is one that takes a group of healthy individuals and tracks changes in their health over a period of time to determine their relative risk to developing disease(s) over a period of time.
143
What are spindle neurons?
Spindle neurons facilitate rapid communication between brain cells.
144
What are the four stages to observational learning?
1) Attention to behavior
2) memory of behavior
3) ability or capability to behave similarly
4) motivation or drive to behave similarly
145
What is Central Tendency Bias?
Central Tendency Bias--sometimes refered to Likert scaling system--has to do with study participants answer closer to the mean (and not on either extreme).
146
What is Acquiescent Bias?
Acquiescent bias happens if participants know what type of answers researchers may be looking for and answer according to what they believe others may want. This is often done to please the researcher.
147
What four factors contribute to test validity?
Face validity (if validity is proved through face value), content validity (if the test will assess all factors equally), external validity (if the test is correct when given to different groups of people), and criterion validity (if a test will measure a specific quality or ability).
148
If given a study that was assessing the enviroments and systems that children live in, what would that be called?
An ecological study
149
What is a power analysis?
A power analysis is the statistical calculation performed before a study to determine how many study participants are required for a proper sample size.
150
What are Chocrane Reviews?
Chocrane Reviews are the systemic reviews of primary research in current healthcare and are the highest standard of evidence based health research.They investigate the effects of interventions for preventions, treatment, and rehabilitation.
151
What type of imaging is best to research neural activation of the amygdala?
fMRI would work best!
152
What do A and B mean in research design?
A refers to the baseline condition while B refers to the experimental condition. If there are multiple experimental conditions, then we would repeat this twice (ABAB). Signaling baseline, experiment, baseline, and then experiment.
153
What is Sherif's Cave Experiment?
An experiment in which children were separated into two camps and manipulated to hate each other. However, they were later given a task in which they were required to work together to achieve a goal. They then became fond of each other.
154
What is the Hawthorne effect?
Simply states that subjects are affected by being observed.
155
What is the expectancy effect?
Occurs when participants in a study behave in a way in which they believe is expected, based on the observation of others.
156
What does internalization mean?
Internalization is the integration of new attitudes, values, and beliefs into the individual's existing self identity.
157
What does specificity measure?
Measures the amount of true negatives (so, the amount of people who test negative and actually don't have the disease). TN/TN+FP x100% =SNin
158
What does sensitivity measure?
Measures the amount of true positives (so, the amount of people who test positive and actually have the disease). TP/TP+FN x100% = SNout
159
What is the difference between role strain and role conflict?
Role strain is the difficulty that one has fulfilling one role. Role conflict is the difficulty one has trying to fulfill multiple roles at once.
160
What is the most significant difference between personality disorders and psychological disorders?
The largest difference is that personality disorders are relativley stable and are usually just seen as part of someones personality.
161
What does fundamental attribution error mean?
The tendency to attribute other people's behavior to internal, stable, underlying personality traits--even when it is clearly not the case.
162
What is the false consensus effect?
False consensus effect is when people overestimate how common behavior is and assume everyone behaves the same way they do.
163
What is the transtheoretical change model?
The transtheoretical change model highlights the changes one goes through when decisions regarding life. The order is as follows: pre-contemplation > contemplation > preparation > action > maintenance.
164
What does pareidolia mean?
The phenomenon that causes some people to see or hear a vague or random image or sound and interpret it as something significant.
165
What is primary prevention?
Primary prevention refers to prevention that has begun prior to any disease prevalence or problem occuring.
166
What is secondary prevention?
Secondary prevention occurs when there is an established disease or problem that has already occured.
167
What is tertiary prevention?
Tertiary prevention refers to trying to prevent a problem that is already bad, from getting significantly worse.
168
First, what do cluster A-C disorders classify--in order. Second, what are their general characteristics?
Class A disorders are characteristic of odd/eccentric (schizophrenia,paranoid). Class B disorders are characteristic of dramatic/erratic (Antisocial,BPD,narcissistic). Class C disorders are characteristic of anxious/fearful (GAD,OCD, etc.)
169
What does Long Term Potentiation (LTP) mean?
Long Term Potentiation describes when neurons are consistently stimulated, they demonstrate an increased firing rate (also increase in neural connections). This is a characteristic of learning and memory; however, can be bad if the brain takes it to an extreme (think of neurons firing excessively due to pain).
170
What does Reaction formation mean?
Reaction Formation describes when someone reacts the opposite way in which they truly feel because of unacceptable thoughts. For example, if someone liked their supervisor (but thought it was unacceptable) and began telling everyone that they dispised their supervisor.
171
What are the three types of kinship?
Consanguineal: based on a genetic relationship. Affinal: Based on marriage (spouse). Fictive: Anything that isn't the other two (example: adopted children).
172
What is the linguistic relativity hypothesis?
The Linguistic Relativity Hypothesis states that cognition is affected by language.
173
What is dissociative disorder?
Dissociative Disorder is when someone is selectively forgetting distracting portions of their life.
174
What is a Schema?
A memory schema is an organized cluster of knowledge. When taking an implicit bias test, the longer one takes to answer a question--schematic processing--the less conscious the mental process is.
175
What are the seven universal emotions?
The seven universal emotions are: Anger, Fear, Disgust, Happiness, Sadness, Surprise, and Contempt.
176
What is the sick role in sociology?
The sick role compromises the obligations and rights of sick individuals in the population. Obligations are basically that people will try to get well and seek medical professionals. Rights are them being exempt from normal roles, they need to be helped, and they aren't responsible for their condition.
177
What does the term 'agents of socialization mean'?
Agents of socialization are important and influencial parts of popular culture. Examples of this would be music, school, family and religion.
178
What does proximal stimulus mean?
Proximal stimulus is a stimulus that is registered by sensory receptors (like light on your retina).
179
What does psychphysical discrimination testing mean?
Psychophysical discrimination testing directly assess our perception of stimuli in relation to their true physical properties (and would assess if we are not perceiving that physcial stimuli correctly).
180
What does the term sensitive period mean?
Sensitive period is a time in early childhood development where, a significant amount of behavioral and physiological factors can be influenced.
181
What is flashbulb memory?
Flashbulb memories are usually associated with very emotional--possibly traumatic--events, which tend to be very vivid and compeling memories.
182
What does the term 'life course perspective mean'?
The term 'life course perspective'--according to sociological terms--is in reference to behaviors (usually bad ones) that are formed during specific times in ones life, and how interventions can be used prior to the general time when someone would adopt a negative habit.
183
What are the general affects of Serotonin on the body?
Serotonin helps keep the body in a homeostasis, of sorts. It plays a role in aggression, appetite, and intestinal movements.
184
What is Optimisim Bias?
Optimisim Bias is when you underestimate the amount of bad things that can happen to you (i.e. you think others are more likely to get sick of the flu than you are).
185
What do Trait theorists believe about behavior and personality change?
Trait theorists believe that behavior is a result of consistent and enduring personality dispositions.
186
What two types of memory do not decline with normal aging? (not including people with degenerative brain disorders)
Procedural and Semantic memory do not have any--or that large of--a decline as an individual ages.
187
What's social facilitation?
Social facilitation is simply performing better--on things you know how to do--when people are around.
188
Do behaviorists believe that cognition can change behavior?
No. Behaviorists strictly beleive that the product of the behavior will determine if someone repeats the behavior. So, cognitive processes will not play a role in this.
189
What is the difference between external motivation and extrinsic motivation?
Extrinsic motivation is any motivation that results from incentives that is not inherent in the behavior. It's a much broader definition, whereas external motivation is an example (more narrow view) of extrinsic motivation.
190
What is Carl Rogers's concept of incongruence?
Rogers's incongruence refers to the gap between a person's ideal self and actual self.
191
What is the Glass Escalator Concept?
Is the idea that men--in female dominated professions--will be ascend the career ladder much quicker than the women in those fields.
192
What is functional fixedness?
People have a tendency to think of objects interms of their usual functions, which can make it difficult to solve problems.
193
What does socialization mean?
The process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable in society.
194
What is the use of a reference group?
People use reference groups to evaluate themselves against the group.
195
What will be the largest contributing factor to group attraction and commitment?
Sharing equivalent cultural capital (like ideas, knowledge, outlooks, etc.).
196
What is the difference between maladaptiveness and distress?
Distress just means that someone is effected in a negative way emotionally, but maladaptiveness means that the behavior negatively affects a person's life or wellbeing.
197
What is the strongest indicatior of alcohol dependence?
Withdrawal symptoms.
198
What is psychological overextension?
Psychological overextension is applying a term or name for an object that only resembles it. For example, when a child calls a cow a dog or a moth a butterfly. They use the only word they know to try and describe something that looks similar to the word they know.
199
What is the difference between binocular and monocular vision?
Binocular vision is when the visual field of both eyes overlap and combine their information to show a more complex image. Monocular vision is done through one eye in a single field.
200
How would the term medicalization be applied in terms of alcohol abuse?
Medicalization of alcohol abuse would be taking a social problem, and saying that it was a medical problem that could be dealt with via medicine.
201
What does the term disinhibition mean in terms of alcohol dependency?
Disinhibition is essentially saying what comes into your head.
202
What is the nucleus accumbens involved in?
The nucleus accumbens is involved in the reward pathway.
203
What are the 4 tenets of medical ethics?
The four tenets are: Respect for patient autonomy, justice, nonmaleficence, and beneficence.
204
What is disinhibition?
This refers to a loss of judgement and consequent tendency for folks who are disinhibited to blurt the first thing that comes into their head rather than exercise self-censorship/restraint.
205
What is the underlying stress-diathesis model?
The stress-diathesis model claims that underlying biological characteristics or diseases can be activated if there are enough environmental stressors.
206
What is Strain Theory?
Focuses on how anomic conditions can lead to deviance, and in turn reinforce social stratification.
207
What is Rational Choice Theory?
States that individuals will make decisions that maximize benefit and minimize harm. Expectancy Theory applies rational choice theory within groups.
208
What are the conceptual differences between bottom-up and top-down processing?
Top-down processing is lead by previous beliefs and experiences, whereas bottom-up is lead by sensory input (stimulus driven).
209
What is 'instinctive drift' mean?
Instinctive drift is refering to animals that revert back to instinctive behavior and abandon learned behavior, after a period of time (or lack of reinforcement).
210
What is the mechanism for SSRIs?
SSRIs inhibit the transport of synaptic serotonin back into the presynaptic neuron, which allows it to remain in the ynaptic cleft for a longer period of time and continues to excert its effects on postsynaptic receptors.
211
What would a drive-reductionist say is wrong with someone with depression?
A drive-reductionist would say that a depressed person has a lack of motivating forces in arousal.
212
What is it called when you see words describing the wrong colors?
That is the Stroop Effect. When you see the word "yellow" written in green, your brain strokes out for a second.
213
What is informational influence?
Informational influence is when someone is influenced by others to accept information from others as evidence about reality.
214
When it comes to cognitive dissonance, which scenario is more likely to happen, changing behavior to match attitudes or changing attitudes to match behavior?
When it comes to cognitive dissonance, people are more likely to change attitudes to match their behavior rather than changing their behavior to match their attitudes.
215
What is another way to differentiate between operate conditioning and classical conditioning?
Operate conditioning is a learned behavior that is influenced by the outcome of that behavior. A rat is taught to press a button and eventually does it more often because it gets food. However, classical conditioning does not involve a change in behavior due to an outcome.
216
What is the reticular activating system?
The reticular activating system is involved in controlling overall alertness.
