PSY-101 Flashcards
Structuralism
Wilhelm Wundt, 1870s, Germany. Study of immediate conscious experience and thought
Functionalism
William James, 1870s. Study of how and why the mind functions
Psychoanalysis
Freud, 1880s. A treatment for mental disorders that focuses on the unconscious. Employs free association. “Release hidden unconscious thoughts and feelings in order to reduce their power in controlling behaviour.”
fMRI
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
- produces 3-D image of moment-by-moment by aiming powerful magnetic field at brain
- able to view detailed features of less than 1 mm wide and changes occurring in less than 1/10ths of second
PET
Positron emission tomography
- through injection of (safe) radioactive liquid into bloodstream which reaches brain
- reveal biochemical activity at a given moment
TMS
Working memory
Memory that involves conscious thought
- Consists of short-term memory and long-term memory
Classical conditioning
Forming an association between an unconditioned stimuli and unconditioned response with a neutral stimuli to produce a conditioned response (towards neutral stimuli)
Operant conditoning
Increasing or decreasing voluntary actions through (pos or neg) reinforcement or (pod or neg) punishment
Stimuli generalization
Associating similar stimuli with conditioned stimuli
Stimuli discrimination
Only responding to specific conditioned stimulus, and not to stimuli that is similar
Positive + negative reinforcement
Positive reinforcement: increase target behaviour by introducing something EX favorite food dish because cleaned room
Negative reinforcement: increase target behaviour by taking something away EX no final because did good on midterm
Sensorimotor
The first stage of Piaget’s cognitive development theory for children. Birth - 2. Characterized by adapting to environment, experiencing world through reflexes, using symbols, and understanding objects. Cognitive milestone: object permanence.
Preoperational
The second stage of Piaget’s cognitive development theory for children. 2 - 7. Characterized by representing world through symbols, animism, centration (focus on one aspect), and gut over logic. Cognitive milestone: egocentrism and (by end of stage) decentration.
Concrete operational
The third stage of Piaget’s cognitive development theory for children. 7 - 12. Characterized by using operations (only in concrete situations), and logic over gut. Cognitive milestone: conservation.
Formal operational
The fourth and final stage of Piaget’s cognitive development theory for children. 12+. Characterized by using operations in hypothetical situations, deductive reasoning, thinking about the future, and return of egocentrism. Cognitive milestone: thinking hypothetically.
Assimilation
Incorporates new experiences into existing mental frameworks/behaviour
Accommodation
Existing structures modified/revised by new experiences
Primary reflexes
Babinski reflex- toes fanning when foot touched
Moro reflex- stretching limbs and crying following loud noise
Rooting reflex- head turns when cheek or lips touched
Sucking reflex- sucking when finger or nipple in mouth
Grasping reflex- grasping when objects touch hand
Schema
Mental frameworks used to organize thoughts and experience into categories (EX: Ducky!)
Germinal period
The first stage in prenatal development. Conception - 2 weeks
Embryonic period
The second stage in prenatal development. 3 - 8 week. Neural tube forms at 22 days, all basic organs and body parts develop save for sex organs, placenta forms (life-support, connecting mothers circulatory system with babies’ through umbilical cord)
Fetal period
The third stage in prenatal development. 9 week - birth. Brain grows 6 times in size, facial features develop, age of variability (only 50% survival at 24 weeks)
Teratogans
substances that can lead to birth defects or death
Examples: FAS, emotional stress, STDs, nutrition (lack of folic acid), maternal age (adolescent or over 35)
FAS
Fetal alcohol syndrome
- caused by heavy drinking (usually during weeks 10 - 20)
- widespread cell death in brain
- flattened features, low-set eyes, similar to down-syndrome appearance
- 10,000 babies per year (1 in 750)
Age of viability
Age in which fetus is able to live and survive outside fo womb. Occurs at 24 weeks
Zygote
Living cell with fused genetic info from parents, formed within hours of conception
__% of fertilized eggs are lost before a woman finds out she’s pregnant
50%
