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Intro to Psych > Unit 1 & 2 Elaina & Unit 3 & 4 Rachel- Test 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 & 2 Elaina & Unit 3 & 4 Rachel- Test 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Define psychology

A

Psychology is defined as the scientific study of behaviour and mental process.

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2
Q

List and describe the four goals of psychology:

A

•The four goals of psychology are:
o DESCRIPTION-making accurate notes about behaviours or situations we observe
o EXPLANATION-an understanding of the conditions under which a given behaviour or mental process occurs, goes beyond description
o PREDICTION-met when researches can specify the conditions which a behaviour or event is likely to occur
o INFLUENCE-accomplished when researchers know how to apply a principle or change a condition to prevent unwanted occurrences or to bring about desired outcomes.

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3
Q

What are the two research methods used in psychology?

A

o Basic, or pure research- to seek new knowledge and to explore a general scientific understanding. Basic research investigates such topics such as the nature of money, brain function, motivation, and emotional expression and the causes of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, depression ect.

o Applied research- conducted with scientific goals of solving practical problems and improving people’s quality of life. Applied focuses on methods to improve memory or increase motivation, therapies to treat mental disorders, factors that improve people’s job situation.

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4
Q

Describe the differences between the independent variable and dependant variable.

A
  • An independent variable is a variable that the researcher manipulates (the treatment) in order to determine its effect on another behaviour or condition, known as the dependent variable. In some research the independent variable is referred to as the treatment.
  • A dependent variable is measured at the end of the experiment and is presumed to vary (increase or decrease) as a result if the manipulations of the independent variable or variables.
  • The dependent variable is to effect as independent is to cause.
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5
Q

Why are psychology tests important in assessing the participant (client).

A

•Participants are needed when psychologists develop and use a wide range of tests for measuring intelligence, scholastic achievement, aptitudes, creativity, vocational interests, personality traits, and psychiatric problems. These psychological tests are useless unless they are both reliable and valid.

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6
Q

Differentiate between reliability and validity:

A
  • Reliability-the ability of a test to yield nearly the same scores when the same people are tested and then retested using the same test or alternative form of the test. Refers to the consistency of the test.
  • Validity-The ability of a test to measure what is intended to measure.
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7
Q

What was William Wundt’s contribution to psychology?

A

•William Wundt is generally thought of as the founder of psychology

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8
Q

Describe the school of psychology known as structuralism.

A

•Structuralism was the first school of psychology, which aimed at analyzing the basic elements, or the structure, of conscious mental experience. Structuralism was criticized for its primary method, introspection.

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9
Q

Describe the functionalist school of psychology.

A

•Functionalism was concerned not with the structure of consciousness but with how mental processes function- that is, with how humans and animals use mental processes in adapting to their environment.

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10
Q

What is known as the science of behaviour?

A

•Behaviourism is known as the science of behaviour. Behaviourism confined itself to the study of behaviour because it was observable and measurable and, therefore, objective and scientific.

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11
Q

What is the term used by Freud for both his theory of personality and his therapy for the treatment of psychological disorders? the unconscious is the primary focus of psychoanalytic theory.

A

•Psychoanalysis

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12
Q

oFocuses on uniqueness of human beings & their capacity for choice, growth & psychological health?

A

•Humanistic psychology

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13
Q

Emphasizes biological process & hereditary as the keys to understanding behaviour & thinking?

A

•Biological psychology

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14
Q

Define Sociocultural psychology:

A

o Emphasizes social & cultural influences on human behaviour & stresses the importance of understanding those influences when we interpret those influences when we interpret the behaviour of others

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15
Q

Define Cognitive psychology:

A

o Focuses on mental processes such as memory, problem solving, concept formation reasoning & decision making language & perception.

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16
Q

Which perspective focuses on how humans have evolved & adapted behaviours required for survival against various environment pressures over the long course of evolution.

A

Evolutionary psychology

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17
Q

What are the 7 major neurotransmitters?

A
  1. Acetylcholine
  2. Dopamine
  3. Norepinephrine
  4. Epinephrine
  5. Serotonin
  6. GABA
  7. Endorphins
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18
Q

Which neurotransmitter is responsible for movement, learning, memory, REM sleep

A

Acetylcholine

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19
Q

Which neurotransmitter is responsible for learning, attention, movement? reinforcement

A

Dopamine

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20
Q

Which neurotransmitter is responsible for eating habits, sleep

A

Norepinephrine

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21
Q

Which neurotransmitter is responsible for the metabolism of glucose, energy release during exercise

A

Epinephrine

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22
Q

What is the function of Serotonin?

A

Serotonin- neurobiological functions such as mood, sleep, impulsivity, aggression, and appetite

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23
Q

What is the function of GABA?

A

GABA- neural inhibition in the central nervous system

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24
Q

What is the function of Endorphins?

A

Endorphins- relief from pain; feelings of pleasure and well-being

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25
Q

Describe two parts of the nervous system: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

A
  • The central nervous system- the brain and the spinal cord.

* The peripheral nervous system- connects the central nervous system to all other parts of the body

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26
Q

Explain briefly the relationships among the parts of the nervous system and provide a brief description of their function.

A

The spinal cord literally links the body with the brain. It transmits messages from the brain and the peripheral nervous system. Sensory information can reach the brain , and messages from the brain can be sent to the muscles, glands, and other parts of the body. The spinal cord and brain usually work together , but the spinal cord can act without help from the brain to protect us from injury. Eg Withdrawing your hand from a hot stove. When the pain signal reaches the brain the brain becomes involved.

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27
Q

What is the function of the Brainstem?

A

handles functions that are vital to our physical survival and damage to it is life-threatening

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28
Q

What is the function of the spinal cord?

A

Spinal cord- it transmits messages between the brain and the peripheral nervous system

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29
Q

What is the function of the Hypothalamus?

A

•Hypothalamus- controls the pituitary gland and regulates hunger, thirst, sexual behaviour, body temperature, and a wide variety of emotional behaviour. The psychological changes in the body that accompany strong emotion (e.g. sweaty palms) are initiated by neurons concentrated mainly in this structure

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30
Q

What is the function of the Thalamus?

A

•Thalamus- the relay station for virtually all information that flows into and out of the higher brain centers. Affects our ability to learn new information, especially if it is verbal.

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31
Q

What is the function of the Reticular formation?

A

Reticular formation- plays a crucial role in arousal and attention, and screens sensory messages entering the brain

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32
Q

What is the function of cerebellum?

A

•Cerebellum- its main functions are to execute smooth, skilled movements and to regulate muscle tone and posture. It has been found to play a role in motor learning and retaining memories of motor activities.

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33
Q

What is the function of Medulla?

A

The part of the brain that conrols heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, coughing, & swallowing.

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34
Q

Describe the primary function of the frontal lobe?

A

Largest lobe, contain the motor cortex, broca’s area, and the frontal association.

  • The motor cortex controls voluntary body movements- the right controls the left side of the body and the left side controls te right side of the body.
  • Broca’s area- responsible for speech production. Loss of speech is known as APHASIA.
  • Frontal Association- involved in thinking, motivation, planning for the future, impulse control & emotional responses.
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35
Q

Describe the primary function of the parietal lobe

A

The parietal lobes are involved in the reception & processing of touch stimuli. The somatosensory cortex is where touch, pressure, temperature, and pain register in the cortex.

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36
Q

Describe the primary function of the occipital lobe

A

The lobes that contain the primary visual cortex, where vision registers, and association areas involved in the interpretation of visual information.

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37
Q

Describe the primary function of the temporal lobe?

A

The lobes that contain the primary auditory cortex, Wernicke’s area (left lobe), and association areas for interpreting auditory information.

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38
Q

What is the main functions of the left hemisphere?

A

The left handles most of the language functions, including speaking, writing, reading, & understanding the spoken word.

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39
Q

What is the main functions of the right hemisphere?

A

The right hemisphere is better at recognizingpatterns, whether of familiar voices, melodies, & music, or visual patterns. Reading & interpreting non-verbal behaviour, such as gestures & facial expressions.

40
Q

What are important functions played by the glands on the endocrine system?

A

A system of ductless glands in various parts of the body that manufacture and secrete hormones into the bloodstream or lymph fluids, thus affecting cells in other oarts of the body.

41
Q

Describe the difference between sensation and perception.

A

Sensation: the process by which the senses detect visual, auditory, and other sensory stimuli and transmit them to the brain; sensory information that has registered in the brain but has not been interpreted.
Perception: the process by which sensory information is actively organized and interpreted by the brain.

42
Q

Absolute Threshold

A

: the minimum amount of sensory stimulation that can be detected 50% of the time.

43
Q

Difference Threshold

A

: the smallest increase or decrease in a physical stimulus required to produce a difference in sensation that is noticeable 50% of the time (the just noticeable difference).

44
Q

Signal Detection Theory

A

: the view that detection of a sensory stimulus involves both discriminating a stimulus from a background “noise” and deciding whether the stimulus is actually present.

45
Q

Sensory Receptors

A

: Specialized cells in each sense organ that detect and respond to sensory stimuli – light, sound, odours, etc. – and transduce (convert) the stimuli into neural impulses.

46
Q

Sensory Adaptation

A

: the process of becoming less sensitive to an unchanging sensory stimulus over time.

47
Q

Vision:

A

what we see. We cannot see any object unless light is reflected from it or given off by it. It is our most important sensory connections to the world. Vision provides most of the information on which our brain feeds.

48
Q

Transduction

A

: the process by which sensory receptors convert sensory stimulation – light, sound, odours, etc. – into neural impulses.

49
Q

Hearing:

A

sound; what we hear.

50
Q

Smell:

A

sensing scents. Olfaction, the sense of smell, is a chemical sense. We cannot smell a substance unless some of its molecules vaporize. Heat speeds up the evaporation of molecules, and the smell becomes stronger.

51
Q

Taste:

A

Gustation, the sensation of taste, produces 5 distinct kinds of sensations – sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (response to the chemical glutamate). All five taste sensations can be detected on all locations of the tongue. There are also taste receptors in the palate, the mucus linings of the cheeks and lips, and in parts of the throat including the tonsils. Flavour is the combined sensory experience of taste, smell, and touch.

52
Q

Touch:

A

tactile information is conveyed to the brain when an object touches and depresses the skin, stimulating one or more of the several distinct types of receptors in the nerve endings. These sensitive nerve endings in the skin send the touch message through nerve connections to the spinal cord. The message travels up the spinal cord and through the brainstem and the midbrain, finally reaching the brain’s somatosensory cortex. Only then do we become aware of where and how hard we have been touched.

53
Q

Explain how the skin provides sensory information.

A

sensitive nerve endings in the skin send the touch message through nerve connections to the spinal cord. The message travels up the spinal cord and through the brainstem and the midbrain, finally reaching the brain’s somatosensory cortex. Only then do we become aware of where and how hard we have been touched.

54
Q

Describe how Gate-Control Theory functions as a valuable warning and protective mechanism in the body.

A

the theory that pain signals transmitted by slow-firing nerve fibers can be blocked at the spinal gate if fast-firing fibers get their message to the spinal cord first, or if the brain itself inhibits the transmission of the pain messages.

55
Q

Kinesthetic sense:

A

the sense that provides information about the position of body parts and about body movement, detected by sensory receptors in the joints, ligaments, and muscles.

56
Q

Vestibular sense:

A

the sense that provides information about movement and our orientation in space through sensory receptors in the semicircular canals (provide information about rotating head movement) and the vestibular sacs, which detect changes in the movement and orientation of the head.

57
Q

Gestalt Principles of Perceptual Organization:

A

We organize our sensory experience according to figure-ground relationship and other principles of perceptual grouping.

58
Q

Figure-ground relationship:

A

the visual field is perceived in terms of an object standing out against a background.

59
Q

Gestalt:

A

roughly meaning form or pattern

60
Q

Principles of Perceptual Grouping: 4

A
  • Similarity: Objects that have similar characteristics are perceived as a unit.
  • Proximity: Objects that are close together in space or time as usually perceived as belonging together.
  • Continuity: we perceive figures or objects as belonging together if they appear to form a continuous pattern.
  • Closure: Our tendency to complete figures with gaps in them.
61
Q

4 Types of Perceptual Constancy:

A
  • Size constancy: the tendency to perceive objects as the same size regardless of changes in the retinal image.
  • Shape constancy: the tendency to perceive objects as having a stable or unchanging shape regardless of differences in viewing angle.
  • Brightness constancy: the tendency to see objects as maintaining the same brightness regardless of differences in lighting conditions.
  • Colour constancy: the tendency to see objects as maintaining about the same colour regardless of differences in lighting conditions.
62
Q

Depth Perception:

A

the ability to see in three dimensions and to estimate distance.

63
Q

Binocular Depth Cues:

A

depth cues that depend on two eyes working together; convergence and binocular disparity.

64
Q

Monocular Depth Cues:

A

depth cues that can be perceived by only one eye.

65
Q

Influences on Perception:

A

In recognizing patterns, two distinct information-processing techniques are used.
Bottom-up: Combines assembled individual elements of a stimulus until a complete perception is formed (unfamiliar situations).
Top-down: Uses previous experience and conceptual knowledge to first recognize the whole of a perception (situations where we have prior experience and knowledge).

66
Q

Different states of consciousness:

A

Consciousness: the continuous stream of perceptions, thoughts, feelings, or sensations of which we are aware from moment to moment.
Altered states of consciousness: a mental state other than ordinary waking consciousness, such as sleep, meditation, hypnosis, or a drug-induced state.

67
Q

Circadian Rhythm:

A

Within each 24-hour period, the regular fluctuation from high to low points of a bodily function, such as sleep/wakefulness. Some bodily functions/abilities that follow circadian rhythms: blood pressure, heart rate, appetite, secretion of hormones and digestive enzymes, sensory activity, elimination, and the body’s response to medication.

68
Q

List the problems that employees who work rotation shifts would experience.

A

They experience a disruption in rhythms of many bodily functions that are normally synchronized for daytime, which can cause a variety of physical and psychological problems. More likely to cut back on sleep, spend less time with spouse, to worry about not spending enough time with family. They average 2-4 hours less sleep, as well as more gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems.

69
Q

Differentiate between NREM and REM sleep.

A

NREM – non-rapid eye movement sleep. It is often called “quiet sleep” because the heart rate are slow and regular, there is little body movement, and blood pressure and brain activity is at its lowest point. There are four stages (stage 1 – lightest, stage 4 – deepest). Gradual process from one stage to next.
REM – rapid eye movement sleep. Often called “active sleep”; characterized by paralysis of large muscles, fast and irregular heart rate and respiration rate, increased brain-wave activity, and vivid dreams.

70
Q

Describe our predictable sleep cycles.

A

Sleep cycle – a cycle of sleep lasting about 90 minutes and including one or more stages of NREM sleep followed by a period of REM sleep.

The first sleep cycle begins with a few minutes in Stage 1 sleep (light sleep). Stage 1 is a transition between waking and sleeping.
Sleepers descend into Stage 2 sleep, in which they are somewhat more deeply asleep and harder to awaken. 50% of total night sleep is spent in this stage. Next, Stage 3 begins – slow-wave sleep (deep sleep). As the sleep gradually becomes deeper, brain activity slows and more delta waves (slowest brain-wave pattern) appear in the ECG. When there are 50% delta waves on the ECG, people are said to be in Stage 4 sleep, the deepest sleep when people are hardest to awaken.
After about 40 minutes in Stage 4 sleep, brain activity increases and the delta waves begin to disappear from the ECG. Then the sleeper ascends into Stage 3 and Stage 2 sleep, then enter the first REM period of the night (lasts about 10 – 15 minutes). At the end of the REM sleep, the sleep cycle is complete, and can restart. After the first two sleep cycles, people alternate between Stage 2 and REM periods get progressively longer.

71
Q

Explain how sleep patterns change over the lifespan.

A

Infants and young children have the longest sleep time and highest percentage of REM and deep sleep. Children in middle adulthood (between 6 and puberty) fall asleep easily, sleep soundly for 8.5 – 9 hours at night and feel awake and alert during the day.
As people age, they generally experience a decrease in quality and quantity of sleep. Older people have more difficulty falling asleep; they typically have a lighter sleep, and more and longer awakenings than younger people. Slow-wave sleep decreases substantially between the ages 30 to 50. The percentage of REM sleep stays the same.

72
Q

Describe how sleep deprivation affects humans.

A

You may experience difficulty concentrating, lapses in attention, and general irritability after missing two or three nights of sleep. Some people experience minor hallucinations after 60 hours. Commonly people who try to stay awake for long periods of time will have microsleeps – two or three second lapses from wakefulness into sleep. Negative effects of sleep deprivation are: impact on mood, alertness, and performance. REM rebound: the increased amount of REM sleep that occurs after REM deprivation; often associated with unpleasant dreams or nightmares.

73
Q

Explain the difference between REM and NREM dreams.

A

REM dreams: Having a dream-like and story-like quality; the type of dream that occurs almost continuously during each REM period; more vivid, visual, emotional, and bizarre than NREM dreams.
NREM dreams: Mental activity occurring during NREM sleep that is more thought like in quality than are REM dreams.

74
Q

Voluntary Forms of Altered Consciousness:

Meditation:

A

A group of techniques that involve focusing attention on an object, a word, one’s breathing, or body movement in order to block out all distractions and achieve an altered state of consciousness.

75
Q

Voluntary Forms of Altered Consciousness:

Hypnosis:

A

A trance like state of concentrated, focused attention, heightened suggestibility, and diminished response to external stimuli.

76
Q

Psychoactive drug:

A

A drug that alters normal mental functioning – mood, perception, or thought; if used medically, called a controlled substance.

77
Q

Physical drug dependence:

A

A compulsive pattern of drug use in which the user develops a drug tolerance coupled with unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when the drug is discontinued.

78
Q

Drug tolerance:

A

A condition in which the user becomes progressively less affected by the drug so that larger and larger doses are necessary to achieve or maintain the same effect.

79
Q

Withdrawal symptoms:

A

The physical and psychological symptoms (usually the opposite of those produced by the drug) that occur when a regularly used drug is discontinued and that terminate when the drug is taken again.

80
Q

Psychological drug dependence:

A

A craving or irresistible urge for a drug’s pleasurable effects.

81
Q

Stimulants:

A

A category of drugs that speed up activity in the central nervous system, suppress appetite, and cause a person to feel more awake, alert, and energetic.

82
Q

Amphetamines:

A

A class of central nervous system stimulants that increase arousal, relieve fatigue, and suppress the appetite.

83
Q

Crash:

A

The feelings of depression, exhaustion, irritability, and anxiety that occur following an amphetamine, cocaine, or a crack high.

84
Q

Hallucinogens:

A

A category of drug, sometimes called psychedelics that alter perception and mood and can cause hallucinations.

85
Q

Flashback:

A

The brief recurrence of effects a person has experienced while taking LSD or other hallucinogens, occurring suddenly and without warning at a later time.

86
Q

Cocaine:

A

A stimulant that produces a feeling of euphoria.

87
Q

Crack:

A

The most potent, inexpensive, and addictive form of cocaine, and the form that is smoked.

88
Q

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide):

A

A powerful hallucinogen with unpredictable effects ranging from perceptual changes and vivid hallucinations to states of panic and terror.

89
Q

Ecstasy (MDMA):

A

A designer drug that is a hallucinogen-amphetamine and can produce permanent damage of the serotonin-releasing neurons.

90
Q

Heroin:

A

A highly addictive, partly synthetic narcotic derived from morphine.

91
Q

Narcotics:

A

Derived from the opium poppy, a class of depressant drugs that have pain-relieving and calming effects.

92
Q

Tranquilizer (minor):

A

A central nervous system depressant that calms the user.

93
Q

Barbiturates:

A

A class of addictive central nervous system depressants used a sedatives, sleeping pills, and anaesthetics; in overdose can cause coma or death.

94
Q

Alcohol:

A

A central nervous system depressant.

95
Q

Depressants:

A

Drugs that decrease activity in the central nervous system, slow down bodily functions, and reduce sensitivity to outside stimulus.

96
Q

THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol):

A

The principle psychoactive ingredient in marijuana and hashish.

97
Q

Marijuana:

A

A hallucinogen with effects ranging from relaxation and giddiness to perceptual distortions and hallucinations.

Intro to Psych (4 decks)

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