Psych Exam 1 (1,2,3) Flashcards

Memorization

1
Q

What is psychology?

A

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

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2
Q

What are mental processes?

A

Internal experiences such as thoughts, emotions, and perceptions.

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3
Q

What is structuralism?

A

An approach developed by Wilhelm Wundt focusing on breaking down mental processes into their basic components.

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4
Q

Who founded functionalism, and what does it emphasize?

A

William James; it focuses on the purpose of mental processes in adapting to the environment.

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5
Q

Define Gestalt psychology.

A

A psychological approach that emphasizes understanding the whole of perception, not just its parts.

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6
Q

What is behaviorism?

A

The study of observable behavior, often excluding internal mental processes.

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7
Q

Who developed psychoanalysis, and what is its focus?

A

Sigmund Freud; it focuses on unconscious drives and conflicts.

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8
Q

What is humanistic psychology?

A

A movement that emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and free will.

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9
Q

Define cognitive psychology.

A

The study of mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.

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10
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

The variable that is measured to see how it is affected by changes in the independent variable.

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10
Q

What is evolutionary psychology?

A

A field that examines how evolutionary principles such as natural selection influence behavior and mental processes.

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11
Q

What are the steps of the scientific method?

A

Formulate a hypothesis, conduct research, analyze data, and draw conclusions.

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12
Q

What is an independent variable in an experiment?

A

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effects.

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13
Q

What is a hypothesis?

A

A testable prediction about how variables are related.

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14
Q

Define correlational study.

A

A research method that examines relationships between two variables without manipulating them.

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15
Q

What is the double-blind procedure?

A

Both the participants and the experimenters are unaware of who is receiving the treatment to prevent bias.

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16
Q

What is random assignment?

A

A process by which participants are randomly placed into experimental or control groups to ensure equal chances.

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17
Q

What is a positive correlation?

A

A relationship where an increase in one variable is associated with an increase in another.

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18
Q

What is a negative correlation?

A

A relationship where an increase in one variable is associated with a decrease in another.

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19
Q

What does a p-value in research signify?

A

The probability that the results occurred by chance; a p-value of less than 0.05 is statistically significant.

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20
Q

What is a neuron?

A

A nerve cell that transmits information in the nervous system.

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21
Q

What is the axon of a neuron?

A

The part of the neuron that carries impulses away from the cell body.

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22
Q

What is an action potential?

A

An electrical impulse that travels down the axon, causing the neuron to fire.

22
Q

What is the myelin sheath, and what does it do?

A

A fatty layer that insulates axons, speeding up neural impulses.

22
Q

What role do neurotransmitters play in the nervous system?

A

They are chemicals that transmit signals across the synapse from one neuron to another.

23
Q

What are dendrites?

A

Branch-like structures that receive messages from other neurons

24
Q

What is the function of the cerebral cortex?

A

Responsible for higher cognitive functions like thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving.

25
Q

What does the hippocampus do?

A

It plays a major role in memory formation and retrieval.

26
Q

What is the amygdala responsible for?

A

It processes emotions, particularly fear and aggression

27
Q

What is the limbic system?

A

A group of brain structures involved in emotion, memory, and motivation.

28
Q

What is cultural psychology?

A

The study of how culture influences mental processes and behavior.

29
Q

Define unconscious according to psychoanalysis.

A

The part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and desires not within conscious awareness but still influencing behavior.

30
Q

What is introspection?

A

A method where individuals observe and report their own conscious experiences

31
Q

What is reinforcement in behaviorism?

A

A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated

32
Q

What is punishment in behaviorism?

A

A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

33
Q

What does the term bias refer to in psychological research?

A

A systematic error that can affect the outcome of a study.

34
Q

What is voluntarism?

A

Wundt’s theory that the mind actively organizes its contents through an act of will.

35
Q

What is the Hawthorne effect?

A

A change in behavior that occurs when participants know they are being observed.

36
Q

Define case study

A

A detailed examination of an individual or small group to gather in-depth information.

37
Q

What is a survey in psychological research?

A

A method of collecting data from a large group of people using questionnaires or interviews.

38
Q

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

A

Involved in decision-making, problem-solving, and voluntary movement.

39
Q

What does the parietal lobe control?

A

Sensory processing such as touch, temperature, and spatial orientation.

40
Q

What is the occipital lobe responsible for?

A

Visual processing.

41
Q

What does the temporal lobe process?

A

Auditory information and memory.

42
Q

What is the function of the pons in the brainstem?

A

It regulates sleep, arousal, and coordinating movements.

43
Q

What is the reticular formation, and what does it control?

A

A network of neurons in the brainstem that regulates alertness and attention.

44
Q

What is replication in psychological research?

A

Repeating a study to see if the original findings can be reproduced.

45
Q

What is an operational definition?

A

A clear and precise explanation of how a variable is measured or manipulated in a study.

46
Q

What is random selection, and why is it important?

A

A process that ensures every individual in a population has an equal chance of being chosen for a study, promoting unbiased results.

47
Q

Define sample in psychological research.

A

A subset of a population selected for a study, used to make inferences about the larger population.

48
Q

What is the primary function of glial cells in the nervous system?

A

To provide support for neurons

49
Q

What is the role of the hypothalamus in the brain?

A

Regulating basic biological needs

49
Q

What is the significance of mirror neurons in the brain?

A

Understanding Social Cognition

50
Q

What is the function of the corpus callosum in the brain?

A

Connecting the cerebral hemispheres

51
Q

Explain the concept of natural selection in evolutionary psychology.

A

The selection of advantageous traits for survival and reproduction

52
Q
A