Psychology- Chapter 1.1-1.5 Flashcards
What is a principle?
A basic truth or law
What is a theory?
A statement that attempts to explain why things are the way they are and why things are and why they happen the way they do
What is the definition of Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
What is morality?
The concept of right or good conduct
What is the definition of behavior?
Any action that other people can observe or measure.
What is the biological perspective?
A perspective based on the influence of biology on behavior, also based on genes/DNA, neurotransmitters.
What is the Evolutionary Perspective?
The evolution of behavior and mental processes. EX. Men don’t have to hunt anymore, but we still like to strategize.
What is the Cognitive Perspective?
The roles of thoughts on behavior. What you do when a thought comes into your head.
What is the Humanistic Perspective?
The stresses of the human capacity for self-fulfillment. We do what we want to do for outsells only. This is why the self help section at the library is the most popular.
What is the Psychoanalytic Perspective?
The influence of subconscious forces on behavior. Sigmund Freud theory.
What is the Learning Perspective?
The effects of experience on behavior. Based on rewards and punishments.
What perspective is the Trained Rat Theory based off of, and what is it?
Based off the Learning Perspective. A Psychologist named Skinner trained rats to see if re-enforcement helps.
What is the Ethical Perspective?
Based off of similarities. A group of people who share a common religion, color, or national origin.
Are humans social creatures?
Yes.
What are Cognitive Activities?
Actives that go on in ones brain. One cannot see these activities, it’s how one feels, how one thinks, etc.
What are Behavioral Activities?
Activities that one can see. It’s how one acts, reacts to a situation.
What is the definition of Current Perspectives?
Ways of attempting to explain something, but there can’t be one explanation for something, there are too many variables.
What is the most studied area of Psychology right now?
The human brain.
What is sensation?
The stimulation of sensory receptors and the transmission of sensory information to the brain.
What is Perception?
The psychological process through which we organize and interpret sensory stimuli.
What is the S.S.P.R Process?
S-Stimuli: the environment
S-Sensation: something is there, eyes, ears, taste
P-Perception: What it is. Brain.
R-Respond: Behavior
What is the Absolute Threshold?
The weakest amount of stimuli that can be sensed. EX. A candle can be seen from 30 miles away on a dark night, or a fly wing on a cheek. It is the smallest thing you can sense.
What is the Difference Threshold?
Or (Just Noticeable Difference)
- the minimum amount of difference that can be detected between 2 stimuli.
What is Webers Law?
The larger the stimuli, the larger the change needed to detect a difference.
EX- a 40lb backpack, taking away a pencil doesn’t make a difference.
What is Sensory Adaptation?
We become more sensitive to weak stimuli, less sensitive to unchanging stimuli. EX- If you’re bored, then the stimuli around you isn’t changing.
What is Signal Detection Theory?
The ability to discern between informational patterns, and random patterns. EX- if I’m expecting a text, I’m going to keep on feeling “phantom vibrations” because I’m expecting something.
What is closure?
The tendency to perceive a whole object even when gaps are present. Our brain fills in the gaps based on previous experience.
What is the Figure Ground Relationship?
Perception of figures against the background. We can see something in the background but it’s really the main picture. Vice versa.
What is the Law of Proximity?
We tend to group objects together, that are close together.
What is the Law of Similarity?
We tend to group similar objects together. (Stereotypes)
What is the Law of Continuity?
We like to see smooth continuous patterns.
What law is the Stroboscopic Motion Effect based off of, and what is it?
It is the illusion of movement by flashing still images so quickly that the eyes and the brain can’t detect the gap. EX. Movies.
What are stimuli?
A thing or event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue.
What is the Law of Common Fate?
Objects that are moving in the same direction at approximately the same speed are generally grouped together?
What is the theory behind Color Constancy?
The tendency to perceive color as remaining the same even when light changes. We learn from experience.
What is the theory behind Size Constancy?
Tendency to perceive objects as the same size even when far away. We learn from experience.
What is the theory behind Shape Constancy?
Objects remain the same shape even when viewed from a different angle/perspective.
Where in the S-S-P-R Process do most illusions occur?
In the perception part, the brain makes assumptions based on experience. Size, color, shape constancy.
Why is pain both good and bad?
Pain tells is what’s wrong. We learn. It’s a survival instinct.
- Prostaglandins is a chemical that tells the brain that it’s in pain.
- Opiates block about 70% of pain.
- Pain can hurt, and be debilitating.
What is the Gate Theory?
Rubbing an injury can hurt less, because it confuses the brain and brain doesn’t know what to pay attention to.
What is the name of the disease where one can’t feel pain?
HSAN- Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy.
What is the Ponzo Illusion?
It deals with size constancy.
What is the Müller Lyre Illusion?
It deals with Size constancy.
