test 2 (ch 8-13)

Question 1

zeitgeist

Answer 1

spirit of the times

Question 2

primary vs secondary characteristics (?)

Answer 2

primary-objective, quantitative

secondary-subjective

Question 3

Bell-Magendie Law

Answer 3

there are two types of nerves, sensory and motor nerves. sensory nerves carry impulses from the sense receptors to the brain and motor nerves carry impulses from the brain to the muscles and glands of the body

Question 4

doctrine of specific nerve energies

Answer 4

each sensory nerve, no matter how its stimulated, releases an energy specific to that nerve. which nerve fibers are stimulated rather than how they are stimulated

Question 5

principle of conservation of energy

Answer 5

energy within a system is constant; therefore, it cannot be added or subtracted from one form to another. energy can only be transformed

Question 6

unconscious inference

Answer 6

according to helmholtz, the process by which the remnants of past experience are added to sensations, thereby converting them into perceptions. sensations come in, interact with past experiences and that leads to meaningful perceptions. sensation->unconscious inference->perception

Question 7

trichromatic theory of vision (young helmholtz)

Answer 7

rod and cones in eye, cones for 3 colors (red, green, blue). separate receptor systems on the retina are responsive to each of the three primary colors

Question 8

resonance place theory

Answer 8

helmholtz, proposed that hairs at bigger end are thicker and courser. different pitches resonate at different locations

Question 9

theory of signs

Answer 9

signals and sensory inputs. sensory signals come together to create our reality. the incoming data from sense is incomplete and inaccurate

Question 10

two point threshold

Answer 10

the smallest distance between two points of stimulation at which the two points are experienced as two points rather than 1

Question 11

just noticeable difference

Answer 11

smallest detectable difference between 2 weights. sensation that results if a change in stimulus intensity exceeds the differential thresholds. relative to overall weight (1/40). lighter things are more easily distinguish between them

Question 12

psychophysics

Answer 12

systematic study of the relationship between physical and psychological events

Question 13

absolute threshold

Answer 13

the smallest amount of stimulation that can be detected by an organism

Question 14

differential threshold

Answer 14

the amount that stimulation needs to change before a difference in that stimulation can be detected; JND for all senses

Question 15

negative sensations

Answer 15

fechner, sensations that occur below the absolute threshold and are therefore below the level of awareness

Question 16

introspection

Answer 16

reflection on one’s subjective experience, whether such reflection is directed toward the detection of the presence or absence of a sensation, or toward the detection of complex thought processes

Question 17

perception

Answer 17

mental experience that occurs when sensations are given meaning by the memory of past experiences (wundt)

Question 18

apperception

Answer 18

active and voluntary attention to sensory data. according to wundt, part of perception

Question 19

creative synthesis

Answer 19

creative rearrangement of elements in the mind, thinking about data in multiple ways. wundt, part of perception

Question 20

survival of the fittest

Answer 20

notion that, in a struggle for limited resources, those organisms with traits conducive to survival under the circumstances will live and reproduce

Question 21

natural selection

Answer 21

key concept in darwins theory of evolution. because more members of a species are born than environmental resources can support, nature selects those with characteristics most conducive to survival under the circumstances which allows them to reproduce

Question 22

ideo-motor theory of behavior

Answer 22

according to james, ideas cause behavior and thus we can control our behavior by controlling our ideas. ideas of actions are automatically expressed as behaviors unless we consciously intervene

Question 23

pragmatism

Answer 23

belief that usefulness is the best criterion for determining the validity of an idea. solution to existentialism depression, believe in free will your choices matter

Question 24

subvocal speech

Answer 24

speech is overt, while thinking is covert speech, also called subvocal speech

Question 25

law of exercise

Answer 25

thorndike's contention that the strength of an association varied with the frequency of the associations use. law of use/law of disuse

Question 26

law of effect

Answer 26

thorndike's contention that reward strengthens associations, whereas punishment weakens them. reward strengthens associations, punishment has no effect. reinforcement, punishment

Question 27

law of use (law of exercise)

Answer 27

thorndike's contention that the more often an association is made, the stronger it becomes

Question 28

law of disuse (law of exercise)

Answer 28

thorndike's contention that infrequently used associations become weak

Question 29

explain fechners law (S=klogR)

Answer 29

S=change in sensation k=constant R=reinz (stimulus) shows the relationship between mind and body

Question 30

webers law

Answer 30

the JND corresponds to a constant proportion of a standard stimulus

Question 31

how does fechners law relate to webers law

Answer 31

both mathematical formulas to the way stimuli are interpreted

Question 32

what are wundt's view on perception

Answer 32

sensation is the input, perception is the passive/automatic receiving and encoding of sensory info. apperception and creative synthesis are the voluntary parts

Question 33

wundt perception: apperception

Answer 33

active and voluntary attention to sensory data

Question 34

wundt perception: creative synthesis

Answer 34

arrangement and rearrangement of mental elements that can result from apperception

Question 35

titchener, how many elements of consciousness are there

Answer 35

40,000 elements

Question 36

what led to the decline in structuralism

Answer 36

unrealiability of introspection, observation that introspection was really retrospection, ignoring psychological development/abnormal behavior/personality/learning/individual differences, paradigm was too narrow and not parsimonious

Question 37

how does wundts voluntarism differ from tichner's structuralism

Answer 37

voluntarism; belief that through the process of apperception individuals could direct their attention toward whatever they wanted structuralism; the goal was to describe the structure of the mind

Question 38

what are the major differences between structuralism and functionalism?

Answer 38

structure vs function functionalism has broader scope and methodology to study consciousness and behavior darwinian influence and biological tradition functionalism is applied not basic

Question 39

how do structuralists view consciousness

Answer 39

We can break consciousness down into elements. consciousness is the sum of total mental experience at any given moment. periodic table of elements of consciousness, add them together to create experiences.

Question 40

what are the main influences that darwin's theory of evolution had on psychology

Answer 40

``` comparative psychology developmental psychology instincts (fight/flight, birds migration) individual differences research adaptation william james functionalism ```

Question 41

what are the major characteristics of functionalism

Answer 41

opposed elementism, concerned with the function of mental and behavioral processes, interested in the practical applications of its principles, accepted a darwinian model of humans rather than a newtonian model, embraced wide range of topics and methods, interested in motivation, interested in individual differences

Question 42

how does william james view consciousness

Answer 42

stream of consciousness

Question 43

william james-stream of consciousness

Answer 43

consciousness is like a stream, continuous and flowing, changes over time, subjective, selective

Question 44

describe william james view of emotions

Answer 44

emotion comes from perception of an event. perception causes bodily reactions that are experienced as emotions. the emotions we feel depend on what we do

Question 45

what was william james view of the scientific method

Answer 45

when using scientific method, necessary to assume that human behavior is determined, but this has limit. need to use scientific and philosophical approach (pragmatism) for some things (like free will)

Question 46

what are the components of the self according to james

Answer 46

empirical self; material, social, spiritual (inner subjective reality) self as knower; looking back at self, self reflection

Question 47

how did james describe self esteem

Answer 47

how a person feels about self based on ration of successes to attempts. increase by accomplishing more or attempting less

Question 48

what were the conclusions thorndike made concerning the learning process

Answer 48

learning occurs gradually, without the involvement of mental processes, and the same principles of learning apply to all mammals

Question 49

what was the fate of functionalism

Answer 49

lost its distinctiveness because most of its major tenets were assimilated into all forms of psychology

Question 50

what did behaviorism take from functionalism

Answer 50

evolution->animal study; adaptation->learned behavior; pragmatism->applied

Question 51

what did behaviorism reject from functionalism

Answer 51

instincts, consciousness, brain/physiology

Question 52

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

Answer 52

a stimulus that elicits an unconditioned response

Question 53

conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer 53

previously biologically neutral stimulus that, through experience, comes to elicit a certain response

Question 54

unconditioned response (UCR)

Answer 54

innate response elicited by the unconditioned stimulus that is naturally associated with it

Question 55

conditioned response (CR)

Answer 55

response elicited by a conditioned stimulus

Question 56

extinction

Answer 56

elimination or reduction of a conditioned response that results when a conditioned stimulus is presented but is not followed by the unconditioned stimulus

Question 57

positivism

Answer 57

the belief that science should study only those objects or events that can be experiences directly. all speculation about abstract entities should be avoided

Question 58

local positivism

Answer 58

the philosophy of science according to which theoretical concepts are if they are tied to the observable world through operational definitions

Question 59

operationalism (operational definition)

Answer 59

definition that relates an abstract concept to the procedures used to measure it

Question 60

purposive behavior

Answer 60

behavior that is directed toward some goal and that terminates when the goal is attained

Question 61

latent learning

Answer 61

according to tolman, learning that has occurred but is not translated into behavior

Question 62

physical monism

Answer 62

There is no mind/consciousness, only body

Question 63

operant behavior

Answer 63

behavior that is emitted by an organism rather than elicited by a known stimulus

Question 64

describe watson's behavior therapy

Answer 64

the use of learning principles in treating behavioral or emotional problems; counterconditioning; desensitzation

Question 65

difference between behaviorism and neobehaviorism

Answer 65

neobehaviorism is primarily defined by allowing some theory to have input; logical positivism plus operationalism

Question 66

what are the major themes of behaviorism? How have these themes been criticized?

Answer 66

1. Most behavior is learned (genetics don't matter) 2. Language is learned 3. Human and nonhuman learning are equivalent 4. Mental events can be ignored as causal to behavior 5. All responses are equally modifiable 6. Adult and child learning are equivalent

Question 67

according to watson, what should the goal of psychology be

Answer 67

study only the things that can be observed (behaviors). focus on overt behviors; predict and controlling behavior

Question 68

What was skinners view on mental events? How did he solve the mind body problem

Answer 68

There is no consciousness, there is only the body. Operant conditioning

Question 69

what are the basic assumptions of science. are these valid

Answer 69

``` objectivity separateness reductionism empiricism natural law determinism ```

Question 70

objectivity (assumption of science)

Answer 70

can measure something without subjective error or influence, primary vs secondary

Question 71

separateness (assumption of science)

Answer 71

isolate and experimentally control variables | problems: the more control, the less it reflects reality, makes the assumption there are only a few variables

Question 72

reductionism (assumption of science)

Answer 72

the best way to understand things is to break them down into simpler parts problems: not as good as studying things as a whole, observer biases

Question 73

empiricism (assumption of science)

Answer 73

to know something we have to observe it | problems: how you define it and draw the line

Question 74

natural law (assumption of science)

Answer 74

thinking about the world as series of links, world may seem messy and chaoitc but calm and order true, but now all things are predictable

Question 75

determinism (assumption of science)

Answer 75

everything cause by finite number of causes and if we know those causes event are 100% predictable