test 2 (ch 8-13) Flashcards
zeitgeist
spirit of the times
primary vs secondary characteristics (?)
primary-objective, quantitative
secondary-subjective
Bell-Magendie Law
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
doctrine of specific nerve energies
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
principle of conservation of energy
energy within a system is constant; therefore, it cannot be added or subtracted from one form to another. energy can only be transformed
unconscious inference
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
trichromatic theory of vision (young helmholtz)
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
resonance place theory
helmholtz, proposed that hairs at bigger end are thicker and courser. different pitches resonate at different locations
theory of signs
signals and sensory inputs. sensory signals come together to create our reality. the incoming data from sense is incomplete and inaccurate
two point threshold
the smallest distance between two points of stimulation at which the two points are experienced as two points rather than 1
just noticeable difference
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
psychophysics
systematic study of the relationship between physical and psychological events
absolute threshold
the smallest amount of stimulation that can be detected by an organism
differential threshold
the amount that stimulation needs to change before a difference in that stimulation can be detected; JND for all senses
negative sensations
fechner, sensations that occur below the absolute threshold and are therefore below the level of awareness
introspection
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
perception
mental experience that occurs when sensations are given meaning by the memory of past experiences (wundt)
apperception
active and voluntary attention to sensory data. according to wundt, part of perception
creative synthesis
creative rearrangement of elements in the mind, thinking about data in multiple ways. wundt, part of perception
survival of the fittest
notion that, in a struggle for limited resources, those organisms with traits conducive to survival under the circumstances will live and reproduce
natural selection
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
ideo-motor theory of behavior
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
pragmatism
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
subvocal speech
speech is overt, while thinking is covert speech, also called subvocal speech
law of exercise
thorndike’s contention that the strength of an association varied with the frequency of the associations use. law of use/law of disuse
law of effect
thorndike’s contention that reward strengthens associations, whereas punishment weakens them. reward strengthens associations, punishment has no effect. reinforcement, punishment
law of use (law of exercise)
thorndike’s contention that the more often an association is made, the stronger it becomes
law of disuse (law of exercise)
thorndike’s contention that infrequently used associations become weak
explain fechners law (S=klogR)
S=change in sensation
k=constant
R=reinz (stimulus)
shows the relationship between mind and body
webers law
the JND corresponds to a constant proportion of a standard stimulus