Psych/Soc (new) Flashcards
What is a mediating variable?
A mediating variable is one which explains the association between two other variables through a causal relationship.
What is a drive-reduction theorist? A cognitive theorist?
Drive-reduction theories suggest that depression stems from a reduction in the motivating forces of arousal. A cognitive theorist would argue that arousal is essential to sustaining most behaviors
What are the basic functions of each lobe of the brain?
The frontal lobe is involved in humans’ ability to project future consequences of current actions (I). Limbic system structures regulate emotion and memory (II), and the hypothalamus coordinates many hormones, some of which are involved in mood regulation (III). Therefore, abnormal functioning in any (or all) of the three could produce symptoms similar to depression.
What is longitudal cohort design?
This study used a longitudinal cohort design because it followed a group of individuals and assessed them at multiple intervals over a period of two years.
What are Gestalt’s principles?
Psychologists in the Gestalt school proposed a set of perceptual principles to account for an observation known as Prägnanz, a German term that refers to our tendency to perceive multiple objects as forming organized objects and patterns. The key principles of Gestalt perception for the MCAT are the principles of proximity, similarity, and closure.
According to the principle of proximity, objects that are arranged close to each other will be perceived as forming a group. The principle of similarity states that objects that are similar to each other in terms of color or other properties will be grouped together, and the principle of closure states that people tend to infer complete shapes even if a shape is incompletely sketched out or blocked by another object. Additionally, the principle of good continuation states that we perceive intersecting objects as forming coherent wholes.
What is the difference between positive vs negative and punishment vs reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement refers to adding a stimulus to increase a behavior. Negative reinforcement refers to removing a stimulus to increase a behavior. Positive refers to adding a stimulus, and punishment refers to a consequence that decreases a behavior. Negative punishment refers to removing a stimulus to decrease a behavior.
What is the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion?
The Schachter-Singer theory states that emotion processing has three distinct steps: physiological arousal, cognitive interpretation of the situation, and the experience of the emotion, in that order.
What is cognitive dissonance?
Cognitive dissonance is the unpleasant feeling a person experiences when holding two contradictory beliefs at the same time. Here, a person who rates college as very important, but then tells his own child that college tuition is “wasted” would likely experience some cognitive dissonance.
What is a variable-ratio?
A fixed-ratio schedule is when the behavior is reinforced after a specific number of responses. For example, a rat gets a treat every third push of a lever.
Variable-ratio schedules occur when behavior is reinforced after an average, but unpredictable, number of responses. For example, a rat treat dispenser could be set to dispense a treat after an average of 1 out of every 10 presses, but the exact number of presses between rewards will vary.
Fixed-interval schedules occur when behavior is reinforced after a specific amount of time has passed. An example would be semi-monthly paydays.
Variable-interval schedules occur when behavior is reinforced after an average, but unpredictable, amount of time has passed.
Of these methods, variable-ratio schedules are generally considered to be the most effective.
What is the Stroop effect?
The Stroop effect describes the phenomenon in which it is harder for an individual to reconcile different pieces of information relating to colors than to reconcile similar pieces of information.
Is absolute mobility a measure of demographics?
Demographics are statistics used to examine a population by quantifying subsets of that population. Absolute mobility means that living standards are increasing in absolute terms: you are better off than your parents and your children will be better off than you. Absolute mobility compares your income to your parent’s income. If your parents make $5,000 dollars a year and you make $10,000 dollars a year, you have experienced absolute mobility. Absolute mobility is not an example of a demographic measure.
What is subjective bias and what is susceptible to it?
The information obtained from this study was self reported as indicated in the third paragraph. It says that the participants independently completed the survey. Self-reported information is always vulnerable to subjective bias.
What is the difference between discrimination and prejudice?
discrimination involves action – the irrational, often negative treatment of a person or group as a result of prejudice. When this action is undertaken by an individual independent of larger organizations, it is termed individual discrimination. (For example, an employer who holds the prejudice that women are unintelligent may discriminate by refusing to hire them.) Often, though, discrimination is written into the laws, policies, and unwritten procedures of society. This is termed institutional discrimination. One example would be a mortgage policy that, due to its requirements, makes it particularly difficult for ethnic minorities to obtain loans.
What is informational influence? Normative influence?
Informational influence is an influence to accept information from others as evidence about reality, and can come into play when we are uncertain about information or what might be correct.
What is cognitive dissonance theory?
Cognitive dissonance theory holds that people desire consistency between their thoughts, values, and actions, and seeks to explain the justifications people use for actions that do not align with their values and evoke cognitive dissonance. This would apply to instances of bystanders not intervening (an action), even though they would want others to intervene for them (a value).
