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freshmen year > Psych ch1-ch2 > Flashcards

Psych ch1-ch2 Flashcards

1
Q

psychology

A

the scientific study of mental activity and behavior which are based on brain processes.

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2
Q

empiricism

A

an evidence-based approach to going knowledge by conducting research that systematically investigates and measures phenomena of interest.

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3
Q

science of learning

A

research in psychology and other fields that suggests how you can improve your study skills, learning, and academic performance.

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4
Q

critical thinking

A

systematically evaluating information to reach conclusions based on the evidence that is presented.

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5
Q

domains of psychology

A

the five interconnected areas of empirical research in modern psychology: biological, cognitive, developmental, social and personality, and mental and physical health domains.

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6
Q

diversity

A

any difference between people that becomes apparent in a specific context

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7
Q

culture

A

the beliefs, values, rules, and customs that exist within a group of people who share a common language and environment, which are transmitted through learning from one generation to the next.

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8
Q

ethics

A

accepted standards of right and wrong that guide people’s behavior.

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9
Q

Institutional review board (IRB)

A

Group of people responsible for reviewing proposed research to ensure that it meets the accepted ethical standards of science and provides for participants’ physical and emotional well-being.

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10
Q

scientific method

A

A continuous five-step process that allows systematic observation and measurement of phenomena to reach one or more scientific goals.

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11
Q

theory

A

A series of interconnected ideas or concepts that explains what is observed in research and that makes predictions about future events.

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12
Q

hypothesis

A

A specific, testable prediction of what should be observed in a study if a theory is correct.

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13
Q

replication

A

Repetition of a research study to confirm or contradict the results.

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14
Q

descriptive methods

A

Research methods that provide a systematic and objective snapshot of what is occurring at a certain point in time.

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15
Q

correlational methods

A

Research methods that examine how variables are naturally related in the real world without altering the variables and without revealing whether one factor causes changes in another.

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16
Q

experimental methods

A

research methods that can reveal causality by manipulating independent variable and measuring the effects on dependent variables.

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17
Q

independent variable

A

In an experiment, the variable that the experimenter manipulates to examine its impact on the dependent variable.

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18
Q

dependent variable

A

In an experiment, the variable that is measured to determine how it was affected by the manipulation of the independent variable.

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19
Q

control group

A

In an experiment, a group of participants that receives either no treatment or a baseline manipulation that is expected to have little or no impact; this group serves as a comparison to the experimental group.

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20
Q

experimental group

A

In an experiment, one or more groups of participants that experience the treatment of interest based on manipulation of the independent variable.

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21
Q

random assignment

A

Placing research participants into the conditions of an experiment in such a way that each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any level of the independent variable.

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22
Q

random sample

A

A sample of participants that fairly represents the population because each member of the population has an equal chance of being included.

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23
Q

ethics

A

accepted standards of right and wrong that guide people’s behavior

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24
Q

the 4 ethical standards

A

privacy, confidentially, informed consent, protection from harm

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25
Q

risk/benefit ratio

A

analysis of whether research is important enough for the risk

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26
Q

the five steps of the scientific method

A
  1. formulate a theory
  2. develop a testable hypothesis
  3. test with a research method
    4.analyze the data
  4. share the results and conduct more research
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27
Q

observational studies

A

involve observing and classifying behavior, either with intervention by the observer or without intervention by the observer.

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28
Q

self reports

A

involves asking questions of research participants. the participants than respond in any way they feel is appropriate of select form.

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29
Q

amiable skepticism

A

remain open to new ideas but be wary

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30
Q

falsifiable

A

can be wrong, can find evidence to reject hypothesis.

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31
Q

parsimonious

A

simplest experiment

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32
Q

directionality problem

A

which variable caused changes in the other?

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33
Q

third variable problem

A

does another unmeasured variable cause the correlation

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34
Q

illusory correlation

A

perception of correlation when none exists

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35
Q

nature

A

bio, genetics

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36
Q

nurture

A

environment, situation

37
Q

nervous system

A

a network of billions of cells in your brain and your body

38
Q

central nervous system (CNS)

A

consists of nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord.

39
Q

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

consists of the nerve cells outside of the brain and spinal cord.

40
Q

Neurons

A

small units that make up the nervous system.

41
Q

Dendrites

A

branchlike extensions of the neuron’s cell body with receptors that receive information from other neurons

42
Q

cell body

A

part of the neuron where information from thousands of other neurons is collected and integrated.

43
Q

axon

A

a long narrow outgrowth of a neuron’s cell body that lets the neuron transmit information to other neurons.

44
Q

terminal buttons

A

parts of the neuron at the end of axons that release chemical signals from the neuron into the synapse.

45
Q

synapse

A

the gap between the terminal buttons of a sending neuron and the dendrites of a receiving neuron.

46
Q

neurotransmitters

A

chemical that carry signals from one neuron to another.

47
Q

Transmission phase

A

electrical signals created in the cell body travel along the axon and neurotransmitters are released from the terminal buttons into the synapse.

48
Q

reception phase

A

the dendrites of other neurons receive these signals from sending neurons

49
Q

integration phase

A

neurons assess and interpret the incoming signals.

50
Q

action potential

A

the neural impulse that travels along the axon and then causes the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse.

51
Q

Myelin Sheath

A

A fatty material that covers and insulates some axons to allow for faster movement of electrical impulses along the axon.

52
Q

Acetylcholine

A

motor control over muscles attain, memory. learning, and sleeping.

53
Q

Norepinephrine

A

arousal and alertness.

54
Q

serotonin

A

emotional states and impulse control. dreaming.

55
Q

dopamine

A

reward and motivation. motor control over voluntary movement.

56
Q

GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)

A

Inhibition of action potentials. Anxiety reduction. Intoxication (through alcohol)

57
Q

Endorphins

A

Pain reduction, reward

58
Q

Agonist

A

drugs that enhance the actions of neurotransmitters.

59
Q

Antagonist

A

drugs that inhibit the actions of neurotransmitters.

60
Q

Medulla

A

breathing, heart rate, other survival mechanism

61
Q

pons

A

sleep, arousal, left-right body movement coordination

62
Q

cerebellum

A

motor learning, coordination balance.

63
Q

substance nigra

A

initiation of voluntary motor activity

64
Q

thalamus

A

sensory information (except smell)

65
Q

Hypothalamus

A

regulation of body functions and motivation

66
Q

amygdala

A

association of emotions with experiences

67
Q

hippocampus

A

formation of new memories

68
Q

occipital lobes

A

vision

69
Q

parietal lobes

A

touch, spatial information

70
Q

temporal lobes

A

hearing, memory

71
Q

frontal lobes

A

planning, movement, complex thought

72
Q

Broca’s area

A

a small portion of the left frontal region of the brain; this area is crucial for producing speech.

73
Q

spinal cord

A

the gateway for information traveling between the brain and the body

74
Q

Thalamus

A

a subcortical forebrain structure. the gateway to the brain for sight, sound, touch, and taste sensory information before that information reaches the cortex.

75
Q

split brain

A

a condition in which the corpus callous is surgically severed and the two hemispheres of the brain do not receive information directly from each other.

76
Q

right hemisphere

A

better with spatial relationships and control left-side body movements.

77
Q

left hemisphere

A

better with language and controls right-side body movements.

78
Q

learning disability

A

a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store or respond to information.

79
Q

somatic nervous system

A

a subdivision of the PNS; it transmits sensory signals and motor signals back and forth between the CNS and the skin, muscles, and joints.

80
Q

Autonomic nervous system

A

a subdivision of the PNS; it transmits sensory signals and motor signals back and forth between the CNS and the body’s glands and internal organs.

81
Q

endocrine system

A

a bodily communication system that uses hormones to influence many aspects of the body, mental activity, and behavior.

82
Q

Natural selection

A

The basis of evolution; the idea that those who inherit characteristics that help them adapt to their particular environments have an advantage over those who do not.

83
Q

Genes

A

Units of heredity that help determine an offspring’s characteristics

84
Q

Monozygotic twins

A

Identical twins; these siblings result from one zygote splitting in two, so they share the same genes.

85
Q

Dizygotic twins

A

Fraternal twins; these siblings result from two separately fertilized eggs, so they are no more similar genetically than no twin siblings are.

86
Q

Plasticity

A

A property of the brain that causes it to change as a result of experience or injury.

87
Q

Hormones

A

chemicals released from endocrine glands that travel through the bloodstream to targeted tissues; the tissues are later influenced by the hormones.

88
Q

Consciousness

A

The combination of your subjective experience of the external world and your internal mental activity, both of which result from brain activity

freshmen year (18 decks)

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