Psych Final Flashcards
Extrinsic motivation
motivation to perform an activity because of the external goals toward which that activity is directed.
Intrinsic motivation
Motivation to perform an activity because of the value or pleasure associated with that activity itself.
Bystander intervention effect
the failure to offer help by those who observe someone in need when other people are present.
Explicit attitudes
attitudes that a person can report
Implicit attitudes
attitudes that influence a persons feelings and behavior at at unconscious level.
Psychological science
is the study through research of the mind, brain and behavior
Nature/Nurture debate
the arguments concerning whether psychological characteristics are biologically innate or acquired through environmental factors e.g education, experience and culture.
Behaviorism
is a psychological approach that emphasizes the role of the environment (nurture) in influencing behavior.
Four important levels that psychological science is studied
-Biological, individual, social, cultural level of analysis.
Four primary goals of Science
Description- describing what a phenomenon e.g the feeling of envy is
Prediction- predicting when it might occur
Control- Controlling the conditions under which it occurs: controlling what causes it to occur.
Explanation- explaining why it occurs.
Dr. Aki is investigation the relationship between stress and obesity. In his latest study, he found that stress often leads to obesity because it causes overeating and has slowing effects on metabolism. Which of the four primary goals of science is his addressing with his most recent work?
Explanation
Key feature of a good theory
Falsifiable with testable hypotheses. Good theories also tend toward simplicity: The law of parsimony
Neuron
The basic units or building blocks of the nervous system; nerve cells that receive, integrate and transmit information in the nervous system.
Central Nervous System
brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
all nerve cells in the body that are not part of the CNS includes the somatic and automatic nervous system.
Neurotransmitters
Chemical substances that transmit signals from one neuron to another.
Endocrine System
a communication system that uses hormones to influence thoughts, behaviors and actions
Sensation
the detection of external stimuli and the transmission of this information to the brain
Perception
the processing, organization and interpretation of sensory signals.
Transduction
the process by which sensory stimuli are converted to neural impulses so that the brain can interpret them.
What percentage of the cerebral cortex is said to be involved in vision?
50%
Learning
a relatively enduring change in behavior, resulting from experience. Associations develop through conditioning.
Conditioning
a process in which environmental stimuli and behavioral responses become connected.
Classical Conditioning
learning occurs when two types of events are paired closely in time.
Operant Conditioning
learning occurs because of the consequences that follow the behavior.
Reinforcement
positive or negative increases the probability or likelihood of the behavior.
Positive Reinforcement
a pleasurable stimulus is delivered after a behavior e.g giving a dog a treat after sitting.
Negative Reinforcement
an aversive stimulus is removed or postponed after a behavior e.g turning on the AC when its hot.
Encoding
the processing of information so that it can be stored.
Storage
the retention of encoded representations over time
Retrieval
the acts of recalling or remembering stored information when it is needed.
Episodic memory
memory for ones personal past experiences.
Semantic memory
memory for knowledge about the world.
Procedural memory
a type of implicit memory that involves motor skill and behavioral habit e.g coordinating muscle movements to ride a bicycle.
Intelligence
the ability to use knowledge to reason, make decisions, make sense of events, use knowledge to solve problems, understand complex ideas, learn quickly, and adapt to environmental changes.
Fluid Intelligence
intelligence that reflects the ability to process information, particularly in novel or complex circumstances e.g working memory, flexibility.
What effects brain development?
a broad range of environmental factors e.g life experience, nutrition, weather, social environment.
What is a mental disorder caused by?
biological and environmental factors
OCD
a disorder characterized by frequent intrusive thoughts (obsession) and compulsive action. Affecting 1-2% of the population typically diagnosed between the age of 10 and 12 and between the late teens and early adulthood 18-25. People with OCD are typically aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational yet they are unable to stop them.
What is more common, Major Depressive disorder or Bipolar disorder?
MDD
Anxiety Disorder
a psychological disorder characterized by excessive fear and anxiety in the absence of true danger.
What is the best treatment for anxiety disorder?
Cognitive Behavioral therapy because of its effectiveness long-term.
