Psychology & Human Behaviour

Question 1

What are the main fields of psychology?

Answer 1

1. Cognitive
2. Developmental
3. Organisational
4. Personality
5. Social

Question 2

What are the four parts of the brain?

Answer 2

Cerebral cortex - outmost part responsible for cognition, sensation, motor skills and emotions

1. Frontal Lobe: Also known as the motor cortex; this portion of the brain is involved in motor skills, higher level cognition and expressive language.
2. Occipital Lobe: Also known as the visual cortex; this portion of the brain is involved in interpreting visual stimuli and information.
3. Parietal Lobe: Also known as the somatosensory cortex; this portion of the brain is involved in the processing of other tactile sensory information such as pressure, touch and pain.
4. Temporal Lobe: Also known as the auditory cortex; this portion of the brain is involved in the interpretation of the sounds and language we hear.

Question 3

What are the elements of the nervous system?

Answer 3

1. Somatic nervous system - controls the action of skeletal muscles
2. Autonomic nervous system regulates automatic processes like heart rates and breathing:
   a. Sympathetic nervous system - controls flight or fight responseb. Parasympathetic nervous system - brings body back to normal state after fight or flight state

Question 4

Name four perceptual filters

Answer 4

1. Values
2. Beliefs
3. Experiences
4. References

Question 5

In Seligman’s exploration into learned helplessness, he identified three elements that people habitually use to explain why things happen. What ae they?

Answer 5

1. Permanence - How long will a situation last?: pessimists believe it will persist whereas optimists see the causes of bad situations as only temporary
2. Pervasiveness -To how many areas of my life does this apply?
   3. Personalisation - For what part of this situation am I responsible?

Question 6

What are the five core elements Seligman believed were in authentic happiness?

Answer 6

1. Positive emotion — ever day writing down at bed time, three things that went well, and why ·
2. Engagement —preferentially using your highest strengths to perform the tasks you would perform anyway
3. Relationships — fine tuning the positive elements of each relationship ·
4. Meaning — belonging to and serving ‘something bigger’ than yourself
5. Achievement — determination counts for more than intelligence

Question 7

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 7

carry information between neurons (connected by synapses) and enable chemical messages to be sent from one part of the body to the brain and vice versa § e.g. dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with learning and movement: too much = schizophrenia; too little = Parkinson’s disease

Question 8

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 8

ability of brain and nervous system to change structurally and functionally as a result of input from the environment

Question 9

What is neuroscience?

Answer 9

study of nervous system and its impact on how we think, feel and behave