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MCAT Weaknesses > Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour > Flashcards

Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behaviour Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

During which of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development do children begin to understand conservation (quantity is constant despite changes in shape).

A

The preoperational stage, between 2-7 years old.

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2
Q

At what age do children generally enter the formal operational stage of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development?

A

Around age 12.

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3
Q

Define the James-Lange theory of emotion.

A

Nervous system arousal leads to a cognitive response in which the emotion is labelled.

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4
Q

Define the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion.

A

The simultaneous arousal of the nervous system and cognitive response lead to action.

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5
Q

Define the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion.

A

Nervous system arousal and interpretation of context lead to a cognitive response.

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6
Q

What is the primary neurotransmitter used by the parasympathetic nervous system?

A

Acetylcholine.

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7
Q

What are the 3 needs prevalent in self-determination theory?

A
  1. Autonomy
  2. Competence
  3. Relatedness
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8
Q

What does the two-factor theory of emotion stipulate?

A

Emotion requires not only physiological arousal but also context-dependent cognitive interpretation.

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9
Q

What is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, from highest to lowest priority?

A
  1. Physiological
  2. Safety
  3. Love and belonging
  4. Esteem
  5. Self-actualization
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10
Q

What is agoraphobia?

A

Fear of open or crowded spaces/becoming trapped or embarrassed.

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11
Q

What is acrophobia?

A

Fear of heights.

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12
Q

What is monophobia?

A

Fear of being alone.

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13
Q

What is Atychiphobia?

A

Fear of failure.

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14
Q

What occurs in operant conditioning when the reinforced behaviour ceases to be reinforced?

A

Extinction of the target behaviour.

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15
Q

What is meant by “group polarization”?

A

The tendency for a group as a whole to take a more extreme position than the individual points of view of members of the group.

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16
Q

What is the basis for social cognitive theory?

A

People will change behaviour or attitudes based on observation.

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17
Q

What are some examples of “agents of socialization”?

A

Advertising, family, friends, media, etc. (pressure to conform?)

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18
Q

Define self-selection bias.

A

Any situation in which individuals select themselves into a group, causing a biased sample with nonprobability sampling.

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19
Q

Define social constructivism.

A

The constructed expectation that a given event will have certain necessary components (ex: always having rice as part of dinner).

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20
Q

Define Weber’s law.

A

The ability of a person to discern differences at low magnitudes (weight, touch) which they would not identify at high magnitudes?

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21
Q

How did Weber measure the just noticeable difference of perception? What term describes this?

A

By increasing the variance between two stimuli until a difference was identified. This method is called “discrimination”.

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22
Q

Which psychological theory concludes that behaviour is based on reinforcement and punishment?

A

The behaviourist perspective (/model/theory).

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23
Q

Describe dissociative disorder.

A

A person puts themselves in a special state (thrills, drugs, alcohol, etc.) that removes the feelings of unpleasant memories.

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24
Q

Describe fundamental attribution error.

A

We have a tendency to explain someone’s behaviour in terms of their personality rather than external factors.

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25
Q

Describe confirmation bias.

A

Favouring information that confirms your previously existing beliefs or biases.

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26
Q

Describe cognitive dissonance.

A

An inconsistency between an attitude or cognition, and the behaviour which ensues.

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27
Q

Describe belief perseverance.

A

The inability of people to change their beliefs even when faced which facts which contradict or refute these beliefs.

28
Q

What are the 3 components of attitude?

A
  1. Affective (emotional)
  2. Behavioural
  3. Cognitive
29
Q

Describe intergenerational mobility.

A

A change in social status across generations or changes in social class from parents’ to child’s generation.

30
Q

What are the 4 categories presented in Piaget’s theory of cognitive development?

A
  1. Sensorimotor
  2. Preoperational
  3. Concrete operational
  4. Formal operational
31
Q

To which demographic do Piaget’s stages of cognitive development apply?

A

Infants and young children.

32
Q

What is meant by a “mediating variable” in a study?

A

A variable which helps to explain the relationship between two other variables.

33
Q

Define crystallized intelligence. When does this peak?

A

The ability to make use of skills, knowledge, and experience. Peaks in middle adulthood.

34
Q

Define fluid intelligence. When does this peak?

A

The capacity to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge. Peaks in early adulthood.

35
Q

What differentiates a primary circular reaction from a secondary circular reaction during child development?

A

Primary: repeated behaviour which the child finds soothing
Secondary: repeated behaviour which affects their environment.

36
Q

What term describes a graph which increases steadily until the increase tapers off at some maximum value?

A

A logarithmic graph.

37
Q

Describe Korsakoff’s syndrome.

A

A memory disorder often caused by alcohol abuse which can cause a person to confabulate.

38
Q

What differentiates a behaviourist perspective from a humanist one?

A

Behaviourist: focused on action
Humanist: focused on cognition/emotion

39
Q

How do you calculate the just noticeable difference according to Weber’s law?

A

JND = change / original

Always a percent of the original stimulus.

40
Q

Describe the Hawthorne effect.

A

Individuals change their behaviour because they are aware they are being studied.

41
Q

The social cognitive perspective is based upon _______.

A

Expectations of others.

42
Q

Which brain structure is most closely linked to the fear response?

A

The amygdala.

43
Q

Describe Erik Erikson’s intimacy versus isolation crisis.

A

Adults 20-24 realize their ability/inability to have intimate relationships with others.

44
Q

Define conflict theory.

A

Anger or dissatisfaction based on inequality.

45
Q

What differentiates a social more and a social folkway?

A

A matter of scale. Social mores are more broadly applicable, while folkways are specific.

46
Q

Define inductive reasoning.

A

A method of reasoning in which the premises are viewed as supplying evidence for the truth of the conclusion.

47
Q

What area of the brain deals with processing and displaying negative emotions?

A

The prefrontal cortex.

48
Q

What area of the brain coordinates and regulates muscular activity?

A

The cerebellum.

49
Q

What area of the brain is primarily involved with controlling autonomic functions and coordinating body movements?

A

The medulla oblongata.

50
Q

What does “negative punishment” mean?

A

The removal of a desired stimulus.

51
Q

What differentiates “escape reinforcement” and “avoidance reinforcement”?

A

Escape: bad things are happening how do I stop them
Avoidance: bad things will happen if I don’t stop them

52
Q

What is meant by “stereotype threat”?

A

The awareness of a negative stereotype for your demographic can make you more likely to conform to the stereotype.

53
Q

Which part of the CNS is respinsible for voluntary movement?

A

The cerebrum (cerebral cortext) is responsible for all higher thought and voluntary action.

54
Q

What does the trait perspective of personality stipulate?

A

That personality can be broken into countless stable traits which are ubiquitous across people and cultures.

55
Q

Define “groupthink”.

A

Individuals in a group want to eliminate conflict and so conform to group norms when faced with difficult choices.

56
Q

What structure can be thought of as the brain’s “sensory relay station”?

A

The thalamus sorts sensory stimuli before routing it to the target areas of the cortex.

57
Q

What is meant by a “primacy effect”?

A

The tendency to remember information presented at the beginning of a series.

58
Q

classical conditioning is most closely related to which psychological approach?

A

The behaviourist approach.

59
Q

what differentiates a cognitive process from an affective process?

A

Cognitive: thought-driven
Affective: emotion-driven

60
Q

How are the sound-responsive ion channels in the cochlea gated?

A

Mechanically, via the hair cells.

61
Q

What is the best way to measure a person’s level of sympathetic arousal?

A

Electrical conductivity of the skin.

62
Q

What term is used to describe the mapping of social relationships among individuals?

A

Social network analysis.

63
Q

What type of memory refers to the performance of particular types of actions (ex: riding a bike)?

A

Procedural memory.

64
Q

In sociology, ______ groups are considered more stable.

A

Larger groups.

65
Q

What does conflict theory emphasize?

A

The competition between groups over the allocation of societal resources.

MCAT Weaknesses (3 decks)

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