Psych Test 1 Flashcards
Psychology
Scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Purpose of theories
allows you to explain observations and make future predictions. Broad explanations for observable facts
Scientific method
- come up with a question to examine
- formulate hypothesis
- gather data and review existing evidence
- draw conclusions about why you found what you found
- replicate
methodological eclectism
using multiple approaches to answering a question (drawing positives of each)
Independent variable vs dependent
IV (effects of this on something else)
DV (does the variable depend on something else ; the outcome)
control vs. experimental group
control: everything remains the same
experimental group: receives the variable being tested
placebo effects
one group receives the actual drug, one group receives a sugar pill however the groups do not know the difference
confounds
variables that may be caused by something other than the independent variable
random assignment
assigning people to groups not based on any certain features, allows experimental control
third variable (correlational designs)
- tests for degree of systematic relation between 2 or more variables
- no manipulation of IV
- PROBLEM: can’t determine correlation between variables
sample vs. population
sample: a selected portion or set of individuals from a larger population
why replicate studies
to see if the study can be generalized to other people and circumstances
Naturalistic Observation
Strengths: only way to understand what individuals do day to day, don’t require much effort
weakness: behaviors occur infrequently, lots going on at once hard to determine influence on behavior and record action, time consuming, presence of observer changes behavior
Structured Observation
Strength:test individual differences or patterns, increase the likelihood of obtaining behavior of interest
Weaknesses: participants know they’re being watched “real behavior?”
informed consent
people are aware of possible consequences, risks, and benefits
ethics in research
debriefing, protection from harm, confidentiality
genes/dna/chromosomes
gene: small segments of dan
dna: organized into 46 chromosomes
chromosomes: carries genetic info in the form of sense
brain lateralization
some functions or cognitive processes tend to be more dominant in one hemisphere than the other
corpus collosum
joins two hemispheres of the brain together
occipital lobe
vision
parietal lobe
body sensations
temporal lobe
audition
frontal lobe
planning, personality, attention
Thallamus
“relay station” for most info going in and out
cerebellum
control movement/balance
organize sensory information, attention shifting, planning
medulla
vital reflexes (breathing, heart rate)
pons
bridge for nerves to cross brain
brainstem
connects cerebrum with spinal cord. motor and sensory neurons pass through
dendrite
receive information
axon
transmit information
myelin
insulates axons and speeds electrical transmission along axons
plasticity of the brain
area of brain injured, area of brain around it tries to pick up the function of the injured brain
how to prepare/get better sleep
make room dark, turn off electronic devices, no caffeine after lunch, light in the morning
effects of sleep deprivation
poorer memory emotional instability impaired decision making decreased leptin physical damage
consciousness
awareness of internal and external stimuli. Aware that experiences and thoughts of these experiences are unique to yourself
EEG
activity similar to stages when awake, although person is seemingly deeply sleeping
Circadian rhythm
24 hr biological cycles found in humans
REM sleep
irregular breathing and pulse, very relaxed muscles
effects of shift work
physical damage (cancer), sleep depervation, circadian rhythm
effects of mediation
heighten awareness, bring mental processes under voluntary control, suppression of bodily arousal
3 happy lives
pleasant life( as many pleasures as you can), the good life (pleasure vs flow), and the meaningful life (doing good)
