Sensation and Perception

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

when sensory information is detected by a sensory receptor, sensation has occured

Question 2

Transduction

Answer 2

the conversion from sensory stimulus to action potential ex) brain receiving sensory stimulus of smelling smoke, because the brain smells smoke it may perceive that something nearby is burning

Question 3

Absolute Threshold

Answer 3

the minimum amount of stimulus energy that must be present for the stimulus to be detected 50% of the time ex) presenting various levels of volume. The smallest level that a participant is able to hear is the absolute threshold

Question 4

Just Noticeable Difference (JND) aka Difference Threshold

Answer 4

how much difference in stimuli is required to detect a difference between them- a constant fraction of the original stimulus ex) if asked to hold two objects of different weights the just noticeable difference would be the minimum weight difference between the two that you could sense half of the time

Question 5

What are the 5 basic senses?

Answer 5

sight, auditory, olfaction, gustation, somatosensorial

Question 6

What are the other senses?

Answer 6

balance (vestibular sense), body position and movement (proprioception and kensthesia), pain (nociception), temperature (theroception)

Question 7

Perception

Answer 7

refers to the way sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced

Question 8

Sensory Adaptation

Answer 8

we do not often perceive stimuli that remain relatively constant over prolonged periods of time

Question 9

Attention

Answer 9

plays an important role in determining what is sensed vs what is perceived

Question 10

Inattentional Blindness

Answer 10

failure to notice something that is completely visible because of a lack of attention

Question 11

Signal Detection Theory

Answer 11

involves our ability to identify a stimulus when it is embedded in a distracting background; motivation to detect a particular stimulus (important phone call) can shift ability to detect meaningful stimulus

Question 12

What affects our perceptions?

Answer 12

our beliefs, values, prejudices, expectations, and life experiences

Question 13

Individualism

Answer 13

is a way of thinking about people that emphasizes how they are separate, self contained, and alone responsible for what goes on “inside their own heads”

Question 14

What are the 6 basic tastes?

Answer 14

sweet, sour, salty, bitter, savory, and fatty content

Question 15

Gestalt Psychology

Answer 15

is a school of thought that looks at the human mind and behavior as a whole; suggests that we perceive objects as part of a greater whole and as elements of more complex systems

Question 16

Figure-Ground relationship

Answer 16

We tend to segment our visual world into figure and ground; our ability to interpret sensory information depends on what we label as figure and what we label as ground in any particular case

Question 17

Law of Continuity

Answer 17

we are more likely to perceive continuous, smooth flowing lines rather than jagged, broken lines

Question 18

What are the 6 core processes that promote psychological flexibility?

Answer 18

Acceptance- involces acknowledging and embracing the full range of your thoughts and emotions rather than trying to avoid, deny, or alter them; Cognitive Defusion- involves distancing yourself from and changing the way you react to distressing thoughts and feelings, which will mitigate their harmful effects; Being Present- involves being mindful in the present and observing your thoughts and feelings without judging them or trying to change them, experiencing events clearly and directly can help promote behavior change; Self as Context- is an idea that expands the notion of self and identity, it purports that people are more than their thoughts, feelings, experiences; Values- encompass choosing personal values in different domains and striving to live according to those principles. this stands in contrast to actions driven by desire to avoid distress or adhere to tother peoples expectations for example; Committed Action- involves taking concrete steps to incorporate changes that will align with you values and lead to positive change. this may involve goal setting, exposure to difficult thoughts or experiences and skill development