Psychology Key Terms - Paper 2

Question 1

Behaviorist approach

Answer 1

A learning approach that suggests all children are born as blank slates, learning through their interactions with their environment

Question 2

Biological approach

Answer 2

A learning approach that views human behavior as a result of genetics and proposes that individuals psychology stems form internal physiology

Question 3

Classical conditioning

Answer 3

A form of learning which occurs by associating naturally occurring instinct with new stimuli, thus creating a “conditioned” response.

Question 4

Cognitive approach

Answer 4

A learning approach which likens the human mind to a computer, with internal mental processes turning an input into an output. This approach suggests studying these internal processes by interference is the key ti understanding human psychology

Question 5

Congruence

Answer 5

When a persons ideal self and actual self are aligned

Question 6

Defence mechanism

Answer 6

strategies employed by the ego to protect the mind from feelings that may be too overwhelming.

Question 7

Denial

Answer 7

A defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. This is the complete refusal to acknowledge the occurrence of an event, in an attempt to prevent harm.

Question 8

Displacement

Answer 8

A defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. THis mechanism works by substituting the real target of overwhelming emotions with a (usually) defenceless target. This allows for a cathartic release of emotions that wouldn’t be possible with the original target.

Question 9

Ego

Answer 9

One of the three components of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach. The ego develops after the Di and functions to mediate between the desires of the Id and what is attainable. The ego is the decision-making component.

Question 10

Free will

Answer 10

The idea that we are in full control of our behavior and decisions

Question 11

Genotype

Answer 11

The genetic profile of an individual i.e. the genes they carry.

Question 12

humanistic approach

Answer 12

presumes all humans are fundamentally good, and encourages the holistic study of the entire individual.

Question 13

Id

Answer 13

One of the three components of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach. The Id if the most primitive and selfish part of the personality, the only one present at birth and only concerned with desires and achieving them.

Question 14

Identification

Answer 14

A form of learning according to the social learning theory, which suggests humans can learn by observing role model whom they perceive as similar to themselves. It suggests we internalise the beliefs of someone we “identify” with i.e. are similar to perhaps in gender, age or goals.

Question 15

Imitation

Answer 15

A form of learning suggested by social learning theory, which proposes that people learn through copying the behavior of a role model they identify with.

Question 16

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Answer 16

A theory that suggests humans have multiple needs that need to be achieved in a particular order to achieve a persons’ potential.

Question 17

Modelling

Answer 17

When a role model enacts a behavior that can be imitated by an observer

Question 18

Mediational Processes

Answer 18

Internal processes that contribute to producing certain behaviors, hence “mediators” between observation and imitation

Question 19

Negative reinforcement

Answer 19

A behavior performed in response to a negative stimulus in the expectation that the negative stimulus will be removed.

Question 20

Operant conditioning

Answer 20

A form of learning by direct consequences for behaviors whether that be reinforcement (consequences that increase behavior) or punishment (consequences that decrease behavior).

Question 21

Phenotype

Answer 21

An organism’s physical manifestation of their genotype.

Question 22

Positive reinforcement

Answer 22

Administration of a postitive stimulus that aims to increase a certain behavior. An example would be giving a child a treat (positive stimulus) if they clean their room, so they clean their room more often.

Question 23

Psychodynamic approach

Answer 23

a learning approach that describes human behavior as a product of unconscious processes

Question 24

Psychosexual stages

Answer 24

A theory by freud which suggests personality

Question 25

Repression

Answer 25

A defence mechanism utilised by the unconscious mind. This mechanism prevents disturbing thoughts/memories reaching the conscious mind in an attempt to prevent harm.

Question 26

Schema

Answer 26

A mental frame work based on previous information that allows us to interpret new information efficiently.

Question 27

Self actualisation

Answer 27

Essentially, a person’s fill potential, which can be achieved after primary needs have been met.

Question 28

Social learning theory

Answer 28

A learning theory that combines the behaviroist ideas of learning through our environment and the cognitive ideas of involvement of internal mental processes. It proposes that new behaviors can be aquired by observing and imitating others.

Question 29

Superego

Answer 29

One of the three components of the personality according to the psychodynamic approach. The superego develops last and aims to be the moral component of personality that encourages the ego to achieve perfection via self-criticism.

Question 30

Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 30

Indirect encouragement of behavior through observation of consequences for other peoples’ behavior

Question 31

Adrenaline

Answer 31

A hormone involved in a number of responses, namely the flight or fight response

Question 32

Automatic Nervous System

Answer 32

The nervous system responsible for automatic responses, such as sympathetic or parasympathetic responses.

Question 33

Broca’s area

Answer 33

An area in the left hemisphere that is dedicated to speech production i.e. the motor component

Question 34

Central Nervous system

Answer 34

The nervous System made up of the brain and spinal cord.

Question 35

Circadian Rhythms

Answer 35

Biological processes which cycle in about 24 hours. For example, the sleep-wake cycle.

Question 36

EEG

Answer 36

Electroencephalogram (electro = electrical activity, encephalo = brain, gram = measuring). An imaging technique to record electrical activity in the brain.