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Intro to Psychology > Unit 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Evolutionary Perspective

A

Studies generations of traits

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2
Q

Neuroscience Perspective

A

Studies the brain and emotions

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3
Q

Behavior Genetics Perspective

A

Studies the influences of gene and environment

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4
Q

Psychodynamic Perspective

A

Studies how the brain springs from conflict

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5
Q

Behavioral Perspective

A

Studies learned responses

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6
Q

Cognitive Perspective

A

Studies how the brain processes and stores information

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7
Q

Social-cultural Perspective

A

Studies how thinking and behavior vary across cultures

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8
Q

The Biopsychosocial Approach

A

An approach that integrates different but complementary views from biological, psychological, and social-cultural perspectives

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9
Q

Hindsight Bias

A

The belief that we could have predicted something after it already occurred

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10
Q

Dual Processing

A

Our mind processes information at the same time (conscious and unconscious tracks)

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11
Q

Behavior Genetics

A

How our genes and environment interact with and influence our individual differences

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12
Q

Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists

A

Assess and treat people with mental and behavioral disorders

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13
Q

Operation Definition

A

A carefully worded statement of exact procedures used in a research study

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14
Q

Correlation and Causation

A

Correlation suggests a possible cause-effect relationship, but does not prove causation

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15
Q

Case Study

A

A descriptive technique in which one individual of group is studied in depth in hopes of revealing a universal principle

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16
Q

Naturalistic Observation

A

A descriptive technique of observing and recording behavior in natural occurring situations, without changing or controlling the situation

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17
Q

Survey

A

A descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of that group

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18
Q

Experimentation

A

The process of performing a scientific procedure, especially in a laboratory, to determine something

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19
Q

Random assignment

A

Assigning participants to experimental groups and control groups by chance, which minimizes the any preexisting differences between the groups

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20
Q

Population

A

All those in a group being studied, from which random sampling may be drawn

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21
Q

Experimental group

A

In an experiment, the group that is exposed to the treatment or change

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22
Q

Control group

A

In an experiment, the group that is NOT exposed to the treatment or change (serves as a comparison for the experimental group for judging the effects)

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23
Q

Independent variable

A

The variable that is being changed and effect is studied

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24
Q

Dependent variables

A

The variable that is measured (may change when the independent variable is changed)

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25
Informed consent
Permission based on researched giving people enough information about a study to enable them to decide whether they wish to participate or not
26
Sympathetic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system subdivision that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy
27
Parasympathetic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system subdivision that calms the body, conserving its energy
28
Peripheral nervous system
The sensory and motor neurons connecting the central nervous system to the rest of the body
29
Neural networks
Neurons that cluster together into work groups
30
Endorphins
Neurotransmitters that influence the perception of pain and pleasure
31
Acetylcholine
Neurotransmitters that enable muscle action, learning, and memory
32
Dopamine
Neurotransmitters that influences movement, learning, attention, and mood
33
Norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline)
Neurotransmitters that helps control alertness and arousal
34
Oxytocin
Neurotransmitters that are associated with emotions and good feelings
35
The fight or flight response
Automatic reaction to a frightening or stressful event that activated the sympathetic nervous system
36
Frontal lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex that lies just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments
37
Parietal lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex that lies at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
38
Temporal lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex that lies roughly above the ears; includes areas that receive information from the ears
39
Occipital lobes
The portion of the cerebral cortex that lies at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from visual fields
40
Cerebellum
The hindbrain’s “little brain” at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input, coordinating motor output and balance, and enabling nonverbal learning and memory
41
Amygdala
Two almond-shaped neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion
42
Reticular formation
Nerve network running through the brainstem and into the thalamus; plays an important role in controlling arousal
43
Neuroplasticity
The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience
44
Selective attention
Focusing conscious awareness of a particular stimulus
45
Inattentional blindness
Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere
46
Hypnagogic sensations
Feeling bodily sensations that are not actually occurring, like the feeling of falling just before falling asleep
47
REM sleep
Rapid eye movement; a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur, muscles relax but other body systems are active
48
Insomnia
Recurring problems in falling or staying asleep
49
Nightmares
A frightening or unpleasant dream
50
Night terrors
A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified; usually occur during N3 deep sleep and are infrequently remembered
51
Nature vs Nurture
How our genetic inheritance (nature) interacts with our experiences (nurture)
52
Teratogens
Chemicals or viruses that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm
53
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Physical and mental function deficits in children caused by their birth mother’s heavy drinking during pregnancy
54
Sensorimotor (Piaget's stages of cognitive development)
The stage of cognitive development (from birth to nearly 2 years of age) at which infants know the world mostly in terms of their sensory impressions and motor activities
55
Preoperational (Piaget's stages of cognitive development)
The stage of cognitive development (from about 2 to 6 or 7 years of age) in which a child learns to use language but cannot yet perform mental operations of concrete logic
56
Concrete operational (Piaget's stages of cognitive development)
The stage of cognitive development (from about 7 to 11 years of age) at which children gain the mental operations that enable them to think logically about concrete events
57
Formal operational (Piaget's stages of cognitive development)
The stage of cognitive development (normally beginning at 12 years of age) at which people begin to think logically about abstract concepts
58
Egocentrism
The preoperational child’s difficulty taking another’s point of view
59
Assimilation
Interpreting our new experiences in terms of our existing schemas (beliefs and ideas)
60
Accommodation
Adapting our current schemas (beliefs and ideas) to incorporate new information
61
Object permanence
The awareness that objects continue to exist even when they are not perceived
62
Object conservation
The principle that properties such as mass, volume, and number remain the same despite changes in shapes
63
Attachment
An emotional tie with others; shown in young children by seeking closeness to caregivers and showing distress on separation
64
Stranger anxiety
The fear of strangers that infants commonly display; beginning by about 8 months of age
65
Authoritarian (Parenting style)
Parents that set rules and expect obedience
66
Permissive (Parenting style)
Parents that make few demands and use little punishment
67
Neglectful (Parenting style)
Parents that are uninvolved
68
Authoritative (Parenting style)
Parents that set rules, but encourage discussion and allow exceptions to rules
69
Preconventional morality (Kohlberg’s levels of moral development)
Thinking that focuses on self-interest, obeying rules to avoid punishment, and to gain concrete rewards (before age 9)
70
Conventional morality (Kohlberg’s levels of moral development)
Thinking that focuses on upholding laws and rules to gain social approval or to maintain social order (early adolescence)
71
Post-conventional morality (Kohlberg’s levels of moral development)
Thinking that focuses on actions that reflect belief in basic rights and self-defined ethical principles (adolescence and beyond)
72
Emerging adulthood
A period from about age 18 to mid-twenties, when many Western cultures are no longer adolescents but have not yet achieved full independence as adults
73
Empty nest
A household consisting only of a parent or parents whose children have grown up and left home
74
Generativity
Being productive and supporting future generations
75
Social clock
The culturally preferred timing of social events such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement
76
Depression and anxiety tendencies
Women are two times more likely to develop depression and anxiety
77
The evolutionary perspective
The idea that human behaviors reflect the influence of physical and psychological predispositions that helped human ancestors survive and reproduce
78
Gender roles
A set of expected behaviors, attitudes, and traits for men and women
79
Gender identity
Our personal sense of being male, female, neither, or some combination of male and female
80
Gender typing
The acquisitions of a traditional masculine or feminine role
81
Androgyny
Blending traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine psychological characteristics
82
Tend and befriend
A theory, particularly for females, that people often response to stress by tending to young ones and be seeking connection or befriending one another
83
Spermarche
A male’s first ejaculation
84
Menarche
A female’s first menstrual period
85
Erectile disorder
Inability to develop or maintain an erection due to insufficient blood flow to the penis
86
Sexual distress
Relating to sexual issues and disorders
87
Paraphilia
Sexual arousals from fantasies, behaviors, or urges involving nonhuman objects, the suffering of self or others, and/or non-consenting persons
88
Asexual
Having no sexual attraction toward others
89
Sexual orientation
A person’s identity in relation to who they are sexually attracted, as reflected in our longings (male, female, or both)
90
Transgender
A biologically male or female that has had gender reassignment surgery to become the opposite gender
91
Research on the causes of homosexuality
(1) The size of a certain cell cluster in the hypothalamus, (2) prenatal hormonal exposure, and (3) having multiple older brothers
92
The theory of “nothing but”
The idea that we are determined by nature and nurture
93
Gender bias in the workplace
The tendency to prefer men working jobs and giving special treatment to them

Intro to Psychology (4 decks)

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