Psych Exam 1 (1,2,3) Flashcards
Memorization
What is psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
What are mental processes?
Internal experiences such as thoughts, emotions, and perceptions.
What is structuralism?
An approach developed by Wilhelm Wundt focusing on breaking down mental processes into their basic components.
Who founded functionalism, and what does it emphasize?
William James; it focuses on the purpose of mental processes in adapting to the environment.
Define Gestalt psychology.
A psychological approach that emphasizes understanding the whole of perception, not just its parts.
What is behaviorism?
The study of observable behavior, often excluding internal mental processes.
Who developed psychoanalysis, and what is its focus?
Sigmund Freud; it focuses on unconscious drives and conflicts.
What is humanistic psychology?
A movement that emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and free will.
Define cognitive psychology.
The study of mental processes such as thinking, memory, and problem-solving.
What is a dependent variable?
The variable that is measured to see how it is affected by changes in the independent variable.
What is evolutionary psychology?
A field that examines how evolutionary principles such as natural selection influence behavior and mental processes.
What are the steps of the scientific method?
Formulate a hypothesis, conduct research, analyze data, and draw conclusions.
What is an independent variable in an experiment?
The variable that is manipulated by the researcher to observe its effects.
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction about how variables are related.
Define correlational study.
A research method that examines relationships between two variables without manipulating them.
What is the double-blind procedure?
Both the participants and the experimenters are unaware of who is receiving the treatment to prevent bias.
What is random assignment?
A process by which participants are randomly placed into experimental or control groups to ensure equal chances.
What is a positive correlation?
A relationship where an increase in one variable is associated with an increase in another.
What is a negative correlation?
A relationship where an increase in one variable is associated with a decrease in another.
What does a p-value in research signify?
The probability that the results occurred by chance; a p-value of less than 0.05 is statistically significant.
What is a neuron?
A nerve cell that transmits information in the nervous system.
What is the axon of a neuron?
The part of the neuron that carries impulses away from the cell body.
What is an action potential?
An electrical impulse that travels down the axon, causing the neuron to fire.
What is the myelin sheath, and what does it do?
A fatty layer that insulates axons, speeding up neural impulses.
What role do neurotransmitters play in the nervous system?
They are chemicals that transmit signals across the synapse from one neuron to another.
What are dendrites?
Branch-like structures that receive messages from other neurons
What is the function of the cerebral cortex?
Responsible for higher cognitive functions like thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving.
What does the hippocampus do?
It plays a major role in memory formation and retrieval.
What is the amygdala responsible for?
It processes emotions, particularly fear and aggression
What is the limbic system?
A group of brain structures involved in emotion, memory, and motivation.
What is cultural psychology?
The study of how culture influences mental processes and behavior.
Define unconscious according to psychoanalysis.
The part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and desires not within conscious awareness but still influencing behavior.
What is introspection?
A method where individuals observe and report their own conscious experiences
What is reinforcement in behaviorism?
A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated
What is punishment in behaviorism?
A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.
What does the term bias refer to in psychological research?
A systematic error that can affect the outcome of a study.
What is voluntarism?
Wundt’s theory that the mind actively organizes its contents through an act of will.
What is the Hawthorne effect?
A change in behavior that occurs when participants know they are being observed.
Define case study
A detailed examination of an individual or small group to gather in-depth information.
What is a survey in psychological research?
A method of collecting data from a large group of people using questionnaires or interviews.
What is the function of the frontal lobe?
Involved in decision-making, problem-solving, and voluntary movement.
What does the parietal lobe control?
Sensory processing such as touch, temperature, and spatial orientation.
What is the occipital lobe responsible for?
Visual processing.
What does the temporal lobe process?
Auditory information and memory.
What is the function of the pons in the brainstem?
It regulates sleep, arousal, and coordinating movements.
What is the reticular formation, and what does it control?
A network of neurons in the brainstem that regulates alertness and attention.
What is replication in psychological research?
Repeating a study to see if the original findings can be reproduced.
What is an operational definition?
A clear and precise explanation of how a variable is measured or manipulated in a study.
What is random selection, and why is it important?
A process that ensures every individual in a population has an equal chance of being chosen for a study, promoting unbiased results.
Define sample in psychological research.
A subset of a population selected for a study, used to make inferences about the larger population.
What is the primary function of glial cells in the nervous system?
To provide support for neurons
What is the role of the hypothalamus in the brain?
Regulating basic biological needs
What is the significance of mirror neurons in the brain?
Understanding Social Cognition
What is the function of the corpus callosum in the brain?
Connecting the cerebral hemispheres
Explain the concept of natural selection in evolutionary psychology.
The selection of advantageous traits for survival and reproduction
