Unit 2 Key Terms

Question 1

Circadian Rhythm

Answer 1

the natural cycle of physical, mental, and behavior changes that the body goes through in a 24-hour cycle

Question 2

N1 (Stage 1 of sleep)

Answer 2

The transitional phase between sleep and wakefulness when someone first falls asleep and feels extremely drowsy

Question 3

N2 (Stage 2 of sleep)

Answer 3

The stage when the person falls into deeper relaxation with slower breathing and brain activity, and they can be easily disturbed by external stimuli

Question 4

N3 (Stage 3 of sleep)

Answer 4

The stage defined as “deep sleep” where it is much harder to wake someone up

Question 5

N4 (stage 4 of sleep)

Answer 5

The deepest stage of sleep where most dreaming occurs, known as REM sleep (Rapid Eye Movement)

Question 6

Preconscious

Answer 6

Mental events that are outside of your current conscious awareness but can be brought into consciousness voluntarily.
(Ex. Your art teacher mentioning something you learned in history class, you remember it from your preconscious)

Question 7

Nonconscious

Answer 7

Mental processes that happen outside of conscious awareness.
(Ex. Breathing, Heart rate, temperature)

Question 8

Psychoactive drugs

Answer 8

A substance that alters the way our brain functions and affect our central nervous system . It can affect our cognition, consciousness behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. Using unmonitored or prescribed psychoactive drugs can be dangerous and can cause serious health risks

Question 9

Cognition

Answer 9

The process of the brain that attains knowledge and includes thinking and understanding. Such as problem-solving, perception, remembering, judgment, and conceiving. This can happen consciously or unconsciously

Question 10

Formal Concepts

Answer 10

Concepts that most people agree upon and have a clearly defined definition. Examples of this are animals, math, and vocabulary

Question 11

Natural Concepts

Answer 11

Concepts that are not clearly defined and can have different meanings or rules based on how they are perceived. Some examples include emotions, religions, and morals

Question 12

Hill-climbing

Answer 12

A problem-solving technique that involves taking certain steps in an orderly manner to overcome or solve your problem. They evaluate each step by making sure that each step brings them closer to their solution. An example could be trying to find the end of a maze

Question 13

Working backwards

Answer 13

It is a strategy used to solve problems by starting with the answer to the problem and then taking steps in reverse to end up back to the beginning of the issue. It is essentially, like its name, working backwards to research a solution. (ex. If you are trying to solve one of those paper mazes, you could start from the exit of the maze and work your way back to the starting point)

Question 14

Means-end analysis

Answer 14

It is a problem solving strategy that combines strategies to solve the problem. It uses both the hill-climbing and working backwards strategies. It’s kind of like trial-and-error since you make mini goals or plans based on challenges you face before you reach the end solution

Question 15

Confirmation Bias

Answer 15

It is where people usually look for information that agrees with their already formed opinion while ignoring information that supports the other side of the argument. (ex. If you really want to buy a piece of clothing while online shopping because it looks cute but the majority of the reviews are negative. But, you want the shirt so badly that you buy it regardless of the reviews)

Question 16

Cognitive Dissonance

Answer 16

The discomfort that comes from the awareness that a person’s actions do not match their beliefs. Basically, you believe one thing but you do the opposite of what you believe. (ex. If a person talks about how they are really against speeding but they do it anyway)

Question 17

Classical conditioning

Answer 17

An automatic response being paired with specific stimuli. A learning process of involuntary behaviors

Question 18

Unconscious

Answer 18

complete lack of consciousness.Often drug induced, or result of an injury; never unconscious while sleeping

Question 19

Insomnia

Answer 19

Difficulty falling or staying asleep; can cause depression, fatigue, and/or obesity

Question 20

Narcolepsy

Answer 20

The irresistible urge to fall asleep, usually triggered during periods of heightened stress or emotional arousal. Much like REM sleep

Question 21

Sleep apnea

Answer 21

A disorder in which one stops breathing while sleeping and wakes up to continue breathing. More common in men. (This can cause strokes, heart failure, and insomnia. Often people with this disease use a CACP machine, continuous positive airway pressure.)

Question 22

Operant Conditioning

Answer 22

Operant conditioning - is when there is an influence in the likelihood of an organism that is controlled by consequences of the response. - Reinforcement and punishment

Question 23

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 23

When something is added to a situation in order to encourage a behavior

Question 24

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 24

When something is removed from a situation in order to encourage a behavior

Question 25

Positive Punishment

Answer 25

When something is added to a situation in order to weaken/discourage a behavior Ex. Putting a child in timeout after biting another child in class

Question 26

Negative Punishment

Answer 26

When something is removed from a situation in order to weaken/discourage a behavior
Ex. A student was talking back to a teacher after the teacher told them to put their phone away or they will be written up. Since you were talking back to the teacher you regret it and apologize to her and put your phone away.