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Psychology > Midterm Study Guide > Flashcards

Midterm Study Guide Flashcards

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1
Q

Psychodynamic

A

A branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives & conflicts influence behavior, and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders

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2
Q

Social-cultural

A

The study on how situations and cultures affect our behavior & thinking

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3
Q

Cognitive

A

The scientific theory of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, & communicating

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4
Q

Debriefing

A

The post experimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants

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5
Q

Sleep apnea

A

A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings

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6
Q

Endocrine System

A

The body’s “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

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7
Q

Immune System

A

A system that helps protect the body against pathological effects of foreign substances, such as viruses and bacteria

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8
Q

Insomnia

A

Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep

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9
Q

Narcolepsy

A

A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks where the sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep

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10
Q

Medulla

A

The base of the brainstem, controls heartbeat and breathing

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11
Q

Amygdala

A

The bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system that are linked to emotion

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12
Q

Cerebellum

A

The “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem, processes sensory input, coordinating movement output & balance, and enabling nonverbal learning & memory

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13
Q

Limbic System

A

Neural system (hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

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14
Q

Circadian Rhythm

A

The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle

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15
Q

Sympathetic Nervous System

A

The division of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations (fight or flight)

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16
Q

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A

The division of the automatic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

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17
Q

Plasticity

A

The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience

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18
Q

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

A

A visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

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19
Q

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

A

A technique that uses magnetic fields & radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue, can show brain anatomy

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20
Q

Endorphins

A

Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

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21
Q

Dopamine

A

“Feel-good” hormone, part of your reward system, that gives you a sense of pleasure & motivation to do something

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22
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

A fatty tissue that encases the axons of neurons, enables greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next

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23
Q

Dendrites

A

A neuron’s branches that receive messages & conduct impulses toward the cell body

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24
Q

Transduction

A

Transforming stimulus energies (sights, sounds, and smells) into neural impulses our brain can interpret

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25
Q

Cones

A

Concentrated near the retina, function in daylight and well-lit conditions and detect fine detail and colors

26
Q

Rods

A

Detect black, white, and grey. Used when cones don’t respond

27
Q

Blind Spot

A

The point where the optic nerve leaves the eye, creates a blind spot because there are no receptor cells there

28
Q

Lens

A

The structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina

29
Q

Context effect

A

Influence of surrounding objects, events, or information that change an organisms perception of a stimulus

30
Q

Semicircular Canals

A

Three looped tubular channels in the inner ear that detect movements of the head and are essential for maintaining balance

31
Q

Cochlea

A

Fluid-filled bone in the inner ear, sound waves trigger nerve impulses

32
Q

Conduction Deafness

A

Hearing loss caused by damage to the system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea

33
Q

Shape constancty

A

A type of perceptual constancy where an object is perceived as having the same shape despite being viewed from different angles

34
Q

Cognitive Map

A

A mental representation of the layout of an environment

35
Q

Shaping

A

Operant conditioning procedure where reinforces guide behavior closer and closer to the desired behavior

36
Q

Mirror Neurons

A

Frontal lobe neurons that scientists believe fire while performing actions or observing others doing so. Enable imitation and empathy

37
Q

Unconditioned stimulus

A

Stimulus that naturally triggers a response (ex. food)

38
Q

Unconditioned response

A

An unlearned, naturally occurring response (ex. saliva)

39
Q

Conditioned stimulus

A

An originally irrelevant stimulus that, after association with an unconditioned stimulus, triggers a conditioned response (ex. bell)

40
Q

Conditioned response

A

A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus (ex. saliva because of bell)

41
Q

Social Learning Theory

A

The theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating others

42
Q

Operant Conditioning

A

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened through a reinforcer and diminished by a punisher

43
Q

Positive Punishment

A

Adding a negative stimulus in order to decrease behavior (ex. pain)

44
Q

Negative Punishment

A

Taking away a rewarding stimulus in order to decrease behavior (ex. taking away a kid’s iPad)

45
Q

Positive Reinforcement

A

Increasing behaviors by adding a pleasurable stimulus (ex. giving candy)

46
Q

Negative Reinforcement

A

Increasing behaviors by taking away negative stimuli (ex. taking away bedtime)

47
Q

Inductive Reasoning

A

A method of drawing conclusions by making broad conclusions based off specific observations (Bottom-up)

48
Q

Deductive Reasoning

A

A method of drawing conclusions that is based on multiple premises (Top-down)

49
Q

Prototype

A

A mental image or best example of a category

50
Q

Procedural memories

A

The memory system that helps us remember how to do things like riding a bike, typing on a keyboard, or solving a math problem. It helps us remember the steps and techniques needed to perform a task.

51
Q

Aptitude Test

A

Predicts a person’s future performance

52
Q

Achievement Test

A

Designed to test what a person has learned

53
Q

Algorithm

A

A methodical, logical rule that guarantees solving a particular problem

54
Q

Heuristic

A

A simple thinking strategy that allows us to make judgements and solve problems efficiently, faster but more error prone than algorithms

55
Q

Phonemes

A

The smallest distinctive sound unit

56
Q

Morphemes

A

The smallest unit that carries meaning

57
Q

Hindsight bias

A

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it

58
Q

Functional Fixedness

A

The inability to use an object for something other that how it is usually used

59
Q

Retroactive Interference

A

When new information blocks the recall of old information

60
Q

Proactive Interference

A

When old information blocks new information

61
Q

Savant Syndrome

A

A condition where a person otherwise limited in mental ability has an exceptional specific skill

Psychology (22 decks)

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