psych overview, history, research methods, and neuroscience

Question 1

Q: What is psychology?

Answer 1

A: Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Question 2

Q: Name a few major sub-disciplines of psychology.

Answer 2

A: Clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, biological psychology.

Question 3

Q: What does WEIRD psychology refer to?

Answer 3

A: WEIRD stands for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. It highlights that much psychological research has been conducted on participants from these societies.

Question 4

Name WEIRD Psych historical women & their contributions.

Answer 4

Margaret Floy Washburn- 1st women to earn PhD in psych, focused on animal research
Inez Beverly Prosser- 1st black women to earn Psych Phd, helped end segregation
Evelyn Hooker “Myth Buster”- Helped end idea that Homosexuality was an illness

Question 5

4. Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 5

A: Wilhelm Wundt is considered the father of experimental psychology; he founded the first psychology laboratory and used introspection as a method.

Question 6

Q: What is structuralism in psychology?

Answer 6

A: identify the units of consciousness experience through introspection.

Question 7

atarashii

Answer 7

gakko!

Question 8

Q: What is structuralism in psychology?

Answer 8

A: Structuralism is an early school of psychology that aimed to identify the basic units of consciousness through introspection.

Question 9

Q: What is the scientific method in psychology?

Answer 9

A: The scientific method is a systematic process involving observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and analysis to acquire knowledge.

Question 10

Q: What does functionalism focus on in psychology?

Answer 10

A: Functionalism focuses on the purpose of mental processes and behavior in adapting to the environment.

Question 11

Q: What is William James known for?

Answer 11

A: William James is known for his work in functionalism and his book “The Principles of Psychology,” which influenced many areas of psychology.

Question 12

Q: What is Sigmund Freud known for in psychology?

Answer 12

A: Sigmund Freud is known for developing psychoanalysis, which emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and childhood experiences.

Question 13

Q: What is behaviorism?

Answer 13

A: Behavior is shaped by classical conditioning, and reward & punishment

Question 14

Q: What is John B. Watson’s contribution to psychology?

Answer 14

A: John B. Watson is considered the founder of behaviorism and emphasized the study of observable behavior, used pavlov’s dog studies

Question 15

Q: What is B.F. Skinner known for?

Answer 15

A: B.F. Skinner is known for his work on operant conditioning and the use of reinforcement and punishment to shape behavior.

Question 16

Q: What does cognitive psychology study?

Answer 16

A: Cognitive psychology studies mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Question 17

Q: What is the difference between sensation and perception?

Answer 17

A: Sensation refers to the process of detecting stimuli, while perception is the interpretation of these sensory inputs.

Question 18

Q: What does evolutionary psychology focus on?

Answer 18

A: Evolutionary psychology focuses on how evolutionary processes, such as natural selection, influence behavior and mental processes.

Question 19

Q: What does the American Psychological Association (APA) do?

Answer 19

A: The APA sets ethical guidelines, promotes research and practice in psychology, and organizes psychology into various divisions and specialties.

Question 20

Q: What are the four pillars of psychology?

Answer 20

A: The four pillars are biological, cognitive, behavioral, and socio-cultural perspectives.

Question 21

Q: What are the pros and cons of naturalistic observation?

Answer 21

A: Pros: Provides a real-world context, high ecological validity. Cons: Lack of control over variables, potential observer effect.

Question 22

Q: What are the pros and cons of case studies?

Answer 22

A: Pros: Detailed, in-depth information about a single subject or group. Cons: Limited generalizability, potential researcher bias.

Question 23

Q: What are the pros and cons of surveys?

Answer 23

A: Pros: Can gather data from a large number of people quickly, cost-effective. Cons: Potential for biased responses, limited depth of information.

Question 24

Q: What does correlational research examine?

Answer 24

A: Correlational research examines the relationships between variables to determine if they are associated or correlated, but it does not imply causation.

Question 25

Q: What is the main advantage of experimental research?

Answer 25

A: Experimental research allows for the determination of causality by manipulating independent variables and observing their effects on dependent variables.

Question 26

Q: What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?

Answer 26

A: The independent variable is the variable that is manipulated by the researcher, while the dependent variable is the outcome that is measured.

Question 27

Q: What must be documented for informed consent according to APA guidelines?

Answer 27

A: Informed consent must be documented, including awareness of possible risks and limitations on confidentiality and deception.

Question 28

Q: What are the ethical considerations for animal research according to APA guidelines?

Answer 28

A: Animals may not be subjected to pain, stress, or privation when alternative procedures are available.

Question 29

Q: What are the main components of a neuron?

Answer 29

A: Dendrites, soma (cell body), axon hillock, axon, myelin sheath, and terminal buttons.

Question 30

Q: What are the three types of neurons and their functions?

Answer 30

A: Sensory (afferent) neurons carry messages from sense organs to the brain, interneurons carry messages between neurons, and motor (efferent) neurons carry messages from the brain to muscles/glands.

Question 31

Q: What is the resting potential of a neuron?

Answer 31

A: The resting potential is the state when the neuron is not engaged in action, with greater positive ions outside and greater negative ions inside the cell.

Question 32

Q: What is the threshold of excitation?

Answer 32

A: It is the level an impulse must exceed for a neuron to fire.

Question 33

Q: What is synaptic transmission?

Answer 33

A: Synaptic transmission is the process by which neurotransmitters are released from the terminal buttons into the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron.

Question 34

Q: What role does acetylcholine (Ach) play in the brain?

Answer 34

A: Acetylcholine is involved in arousal, attention, memory, and motivation.

Question 34

Q: What role does dopamine play in the brain?

Answer 34

A: Dopamine is associated with motor control and disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Question 34

Q: What is serotonin’s role?

Answer 34

A: Serotonin affects emotions, arousal, and sleep.

Question 35

Q: What does norepinephrine influence?

Answer 35

A: Norepinephrine influences wakefulness, arousal, learning, memory, and mood.

Question 36

Q: What function do endorphins serve?

Answer 36

A: Endorphins reduce pain by inhibiting neurons that transmit pain messages to the brain.

Question 37

Q: How does caffeine affect neurotransmitters?

Answer 37

A: Caffeine increases the release of excitatory neurotransmitters by blocking adenosine, which normally inhibits excitatory neurotransmitters.