psych 101 Midterm 1 Flashcards
Definition of psychology
Scientific study of behavior & mental processes of humans & animals
What are the research methods
naturalistic observations, case studies, correlations, experimental design
What are the Four Goals of Psychology
Description
explanation
prediction
control
Who founded the first psychological laboratories?
Wilhelm Wundt
Naturalistic Observations
advantages vs disadvantages
A.Watching animals or humans behave in their normal environment
D.Observer Bias - you only see what you want to see
Observer Effect - influencing people just by being there
Case Studies
Study of 1 individual(with lots of detail)
Correlations
A statistical technique to look for relationships between 2 or more variables
Experimental Design
advantages vs disadvantages
Deliberate manipulation of a variable to see if changes in behavior result
Positive Correlation
Same Direction ^ ^
Negative Correlation
Different Direction -> <-
Independent variable
Variable that is being manipulated
Dependent variable
Variable that is measured after the manipulation of the Independent variable
Experimental group vs. Control Group
Gets the drug vs. getting the placebo a.k.a single-blind study
Representative & Random Sampling
Participants don’t know a.k.a double-blind study
Sigmund Freud
Psychoanalysis:
Early childhood experiences
Unconscious mind(where we repress threatening desires)
Dream interpretation(essential to understanding the unconscious mind)
Behaviorism
focuses on observable behavior only
-believed that all behaviors are learned
Cognitive Perspective
Focuses on how people think
Biopsychological pr Physiological
genetic influences, hormones, & activity within the nervous system
Eclectic Perspective
Combination of one or more different psychological perspectives
Humanistic Perspective
People have free will or freedom to choose their own destiny
- Human potential -> Self-actualization
- Be all that u can be
What is the Nervous System
- Network of specialized cells that carries information
- Controls the way people & animals think, feel, & behave
Neurons
the basic cell in the nervous system that receives and sends messages
Nerves
bundles of neuron fibers
3 basic parts to a Neuron
Dendrites : branch-like; receives messages
Soma : cell body with the nucleus
Axon : tube-like; sends messages to other neurons
Myelin Sheath
- Help protect the axon
- speeds up messages
- made up of fatty substance
Where are neurotransmitters stored?
in the pre-synaptic vesicles
Acetylcholine(Ach)
Arousal, Attention, Alzheimer’s
Serotonin
associated with mood, sleep, & appetite
low levels ->depression
high levels ->aggression
Dopamine
involved in voluntary movement control, pleasure, & sensations
Endorphins
Body’s “natural morphine”, pain controller
Reuptake
Cleans up the synapse and picks up excess neurotransmitters
Central Nervous System (CNS)
consist of the brain, spinal cord, & neurons
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
made up of the Autonomic & Somatic Nervous Systems
Somatic Nervous System
Voluntary Movement: Sensory Pathway: Nerves from sensory neurons of organs to spinal chord
Motor pathway: nerves from CNS to voluntary muscles via motor neurons
Autonomic Nervous System
Nerves that control involuntary muscles such as organs & glands
Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous System
Sympathetic: “emergency system” prepares body for flight or fight
Parasympathetic: Restores the body to normal functioning
Four Lobes of the Brain
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal
Frontal Lobe
Higher Mental descision making, motivational behavior & personality MOTOR CORTEX
Temporal Lobe
Near Ears; responsible for hearing and meaningful speech
Parietal Lobe
Top, back; somatosensory cortex processing body & skin’s senses
Occipital Lobe
Back of head; Contains visual centers of brain
Medulla
Life-Sustaining Fuction, breathing, heartbeat, swallowing
Pons
Regulates sleep-wake cycle & dreaming
damage here connected with comas
Cerebellum
controls & coordinates movements
posture & balance
Reticular formation
responsible for selective attention (helps keep people alert & aroused)
Thalamus
Center; acts as relay sorting station for sensory info
Hypothalamus
responsible for motivational behavior of sleep, hunger, thirst, & sex
Hippocampus
Formation of long-term memories
Amygdala
Responsible for fear response, memory of fear, & emotional control
Corpus Callosum
Connects Left and Right Hemisphere
Right Hemisphere of Brain
Recognizing faces
Expressing emotions
Music
Reading emotions
Color
Images
Intuition
CreativityLeft Hemisphere of Brain
Language
Logic
Critical thinking
Numbers
ReasoningWaking Consciousness
State in which thoughts, feelings, & sensations are clear, organized & feel alert
Altered state of consciousness
a shift in pattern of mental activity
EEG
How brain waves are measured
Why do we sleep?
Adaptive theory: evolved sleep patterns to avoid predators(sleep usually at night)
Restorative theory: Replenishes chemicals & repairs cellular damage
Stages of sleep
NREM - 4 stages
REM - dram state
Sleepwalking, Sleeptalking, & night terrors
Occur in stage 4 of NREM where you are in your deepest sleep
Sleep Deprivation
causes microsleep “nodding-off” falling asleep, quick sleep
REM rebound
When you don’t get much REM sleep from sleep deprivation and then the following night u get a larger dose of REM
Manifest Content vs. Latent Content
Manifest: What actually happens vs Latent: hidden meaning, expressed through symbols
Drug Tolerance
built up immunity: causing the need for more
Physical Dependence vs. Psychological
Physical : body needs drugs to function or body will withdraw
Psychological : Feeling that a drug is needed for well being
Stimulants vs. Depressants
Stimulants : uppers
Depressants : downers
