Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

MCAT > Psychology & Sociology > Flashcards

Psychology & Sociology Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Punishment

A

Decreases Behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Reinforcement

A

Increases Behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Positive Reinforcement

A

Desirable stimulus added (toddler gets candy for using the toilet)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Negative Reinforcement

A

Undesirable stimulus removed (teen doesn’t do chores after getting all As)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Positive Punishment

A

Undesirable stimulus added (toddler gets spanked for running into street)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Negative Punishment

A

Desirable stimulus removed (teen isn’t allowed to go to a party for poor grades)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Operant Conditioning

A

The likelihood of an individual repeating a behavior is influenced by the outcome of the behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Escape Learning

A

A type of learning in which the subject is able to remove the undesirable removed (teen fakes an illness while doing dishes and gets to stop)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Avoidance Learning

A

A type of learning in which the subject prevents the undesirable stimulus (teen stays late at school to avoid doing chores)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Functionalism

A

The paradigm that conceptualizes society as a living organism with many different interrelated and interdependent parts, all with a distinct and necessary purpose. Durkheim was a major proponent.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Dynamic Equilibrium

A

From a functionalist POV, all of the interdependent parts keep the society ordered, balanced and stable. If a crisis occurs, then functionalists propose that major structures will work together to come back to the state of dynamic equilibrium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Manifest functions

A

are the official, intended, and anticipated consequences of a structure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Latent functions

A

are consequences pf a structure that are not officially sought or sanctioned

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Social dysfunction

A

is a process in that the undesirable consequences reduce the stability of the society

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Conflict theory

A

A macro-level theory that views society as a never-ending competition for limited resources. Marx heavily believed this idea (think capitalism, bourgeois, proletariat)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Max Weber

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Projection

A

(defense mechanism) attributing one’s unacceptable thoughts/behaviors to someone or something else

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Regression

A

(defense mechanism) behaving as if much younger to avoid unacceptable thoughts/behaviors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Displacement

A

(defense mechanism) taking out unacceptable thoughts/behaviors on a safe target

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Sublimation

A

(defense mechanism) transforming unacceptable thoughts/behaviors to acceptable thoughts and behaviors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Social constructionism

A

Social actors define what is real, knowledge of the world based on interactions. (think premenstrual symptoms being classified as a psychiatric disorder due to prominence)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Reaction formation

A

behaving in a manner opposite to unacceptable thoughts/behaviors (think saying you hate your boss that you are attracted to)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Organization (Sociology Definition)

A

Social structures composed of individuals linked by specific purposes, tasks, and/or common goals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Normative organization

A

people voluntarily unite based on shared values and/or goals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Utilitarian organization

A

members are compensated for their involvement typically through money or certification

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Coercive organization

A

membership is not freely chosen and/or maintained (think prisoners or military)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Stereotype

A

Generalized beliefs (good or bad) about social groups

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Prejudice

A

Negative belief & feeling about someone based on membership in a social group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Discrimination

A

Negative treatment of someone based on membership in a social group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Dominant culture

A

Learned values, beliefs and behaviors shared by most in society

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Subculture

A

Values and norms do not oppose dominant culture, although group is characteristically distinct

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Counterculture

A

Values and norms oppose the dominant culture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Aggregate

A

Is a collection of individuals who share a common location but do not identify as a group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Types of Norm

A

Folkways, Mores, Taboos

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Folkways

A

Least deviant norm, minor punishments (ex: staring), think wearing clothes backwards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Mores

A

More deviant norm, more serious punishments (ex: arrest) think wearing no clothes in public

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Taboos

A

Most deviant norm, most serious punishment (ex: incarceration), think incest, suicide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Stereotype boost

A

aka stereotype lift, occurs when a positive stereotype about social groups improve performances, think Asian students performing better on test after being told Asians are good at math

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

Ascribed status

A

Assigned social position (think race)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Achieved status

A

Attained social position (think doctor)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Master status

A

Dominant social position (think ex-convict)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

McDonaldization

A

A critical perspective of bureaucracy that describes the process by which extreme efficiency and rationalization produce negative consequences (think how you always need to check the McDonalds bag post getting food)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

Common sense view of emotion

A

suggests that something first causes the emotion and then that causes a physiological response (think: dog - fear- heart racing)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

James-Lange theory

A

Reversed of the common sense theory, where something causes the physiological response that then the brain registers as an emotion (think: dog- heart racing- fear)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Schachter-Singer theory

A

this is the idea that the emotion is resulted after physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal (think: dog -heart racing - interpretation - fear)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Limbic system

A

This system is a network of brain regions involved in emotion, learning, and memory, which includes the physical areas of amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus and the cingulate gyrus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

Hypothalamus

A

This structure regulated the pituitary gland and the autonomic nervous system. It controls the release of hormones that maintain homeostatic functions (parasympathetic) or prepare the body to respond to a stressor ( sympathetic). The hypothalamus is responsible for the physiological response of emotion.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

Cannon-Bard Theory

A

suggests that physiological arousal and emotion are separate and independent and therefore occur simultaneously

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

Group identification

A

refers to the extent to which an individual perceives themself as a member of a larger collective

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

Social identity

A

describes how one’s self concept is shaped by group membership

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Electroencephalogram (EEG

A

Electrodes placed on scalp & connect to amplifier, which measures fluctuation in the brain over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Computerized tomography (CT)

A

Computer combines multiple x-rays taken at different angles, which provides the detailed structure of internal organs and tissues at a single point in time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A

Scanner detects the differential properties of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin, which measures the changes in blood oxygenation in the brain over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A

Scanner detects radioactive tracer attached to a glucose analog, which measures changes in glucose metabolism in the brain over time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

Sociological approach to aging: Activity

A

remaining physically and socially active improves the quality of life for older adults

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Sociological approach to aging: Continuity

A

Older adults attempt to maintain the habits and behaviors from their youth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

Sociological approach to aging: Disengagement

A

Older adults withdraw from social relationships/society as society withdraws from them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

Sociological approach to aging: Life course

A

Aging views holistically in terms of social, biological, cultural, and psychological contexts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Operant Conditioning - Principles of Training a new Behavior

A
  1. Increase the motivational state (deprive of desirable stimulus)
  2. Shaping (Reward successive approximations of desirable behavior
  3. Continuous Reinforcement (reward desirable behavior every time it occurs)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

Long-term potentiation (LTP)

A

Describes an enduring increase in synaptic transmission of neurons, which the neural foundation for learning and memory consolidation (think of the mouse in water trying to get to the platform, after finding it the first time, it will get easier to find each time)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

Sensory adaptation

A

is the decreased responsiveness of a sensory neuron over time in response to a constant stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

State-dependent memory

A

is a phenomenon whereby memory retrieval is most efficient when an individual’s internal state at the time of retrieval is the same as when the memory was encoded (think of the idea of learning while drunk and then taking the test)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

Tonic receptors

A

are sensory receptors that continue to produce action potentials throughout the duration of the stimulus (NOT found in the brain)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

Neuroplasticity

A

refers to lasting changes in the brain that occur when interacting with the environment alters neurons and/or pathways. This can refer to both increases in neuronal connections (POTENTIATION) or the decrease in neuronal response (DEPRESSION)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

Synaptic plasticity

A

results from changes in the firing rate of the presynaptic neuron, which alters the neurotransmitter rate. This can be a quick or a long term change

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

Structural plasticity

A

results from the physical changes in neuronal connections. This would be sprouting (increased connections between neurons), rerouting (new connections between neurons), or pruning (decreased connections between neurons). This does not occur quickly.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

Implicit memory

A

type of memory that does not require conscious thought. Different types: Procedural (skills and tasks) and Emotional (reflexive)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
68
Q

Explicit memory

A

type of memory in which the information is consciously or intentionally recalled. Different types: Episodic (memory for personal experiences think first day of college) and Semantic (fact-based knowledge think name of first US president)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
69
Q

Confirmation bias

A

is a type of cognitive bias (common error in thinking) in which individuals tend to embrace evidence supporting their beliefs, dismiss or ignore evidence refuting their beliefs and interpret ambiguous evidence as support

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
70
Q

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

A

explains that cognitive dissonance (mental conflict) results from beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors that are contradictory or incompatible. Cognitive dissonance causes a state of discomfort that results in motivation to reduce the conflict by aligning thoughts and behaviors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
71
Q

Attributional biases

A

are cognitive biases (common errors in thinking) that occur when people attempt to explain their own behavior or the behavior of someone else

72
Q

Actor-observer bias

A

is an attributional bias that describes the tendency to attribute one’s own actions to external factors but the actions of others to internal factors

73
Q

Self-serving bias

A

is an attributional bias that occurs when individuals credit their successes to internal factors but blame failures on external factors

74
Q

Social networks

A

are informal and nonhierarchical webs of interaction between nodes, which are linked by ties. Nodes can be either individuals or organizations

75
Q

Social capital

A

refers to a person’s network of people that can be converted into economic gain (has nothing to do with the strength of the ties)

76
Q

Social mobility

A

refers to the movement of individuals, groups, or families between or within status categories in a society (think of the movement of middle to upper class)

77
Q

Sensory memory

A

This is the instant information intake of the environment. (auditory/echoic - a few seconds) (visual/iconic - less than a second)

78
Q

Short term memory

A

This is the memory that is taken slightly longer than the information received in the sensory memory. The duration is about 20 seconds and a capacity of 7 +- 2 items

79
Q

Working memory

A

This process of memory pulls information from short term and long-term memory to be able to manipulate and process the information

80
Q

Parts of the working memory

A
  1. Central Executive
  2. Phonological loop
  3. Episodic buffer
  4. Visuospatial sketchpad
81
Q

Central Executive

A

a part of the working memory that regulates attention and task switching and three subsystems which are controlled by this

82
Q

Visuospatial sketchpad

A

is used when manipulating visual and/or spatial information (think reading a map)

83
Q

Phonological Loop

A

is used when manipulating spoken and written information (think reading a book)

84
Q

Episodic buffer

A

is used for temporal processing (understanding the timeline of events) and integrating information from long-term memory into working memory (think about figuring out multiplication while figuring out a tip for a restaurant)

85
Q

Motion parallax (relative motion)

A

is a monocular cue whereby objects in the foreground are perceived as moving faster than objects in the background (able to perceive depth and motion)

86
Q

Parallel Processing

A

the brain’s ability to process several different components of a stimulus simultaneously

87
Q

Sensory Receptors

A

are specialized neurons that detect stimuli in the internal or external environment and transmit information to the brain for interpretation and perception

88
Q

Mechanoreceptor

A

Detects: movement
Stimuli: sound waves, touch
Example: hair cells (ear

89
Q

Chemoreceptor

A

Detects: chemicals
Stimuli: molecules, solutes
Example: taste buds (tongue)

90
Q

Thermoreceptor

A

Detects: temperature
Stimuli: heat, cold
Example: skin

91
Q

Photoreceptor

A

Detects: light waves
Stimuli: visible light
Example: rods, cones (retina)

92
Q

Piaget’s theory of cognitive development

A

Stages:
Sensorimotor (less than 2)
Preoperational (2-7)
Concrete operational (7-11)
Formal operational (greater than 12)

93
Q

Bottom-up vs. Top-down processing

A

Bottom-up processing starts with sensory input and builds to a final perception in the brain. Top-down processing involves prior knowledge and expectations influencing perception

94
Q

Place theory

A

explains the perception of sound pitch (how high or low a tone is)

95
Q

Wernicke’s area

A

portion of the temporal lobe that is responsible for language comprehension

96
Q

Frontal lobe

A

executive function, voluntary motor initiation

97
Q

Parietal lobe

A

Proprioception, somatosensation

98
Q

Occipital lobe

A

visual processing

99
Q

Temporal lobe

A

learning, memory, auditory processing

100
Q

Front stage behaviors

A

behavior in social situations, “actor” preforms based on the expectations of the “audience”, impression management (meant to shape perceptions of others), focus on appearance, manners and social status

101
Q

Backstage self

A

behavior in private, “actor” can relax and no longer needs to preform, behavior is spontaneous and free from evaluation or judgement by others

102
Q

Attribution theory

A

suggests that individuals tend to explain behavior (their own or that of others) as resulting from internal or external causes

103
Q

Internal (dispositional) attributions

A

ascribe behavior to personal factors, such as personality, ability, or attitude

104
Q

External (situational) attributions

A

ascribe behavior to environmental factors, such as task difficulty, presence of others, or luck

105
Q

Left hemisphere responsibilities

A

analytical thought
language
reasoning
math
science
controls touch and movement on RIGHT side

106
Q

Right hemisphere responsibilities

A

spatial processing
emotion
art
music
visualization
controls touch and movement on LEFT side

107
Q

Mirror neurons

A

are specialized neurons in the brain that fire both while observing and performing a behavior, found in frontal and parietal lobes

108
Q

Observational learning

A

modeling

109
Q

Retroactive interference

A

occurs when more recently learning information interferes with the learning of older information (think meeting Lisa and Lucy and forgetting Lucy)

110
Q

Proactive Interference

A

occurs when the older information interferes with the recall of newer information (think meeting Lisa and Lucy and forgetting Lisa)

111
Q

Methods of problem-solving

A

insight
trial & error
heuristics
algorithms

112
Q

Problem Solving- Insight

A

Solution occurs in an “a-ha” moment, typically after a mental break from the problem. This is valuable and occurs infrequently

113
Q

Problem Solving- Trial & Error

A

Series of potential solutions attempted until desired results achieved. This is time-consuming and unsystematic

114
Q

Problem Solving- Heuristics

A

Strategy or shortcut yielding approximate results. this is fast and potentially error prone

115
Q

Problem Solving- Algorithms

A

Precise logical or mathematical rule yielding exact results. This is accurate, systematic, and time-consuming

116
Q

Self-fulfilling prophecy

A

is a belief or prediction about something (which may or may not be true) that influences the behavior of the person who believes it, which then causes the belief to come true

117
Q

Belief perseverance

A

is a type of cognitive bias in which a person steadfastly holds a belief even when confronting strong evidence to the contrary

118
Q

Fundamental attribution error

A

is a cognitive bias in which a person overemphasizes internal traits and underemphasizes the role of the environment when attempting to explain another’s behavior

119
Q

Motivation

A

describes the factors that prompt action towards a goal

120
Q

Incentive theory of motivation

A

suggests that organisms are motivated to act in order to obtain external rewards. (cannot be a biological drive)

121
Q

Central (foveal) Visual Field

A

Increased density of cone photoreceptors
Bright Light conditions
Color & detail perception
Increased visual acuity

122
Q

Peripheral visual field

A

Increased density of rod photoreceptors
dim light conditions
motion perception
Increased light sensitivity

123
Q

Daily hassle

A

type of stressor, common, everyday, think traffic jam

124
Q

Personal life event

A

type of stressor, major life transition, think divorce

125
Q

Ambient

A

type of stressor, environmental, affects many people, minor, think pollution

126
Q

Catastrophe

A

type of stressor, major, affects many people, large-scale tragedy, think natural disaster

127
Q

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

A

describes how the body reacts to stress that is acute or long-lasting
multiple stages: pre-chronic stress homeostasis, stage one alarm, stage two resistance, stage three exhaustion

128
Q

Prefrontal cortex

A

in chronic stress, the prefrontal cortex is shown to have a reduced coping mechanism skills, and hypervigilance

129
Q

Experimental studies

A

Randomized controlled trial
Nonrandomized design

130
Q

Observational studies

A

Longitudinal
Cross-sectional
Case-control
Case

131
Q

Review Studies

A

Meta-analysis

132
Q

Sick Role Theory

A

Conceptualizes illness as a socially acceptable form of deviance.
Rights: 1. Exemption from normal social rules and responsibilities 2. Lack of accountability for illness
Obligations: 1. Must attempt to get well. 2. Must seek & comply with treatment

133
Q

Borderline personality disorder

A

is characterized by instability in mood, sense of self, and relationships. Symptoms may include extreme mood reactivity, fear of abandonment, impulsive or reckless behavior and suicidal or self-harming behavior

134
Q

Types of Kinship

A

Consanguineal (Based on genetic relationship)
Affinal (Based on marriage)
Fictive (social ties that aren’t either (adopted children))

135
Q

Sigmund Freud

A

Personality
Theory: Psychosexual
Attributes: Five psychosexual stages, focused on childhood, unresolved childhood conflicts impacts adult personality

136
Q

Erik Erickson

A

Personality
Theory: Psychosocial
Attributes: Eight psychosocial stages throughout life, Unresolved crisis at any age impacts adult personality

137
Q

Lev Vygotsky

A

Cognition
Theory: Sociocultural Cognitive
Attributes: Child’s cognitive development based on social interaction

138
Q

Jean Piaget

A

Cognition
Theory: Cognitive
Attributes: Four universal stages of childhood cognitive development, cognitive development is based on age

139
Q

Lawrence Kohlberg

A

Morality
Theory: Moral
Attributes: six stages of lifespan moral development, most individuals do not progress past 3 or 4

140
Q

Somatic symptom disorder (SSD)

A

is a type of somatic symptom and related disorder (SSRD) characterized by extreme distress and concern regarding one of more actual bodily/physical symptoms (think fatigue, pain)

141
Q

Neuroticism

A

or emotional instability is characterized by a tendency to experience or express negative emotions

142
Q

Counterbalancing

A

is used to control for the potential effects that the order of the intervention administration may have on the results. For example, if participants were given two interventions, A and B, then counterbalancing would be needed to do B A

143
Q

Psychoanalytic theory (Sigmund Freud)

A

Personality results from the interaction between the id, ego, and superego

144
Q

Id

A

selfish, compelling us to seek pleasure and avoid pain

145
Q

Ego

A

realistic, compelling us to behave in ways that are socially acceptable, and acts as a mediator between the id and the superego

146
Q

Superego

A

moralistic and idealistic, compelling us towards perfection

147
Q

Social Loafing

A

occurs when an individual exerts less effort as a member of a group than when alone

148
Q

Causes of social loafing

A

Diffusion of responsibility
Lack of motivation
Avoidance of over-effort
Lack of oversight
Noncohesive group

149
Q

Fixed ratio

A

behavior rewarded after a consistent number of responses

150
Q

Variable ratio

A

behavior rewarded after an inconsistent number of responses

151
Q

Fixed interval

A

behavior rewarded after a consistent amount of time

152
Q

Variable interval

A

behavior rewarded after an inconsistent amount of time

153
Q

Language acquistion theory: Learning perspective

A

language is learned through operant conditioning, and language imitation & practice

154
Q

Language acquisition theory: nativist perspective

A

language is learned because it is innate and biologically predetermined and occurs during a critical (time-sensitive) period early in life

155
Q

Language acquisition theory: an interactionist perspective

A

language is learned due to the biological and social aspects of life

156
Q

Universalism

A

the belief that cognition controls language, posits that certain cognitive processes are universal, so all human languages also possess certain universals

157
Q

Behaviorism

A

is a theory in psychology that focuses on the role of the environment in shaping human behavior, specifically how reinforcement and punishment shape human behavior

158
Q

Hypothalamus

A

is centrally located in the brain and is the command center for the endocrine system, which produces hormones that regulate a number of the body’s functions, such as growth, metabolism, blood pressure, core body temperature, appetite, and sleep

159
Q

Parkinson’s disease

A

most associated with the substantia nigra, which is in the basal ganglia

160
Q

Fluid Intelligence

A

ability to apply logic and creative thinking to new situations

161
Q

Crystallized intelligence

A

ability to apply facts & acquired knowledge to situations

162
Q

Selective attention

A

ability to focus on one stimulus or task despite distractions

163
Q

Divided attention

A

ability to attend to two or more tasks or stimuli simultaneously

164
Q

Social class

A

economic assets (ie. income, property)

165
Q

Social status

A

prestige among others in society

166
Q

Power

A

ability to exert control over the actions of others

167
Q

Absolute poverty

A

is the inability to secure the basic necessities of life, such as food, clean water and shelter

168
Q

Relative poverty

A

is defined in comparison to the economic conditions of others, which is a more subjective measure encompassing quality of life issues

169
Q

Anomie

A

a state of normlessness that occurs when a society fails to provide individuals with norms and values to guide behavior

170
Q

The mere exposure effect

A

(familiarity effect) argues that just the act of being exposed to something increases an individual’s affinity for it. you hear a song more and you begin to like it

171
Q

Imitation of a reference group

A

individuals compare their beliefs and behaviors to those of reference group and begin to model these beliefs and behaviors

172
Q

Malthusian theory

A

suggests that the human population increases exponentially while resources increase at a slower rate. with this theory, the population growth rate can be slowed by preventative checks and positive checks

173
Q

Malthusian theory - Preventative checks

A

those that decrease the birth rate (typically voluntary)

174
Q

Malthusian theory - Positive checks

A

increase the death rate, slowing population growth by shortening average lifespan

175
Q

Malthusian catastrophes

A

large scale positive checks, dramatically decrease the population, widespread famine, epidemics, wars

176
Q

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

A

also known as linguistic relativity, describes that language influences our perception and cognition. Think about how if you do not have a large amount of words for the color blue, you do not see all the variations of blue

MCAT (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions