Midterm 1 Flashcards
What is structuralism? (1)
focuses on immediate experience; the HOW we experience the world. Used INTROSPECTION to simplify experiences down to physical attributes (feelings, sensations, images)
What is functionalism? (1)
focuses on the purpose of behaviour; the HOW and WHY.
What is behaviourism? (1)
focuses on observable behaviours; WHAT we do. only study to be verified by observation.
What is psychoanalysis? (1)
Focuses on unconscious thoughts that guide behaviour. relied on CASE STUDIES. Proposed that we are unaware of why we do what we do. SIGMUND FREUD
What is humanism? (1)
emphasizes the “unique” qualities of humans. focuses on our FREEDOM and POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH
What are the 7 themes of psychology? (2)
- Psychology is empirical- based on evidence, not a pseudoscience
- Psychology is theoretically diverse- different perspectives my interpret behaviour differently
- Psychology evolves in a sociohistorical context- psychology developments are affected by society
- Behaviour is determined by multiple cases- there is more than one reason why we act the way we do
- Behaviour is shaped by cultural heritage- different cultures have different norms
- Heredity and environment jointly influence behaviour- nature vs nurture
- People’s experience of the world is highly subjective- our experiences shape what we see
What are the 5 Perspectives in Psychology (2)
Biological- physiological influences
Learning- environmental influences
Cognitive- thinking/perception
Sociocultural- social and cultural values
Psychodynamic- unconscious conflict
What are the 5 Characteristics of the Ideal Scientist (2)
- Precision- uses theory, hypothesis, and operational definitions
- Skepticism- willing to doubt what others say as true in pursuit of greater truth
- Reliance on Empirical Evidence- look at the evidence, not just ideas
- Willingness to make Risky Decisions- provides a possibility of their ideas being questioned
- Openness- open to new/conflicting ideas
What are the Steps in a Scientific Investigation (2)
- Identify Questions of Interest and Review Past Literature
- Develop a Testable Hypothesis and Make Operational Definition
- Select a Research Method
- Analyze the Data, Accept/Reject Hypothesis
- Seek Scientific Review
- Build a Theory
What are the Two Basic Types of Research Methods (2)
- Experimental- demonstrates a cause and effect relationship between variables (explanatory)
- Descriptive- used to observe and describe behaviour, determines the existence of a relationship between the variables (descriptive)
Describe the Independent Variable vs the Dependent Variable (2)
Independent- variable manipulated by the researcher
Dependent- variable that is to be affected by the independent variable
Describe the Experimental vs the Control Condition (2)
Experimental- group that receives special treatment based on the independent variable
Control- group that does not receive special treatment, used to compare to the experimental group
What is a Single-Blind Study (2)
When the researchers knows who is in what group, but the participants do not
What is a Double-Blind Study (2)
Neither the researcher nor the participants know who is in what group
What is a Random Assignment Study (2)
Groups are decided randomly and have the same probability of assignment
What is a Naturalistic Observation Study (2)
Study where the researcher observes behaviour without interacting
What is a Case Study (2)
A detailed description of a particular individual under treatment
What is a Survey (2)
Questionnaires and interviews that ask people for opinions/experiences/attitudes
What is a Correlational Study (2)
A descriptive study that looks for a relationship between two phenomena
Explain the Coefficient of Correlation (2)
A coefficient that describes the relationship between two variables. Ranges from -1.00 to +1.00. The size represents the strength (-/+0.80 is a stronger relationship than -/+ 0.60). The sign represents the direction of the relationship (positive means as one variable increases, the other increases. negative means that as one increases, the other decreases).
What are the 3 Statistical Methods (2)
Organizing data- frequency distributions (orderly arrangements indicating frequency of farms), and graphing data (visible display of data)
Descriptive statistics- measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode), measures of variability (range), standard deviation (how much, on average, the scores differ from the mean), the normal curve (a curve that shows equal increases/decreases as you move away from the mean)
Inferential statistics- statistical procedure that lets researchers determine how statistically meaningful results are
Explain the Risks-Verses-Benefits Ratio (2)
A comparison of the risks to the benefits of the results of a research question to determine ethics
Explain the Participant’s “Protection from Harm” (2)
the rights of participants to be protected from physical or psychological harm
Explain Informed Consent (2)
The right of research participants to be fully explained to and understand all aspects of a study that may impact their willingness to participate
Explain Debriefing (2)
The providing of a full account and justification of research activities to participants in studies where deception was used
What is an Electroencephalograph or EEG (3)
a device that monitors the electrical activity in the brain by recording electrodes attached to the scalp
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation or TMS (3)
process that involves stimulating the brain with a large current through a wire coil on someone’s head that lets scientists temporarily increase or decrease activity in a specific area oof the brain
What is a Positron-Emission Tomography or PET Scan (3)
scan that allows scientists to examine brain function and map activity in the brain over time. patients are injected with a substance that has radioactive properties and when a certain area of the brain is active the liquid can be seen
What is a Neuron (3)
Individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit information
What are Glia (3)
Cells that support, nurture and insulate neurons, remove debris when neurons die, enhance the formation and maintenance of synapses and modify neural functioning
What are Dendrites (3)
Part of the neuron. Branches that receive information from other neurons and transmit it toward the cell body
What is the Soma or Cell Body (3)
Part of the neuron. Keeps the neuron alive and decides whether it will fire
What is an Axon (3)
Part of the neuron. An extending fibre that conducts impulses away from the cell body and transmits them to other neurons
What is the myelin Sheath (3)
Part of the neuron. Fatty insulation that may surround the axon of a neuron.
What is Neurogenesis (3)
the production of new neurons from immature stem cells
What are Stem Cells (3)
immature cells that renew themselves and have the potential to develop into mature cells; given encouraging environments, stem cells from early embryos can develop into any cell type
What are Synaptic Clefts (3)
minuscule spaces between neurons
What is the Synapse (3)
The site where transmission of a nerve impulse from one nerve cell to another occurs. includes the axon terminal, the synaptic cleft and receptor sites in the membrane of the receiving cell
What is Action Potential (3)
A brief change in electrical voltage that occurs between the inside and the outside of an axon when a neuron is stimulated. serves to produce an electrical impulse
What is a Neurotransmitter (3)
A chemical substance that is released by a transmitting neuron at the synapse that alters the activity of a receiving neuron
What is Serotonin (3)
A major neurotransmitter that affects neurons involved in sleep, appetite, pain, suppression and mood. Low levels of serotonin are associated with severe depression
What is Dopamine (3)
A major neurotransmitter that affects neurons involved in voluntary movement, learning, memory and emotion. Loss of cells that produce dopamine may contribute to Parkinson’s disease
What is Acetylcholine (3)
A major neurotransmitter that affects neurons involved in muscle action, cognitive function, memory and emotion
What is Norepinephrine (3)
A major neurotransmitter that affects neurons involved in increased heart rate and the slowing of intestinal activity during stress, the neurons involved in learning, dreaming, and waking up from sleep. Low levels of norepinephrine are associated with severe depression
What is GABA (3)
the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Abnormal GABA levels are related to sleep/eating disorder and to convulsive disorders like epilepsy
What is Glutamate (3)
The major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain
What are Neural Networks (3)
Circuits or networks of neurons that expand the communication among different brain regions
What is Long-term Potentiation (3)
A phenomenon where repeated stimulation of certain nerve cells in the brain greatly increases the likelihood that the cells will respond strongly to future stimulation
What are the 2 Parts of the Nervous System (3)
Central and peripheral nervous system
What is the Central Nervous System or CNS (3)
Consists of the brain and the spinal cord. Receives, processes, interprets and stores incoming sensory information. Sends out messages destined for muscles, glands and internal organs
What is the Peripheral Nervous System or PNS (3)
Consists of all portions of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord; it includes sensory and motor nerves.
What do Sensory Nerves do (3)
Sensory nerves carry messages from special receptors in the skin, muscles and other internal and external sense organs to the spinal cord, which sends them along to the brain
What do Motor Nerves do (3)
Motor nerves carry orders from the central nervous system to muscles, glands and internal organs
What is the Somatic Nervous System or SNS (3)
Part of the PNS. Connects to sensory receptors and skeletal muscles to control voluntary movements (aka skeletal nervous system
What is the Autonomic Nervous System or ANS (3)
Part of the PNS. Regulates the internal organs and glands
What is the Sympathetic Nervous System (3)
Part of the ANS. Mobilizes bodily resources and increases the output of energy during emotion and stress
What is the Parasympathetic Nervous System (3)
Part of the ANS. Operates during states of relaxation to conserve energy
What Does the Hindbrain Consist of (3)
The pons, medulla reticular formation, and cerebellum. Lower part of the brain.