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Psyc 387 > Unit 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Change is the only constant

Who?
Why?

A

Lucretius - Roman philosopher, 2000 years

Natures struggle to survive is due to change.

Ie: Climate, prey animal, camouflage, faster predators, diseases, population increase and resources, moving continents, glaciers, sun, drivers

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2
Q

Malthus vs. Darwin

Theory Subject
Opinions

A

Human population growth

Resources are limited, population growth=disaster
vs.
Population growth = competition for resources = some die 

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3
Q

Theory of adaptation

Who
What

____

A

Darwin

Offspring are preserved due to PROFITABLE changes. Any variation, cause, size 

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4
Q

Genetic basis for natural selection,

Who
Darwin’s Understanding of it

A

Gregor Mendel (Austrian, founder of genetics) not known until 1900s.

Knew beneficial characteristics are passed down generationally pending environment but not sure how. 

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5
Q

Genetic variance in species, and natural selection

Darwin vs. Critics

A

Identical genes = no selection. Organs become increasingly sophisticated
Vs.
Even with variation, natural selection cannot account for the sudden appearance of complex organs, such as the human eye 

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6
Q

Examples of:

1) gradual changes

2) rapid changes

A

1) Human brain, guppies, skin color (melanin)

2) Global epidemics, peppered moth 

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7
Q

Define

Reflex

___ ___ ___

Example

Non-Useful

A

A reflex is a RELATIONSHIP between a EVENT and a simple  BEHAVIOUR

Ie: dirt in eye
R/dirt/lid movement
…
Allergies. Seizures.

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8
Q

Amoeba Reflexes

A

Extends and pulls, reflex is when it withdraws and engulfs 

Ie: limb from pain

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9
Q

1) Rooting Reflex
2) Salivary Reflex

A

1) Touch cheek = baby turns, nipple touch = sucking 
2) Begins digestion
Saliva + Food = swallow = peristalsis
(chain)

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10
Q

Acronym

MAP

Aka

A

Modal Action Pattern
…
Instinctive behaviour (x)
Fixed-action patterns.
Species-specific behavior. 

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11
Q

MAP vs. Reflex
___ ___ ___

A

They differ because MAPs involve the ENTIRE organism and are more COMPLEX and  VARIABLE. May appear deliberate. 

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12
Q

MAPs

Examples

A

Migration, mating, finding food, safety, offspring.

Spiders. Wood Peckers. Cats back, Peacock

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13
Q

MAPs in Humans

discuss

A

Unknown. Lack monotonous character. 

ie: instincts, sex, social, maternal, territorial
Vs
Spider webs and birds nests

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14
Q

Fixed action pattern in tropical army ants

Describe

A

Follow a chemical trail in forest from prev. ants. On a flat surface, no obstacles to direct, they move toward the ant beside them, marching in circle. 

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15
Q

Define

General behavioural trait

vs

Fixed-action patterns 

A

The tendency to engage in a certain kind of behavior that occur in a wide variety of situation’s
I.e.: shy, aggressive, anxious.…
1) Released by many event varieties versus one 
2) plasticity of behaviour
ie: spider vs aggressive rat
3) heredity is a factor

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16
Q

Define

Releaser

A

Specific kinds of environmental events that illicit MAPs

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17
Q

What is the opposite of impulsive?

A

Obsessive-compulsive

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18
Q

How does genetic engineering demonstrate the role of genes and behavioural traits? 

What about in humans?

A

Removing one gene from mice, placing on an unfamiliar white surface. Engineered were bolder.
Another study showed genetic component in social dominance. 

Humans: No engineering, twin studies and specific gene studies
ie: Characteristics that can be bred in animals, such as aggressiveness, activity, level, drug abuse, risk-taking

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19
Q

What are the limits of natural selection?
___

IE

A

The chief problem with natural selection is that it is SLOW.  to cope with change, generational

**Guppies: 13-26 generations (8 yrs) bc short-lives. 
Rabbits dodging trucks

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20
Q

Define and discuss mutations

A

Abrupt changes in genes, Can possibly sweep through a population if it has a significant advantage

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21
Q

Why can hybridization help in species adaptation?

IE

A

Cross, breeding of closely related species = gene variability but hybrids are often sterile 

IE: 1-4% Of European and Asian descent is homo Neanderthalensis, a species distinct from Homo sapiens. Grizzly and polar bear.

 Jeans me a jump from one area of a chroma zone to another, changing the influence.  still takes long time.

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22
Q

What is a faster version of natural selection?

A

Rapid change that occurs within the lifetime of the individual. “ Evolved modifiability” a.k.a. learning 

23
Q

Natural selection helps the ___ to adapt to change, not the ___

A

Species, individual

24
Q

What is the criticism to “learning has been described as the acquisition of behavior”

A

Learning is a change in behaviour due to experience. Due to a change in environment.
*CHANGE vs acquisition

Learning does not always involve acquiring, but always change
ie: Quit smoking, stop, biting, nails, fight less 
Durability shouldn’t be a factor
ie: chest pain or star explodes

25
Q

Discuss evidence that covert speech is a diminutive form of speech.

A

Mumble/inner, tiny or short

If thinking, was different than Ouvert speech, stimulation, probably wouldn’t interfere with both

ie: Magnetic stimulation to the area of the brain involved in language interfered with overt and Covert

Stroke interferes with ability to speak to others and herself, Neuroanatomist. 

26
Q

Discuss unconscious thoughts

A

They are not a behaviour nor a thought. Oxymoron.
ie: Brains routine activities like salivary glands or liver

27
Q

What is stimulus?

Examples

___

A

Physical changes in environment.
…
Air pressure = sound
Light waves = sights
Fragrance of a rose (sig. Beyond physical properties. Remind us of someone) but their physical properties to find
…

A stimulus is an environmental event that is capable of affecting BEHAVIOUR

28
Q

What is experience?

Relate experience to behavior, and learning

Examples 

A

A change in the environment…
Learning is due to experience, thus learning is a change in behaviour due to changes in the environment

29
Q

Do all changes in behavior, even those resulting from changes in the environment, qualify as learning?

Examples

A

But no. Not if due to drugs, injury, aging, disease
Tranquilizer x= learn to be calm
Agreeable ppl + head injury = argumentative

Relating to natural selection, no change in environment, no change in species. For learning, no change in environment, no change in behaviour

30
Q

Define habituation

Examples

___

A

Habituation involves a DECREASE in the probability or intensity of a response…as a result of repeatedly invoking the response

Loud loses affect cars, measured in EEG

Noise = HR baby/fetus

31
Q

What factors influence habituation?

A

The rate of habituation depends on:

Intensity
Variations
Number of times it happens
Intervals between repeated

32
Q

What is the focus of the nature versus nurture argument?

Criticize its use as a debate strategy.

Examples

A

Heredity versus learning,in determining behaviour.
…
Create an artificial division

Cats and Rats - Kuo (29)
Aggression in humans - Wilson: Most violent comes from genetics and learning. Aboriginal African murder rate With competition for resources, Semai fighting gorillas 

33
Q

Describe evidence that indicates that heredity and environmental factors influence the ability to learn

A

Hart & Risley: Study of children’s home environments (29)
-Race and socioeconomic held constant
-More verbal exchange, higher on intelligence tests

34
Q

Behaviour is anything an organism does that can ___

A

Be measured

35
Q

Kuo’s Experiment showed that whether cats killed rats depended on whether they saw ___

A

Their mothers kill rats

36
Q

What two forces contribute to behavior?

A

Natural selection, which modifies characteristics of the species, including behaviour

Learning, which modifies the behaviour of the individual

37
Q

Explain the meaning of Thomas Henry Huxley’s quote

Example

A

Huxleys “strikes at the heart of what it means to be a scientist, especially a behavioural scientists. The ability to be guided by one’s observations above all else is essential. 
Do not look for an explanation of behaviour inside the mind. Use the natural science approach. Learning is a natural phenomenon and can, and must be accounted for like any other natural phenomenon 

38
Q

Describe the law of parsimony

What is its relation to hypothetical events? 

A

fundamental principle of science.
The simplest explanation
The fewer assumptions [unverified events] required by an explanation, the better.
ie: geocentric vs. Heliocentric theory (sun. current)

Scientists accept explanation of behaviour that rely on hyp event - Take place in mind.

Freud’s Thanatos - Unconscious drive towards self destruction. Law of parsimony says that if hereditary and environmental events, are explained by observed natural phenomenon, there’s no point in speculating about the conscious or unconscious mind. 


39
Q

Name, and describe the ways of measuring learning (7)

Examples

A

Changes in:
1) qty of errors:
ie: rat maze, spelling list
2) topography: The form the behaviour takes.
ie: Mirror, tracing, fish, movement
3) intensity:
ie: rat lever, dog bark volume
4) speed:
ie: rat maze, recite ABCs, surgeon, table manners
5) latency:
ie: dog salivation, x-table, avoid snap judgements (vs)
6) rate or frequency: shows subtle changes. Cumulative recorder > computers 
ie: pigeon pecking, decoding Morse code, musician slowing (vs)
7) Fluency: errors + rate (correct per min)
ie: math score 10/12 = 10/min
*need original ie

40
Q

anecdotal evidence (& flaw) VS case studies

A

1st or 2nd hand personal experience. Often “in my experience” “they say that”. Maybe specific, number of errors made.
‘It’s foolish [but what other options? selecting a marriage partner] Provide useful leads and popular wisdom. Not always wrong, Need better evidence
I.e. Whole language is ineffective, but one person’s experience of that is just an Anecdote
vs
Particular individual inconsiderable detail, rather than casual Observation. Better because it’s more systematic.
Used in medicine and economists. Schools with good results

41
Q

Descriptive studies

Advantages,

Disadvantages 

A

Often interviews or questionnaires
Analyze data from many cases

+
Reduce the risk of Over generalization
Statistical analysis looks at reliable differences between groups
-
Superficial [case study advocates]
May suggest hypotheses to explain a phenomenon, but cannot test them [determine cause-and-effect]

42
Q

Independent variable.
Dependent variable

Define.
Original Examples.

A

1) manipulated
2) varies freely

In learning: change in environment effect on behaviour

Mad minutes with paper or Q cards, results

Note:
controlled variable
Non-experiment

43
Q

Between-subjects experiment

Describe
Example

Why is random assignment appropriate?

A

Compares the responses of different groups of people under different conditions [independent variable]

Experimental group is exposed to a anticipated aggression producing experience.
Control group is not

AKA between group or group designs

May use multiple groups. MembersCan be tested individually.
Validity of this assumption rests on the extent of which the participants Being compared are alike
Random assignment~ More people equals Less differences
Match sampling

44
Q

Within-subject experimental design

Define

Original Example  In the form of ABA reversal design

Diet. School reward.

A

Involves comparing responses made by the same subject or group under different conditions. The same subjects received different values of the independent variable at different periods of time during the experiment.

Baseline Period (A)
Tx period (B)
Return to baseline (A)

ABA = Return to baseline and retast to ensure no outside factors influence the results, in the same study.

More convincing when replicated, large numbers not required. Statistical analysis not required usually

45
Q

Within subject designs.
Vs.
Between subjects design. 

A

Number of participants used
Use of statistics
How extraneous differences among participants are controlled
- BS: Random assignment and matching [differences even out]
- WS: Participants against themselves [differences irrelevant]

46
Q

Chief limitation of experimental research

What helps overcome it? 

Laboratory Experiments
Vs.
Field Experiments

A

Artificial environment= artificial view
Simple independent variable = simple behaviour
(Control = better results, easier to interpret)
….
Add Field experiences to test lab results.
Rats maze. Rats wild. Student learning, lab, class.

47
Q

Three reasons for using animals in learning research

A

1) Control over the influence of heredity [Sourced from research supply companies]
Human twin studies are OK, less identical than we think, can’t rely on them for all research on behaviour 
2) Able to control the participants learning history
3) Ethical reasonings (depression, aggression)

48
Q

Objections to using animals in learning research

Valid?

Counter arguments?

A

1)* most common: Results tell us nothing about people
Valid? Researchers are aware of differences but usually similar. Rat experiments must be confirmed by descriptive or experimental studies in people. Usually right.

2) no practical value
Counter: Often answer, esoteric, theoretical questions, often have practical value.
Humane animal treatment/training. 

3) intrinsically unethical
Counter: True. Ie: Chimpanzee 98% human genes. Eat? Ride/jump horses? Animal workers/pets. Not beaten, teased, hot car, no, Vet, abandoned, living quarters

49
Q

American psychological Association guidelines for research on animals

A

1) Work for food, but less than domestic or wild animals
2) use of aversives (Stimuli it would avoid given the option).  use only when needed and no more severe then required. Benefits must be worth it.
3) inspections

50
Q

What is the major criticism regarding the use of computer simulation to replace animal research?

A

Cannot program it to stimulate the effects of a variable on behavior, until we know what those effects are

51
Q

What are the assumptions of the natural science approach?

A

1) all natural phenomenon are caused.
2) Causes proceed their affects.
3) the causes of natural events include only natural phenomena.
4) the simplest explanation that fits the data is best. [the law of parsimony]. 

52
Q

Define learning

What is it not

A

The changes in behaviour being measured are learning, not the result of learning

53
Q

Key components of learning for studying behaviour

A

1) Natural scientific approach
2) Measures of learning
3) Sources of data
4) Use of animals

54
Q

Problems with case studies

A

Take a lot of time
Generalizations are often made on a few cases Not representative of larger group
Cannot answer certain questions about behavior [ladder, Homosexuality aneurotic disorder]
Data comes from people’s reports, not direct observation of behavior

Better control is required (descriptive studies)

Psyc 387 (2 decks)

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