psychology definitions

Question 1

hypothesis

Answer 1

a prediction that is tested by research

Question 2

inquiry

Answer 2

a section of a clinical interview where the therapist asks the patient a series of direct questions on different topics

Question 3

neuron

Answer 3

nerve cells that allow you to walk, talk, eat, and breathe via messages throughout the body

Question 4

amygdala

Answer 4

small almond shaped portion of the brain that processes memories and emotions associated with fear

Question 5

psychoanalysis

Answer 5

identifying and releasing repressed memories, emotions, thoughts and desires that are affecting your life in a bad way

Question 6

amnesia

Answer 6

memory loss that can be either temporary or permanent

Question 7

TBI

Answer 7

traumatic brain injury (such as a concussion)

Question 8

dopamine

Answer 8

the “feel good” chemical in the brain

Question 9

Oxytocin

Answer 9

the “cuddle” chemical in the brain

Question 10

serotonin

Answer 10

a hormone that carries messages between nerve cells in the brain throughout the body. It helps control the muscles and appetite

Question 11

teratogen

Answer 11

anything a pregnant woman is exposed to or ingests during pregnancy that can cause abnormalities to the baby

Question 12

object permanence

Answer 12

the understanding that an item or person continues to exist even when we cant see it

Question 13

visual cliff

Answer 13

a surface that is flat but has the appearance of a several foot drop

Question 14

embryo

Answer 14

the early development stage of an animal that inside an egg/female uterus

Question 15

fetus

Answer 15

an unborn offspring that develops from an embryo

Question 16

Infant-Directed Speech (Baby talk)

Answer 16

a person speaking to a baby with slower speech, simpler sentences, and sometimes a higher pitched voice

Question 17

reflexive smile

Answer 17

a short and random occurring smile by babies that is not a response to affection

Question 18

social smile

Answer 18

a smile that is made when a baby is feeling happy or wants to connect with you

Question 19

stranger anxiety

Answer 19

a babies anxiety when being left alone with an unfamiliar person

Question 20

schema

Answer 20

mental files that helps individuals organize, process, and store information about their environment

Question 21

accommodation (according to piaget)

Answer 21

a term made by piaget to describe what happens when new info/experiences have you modify existing schemas

Question 22

assimilation (according to piaget)

Answer 22

adding new info into a persons schemas

Question 23

motion parallax

Answer 23

a type of depth perception cue where closer things appear to move faster than farther away things

Question 24

synapse

Answer 24

place where neurons connect and communicate with each other

Question 25

baby schema

Answer 25

schema that identifies things with baby features as cute (big eyes, round face, big head) and motivates caretaking behavior

Question 26

cortisol

Answer 26

a steroid hormone that is produced by your 2 adrenal glands

Question 27

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

Answer 27

Physical, behavioral, and learning problems that occur when a person was exposed to alcohol as a fetus

Question 28

habituation

Answer 28

a decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure

Question 29

egocentrism

Answer 29

not being able to differentiate between ones self and others

Question 30

scaffolding

Answer 30

when someone helps a child do something they cant do on their own until they learn to do it independently

Question 31

gender role

Answer 31

behaviors or actions that are deemed acceptable or not acceptable depending on the persons gender

Question 32

critical thinking

Answer 32

being able to effectively analyze information and form an opinion on it

Question 33

self concept

Answer 33

knowing things about yourself such as your tendencies, preferences, habits, and hobbies

Question 34

altruism

Answer 34

the motivational state that a person is in when they want to increase the welfare of another person (think mr beast)

Question 35

synaptic pruning

Answer 35

when the brain removes neurons and synapses it doesnt need

Question 36

response inhibituation

Answer 36

suppressing actions that’re inappropriate and interfere with goal driven behavior

Question 37

plasticity

Answer 37

the brains ability to change

Question 38

Hypothetical-deductive reasoning

Answer 38

a problem solving approach with the process of: forming a hypothesis, making a prediction based off that hypothesis, testing the prediction, analyzing the prediction, and coming up with a conclusion