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psy100 > vocabulary > Flashcards

vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

absolute threshold

A

the smallest amount of stimulus that can be detected

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2
Q

accommodation

A

the incorporation fo new learning into an existing schema that requires revision of the schema

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3
Q

achievement motivation

A

a desire to excel or outperform others

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4
Q

acquisition

A

the development of a learned response

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5
Q

action potential

A

the electrical signal arising in a neurone’s axon

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6
Q

actor-observer bias

A

emphasizing dispositional attributions to explain the behaviour of others while emphasizing situational attributions to explain our own behaviour

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7
Q

adaption

A

a change because of natural selection

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8
Q

addiction

A

a compulsive physical or psychology dependence on a substance or activity that continues in spite of negative consequences

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9
Q

adolescence

A

a period of development beginning at puberty and ending at young adulthood

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10
Q

affect heuristic

A

a rule of thumb in which we choose between alternatives based on emotion or “gut” reactions to stimuli

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11
Q

affiliation

A

being associated with other people

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12
Q

agoraphobia

A

unrealistic fear of open spaces, being outside the home alone, or being in .a crowd

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13
Q

agreeableness

A

big five personality trait characterized by trustworthiness, altruism, trust, compliance, modesty, and tender mindedness

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14
Q

alarm reaction

A

the first stages of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS) characterized by sympathetic arousal and mental clarity

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15
Q

algorithm

A

a precise, step-by-step set of rules that will reliably generate a solution to a problem

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16
Q

alleles

A

one of several versions of a gene

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17
Q

example of allele

A

having A, B, or O blood type

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18
Q

alpha waves

A

the relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state

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19
Q

altruism

A

behaviour on behalf of another that fails to benefit or harms the individual performing it

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20
Q

amygdala

A

a subcortical structure located in the temporal lobe believed to participate in emotional processing

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21
Q

anorexia nervosa

A

an eating disorder characterized by the maintenance of unusually low body weight and a distorted body image, usually achieved by restricting food

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22
Q

antisocial personality disorder

A

a disorder characterized by an unusual lack of remorse, empathy, or regard for normal social rules and conventions

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23
Q

aphasia

A

impairment of language

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24
Q

broca’s area

A

in the left hemisphere

damage to it causes impaired speech

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25
Q

wernicke’s area

A

in the right hemisphere

damage to it causes impaired understanding

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26
Q

assimilation

A

the incorporation of new learning into an existing schema without needed to revise the schema

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27
Q

example of assimilation

A

seeing a dog and thinking it’s a cat because it has four legs

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28
Q

associative learning

A

the formation of associations, or connections, among stimuli and behaviours

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29
Q

attachment

A

emotional bond linking an infant to a parent or caregiver

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30
Q

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A

a disorder characterized by either unusual inattentiveness, hyperactivity with impulsivity, or both

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31
Q

attribution

A

a judgement about the cause of a person’s behaviour

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32
Q

the two types of attributions

A

dispositional

situational

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33
Q

autism spectrum disorder

A

a disorder characterized by deficits in social relatedness and communication skills that are often accompanied by repetitive, ritualistic behaviour

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34
Q

autobiographical memories

A

semantic or episodic memories that reference the self

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35
Q

autonomic nervous system

A

the division of the peripheral nervous system that directs the activity of glands, organs, and smooth muscles
involuntary bodily functions

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36
Q

availability heuristic

A

a rule of thumb in which the frequency of an event’s occurrence is predicted by the ease with which the event is brought to mind

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37
Q

aversion therapy

A

an application of counterconditioning in which a conditioned stimulus (CS) formerly paired with a pleasurable unconditioned response (USC) is instead paired with an unpleasant USC

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38
Q

example of aversion therapy

A

treating alcoholism with antabuse

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39
Q

axon

A

the branch of a neurone that is usually responsible for transmitting informations to other neurones

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40
Q

basal ganglia

A

a collection of subcortical structures that participate in the control of movement, specifically fine motor skills

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41
Q

basilar membrane

A

membrane in the cochlea

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42
Q

behaviourism

A

an approach that features the study and careful measurement of observable behaviours

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43
Q

notable behaviourists

A

B.F. Skinner
Ivan Pavlov
John Watson

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44
Q

beta waves

A

smaller and faster brain waves, typically indicating mental activity and alert waking

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45
Q

big five personality traits

A 
conscientiousness
agreeableness
neuroticism
openness
extroversion
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46
Q

binge-eating disorder

A

an eating disorder characterized by eating abnormally large amounts of food at one sitting and feeling that eating is out of control, without compensatory behaviours such as induced vomiting or the use of laxatives

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47
Q

binocular cues

A

a depth cue that requires the use of both eyes

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48
Q

biological clock

A

an internal mechanism that provides an approximate schedule for various physical processes

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49
Q

biopsychosocial model

A

a model that sees health as the result of biological, psychological, and social factors

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50
Q

bipolar disorder

A

a mood disorder characterized by alternating periods of mania and depression

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51
Q

body dysmorphic disorder

A

a disorder characterized by the unrealistic perception of physical flaws

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52
Q

body mass index (BMI)

A

a height-to-weight ratio used to identify healthy weight, underweight, and obesity

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53
Q

what is the problem with BMI?

A

it doesn’t account for muscle mass

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54
Q

borderline personality disorder

A

a disorder characterized by instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotion

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55
Q

bottom-up processing

A

perception based on building simple input into more complex perceptions

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56
Q

brainstem components

A

midbrain
pons
medulla

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57
Q

brief therapy

A

psychotherapy provided in a short time frame, usually between three and five sessions

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58
Q

bulimia nervosa

A

an eating disorder characterized by bingeing, purging, and having feelings of depression, disgust, and lost control

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59
Q

bystander intervention

A

the study of situational variables related to helping a stranger, most notably the decreased likelihood of helping as the number of bystanders increases

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60
Q

cannon-bard theory

A

a theory of emotion featuring the simultaneous and independent occurrence of physical sensations and subjective feelings during an emotional experience

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61
Q

example with cannon-bard theory in use

A

seeing a snake will prompt both fear (emotional response) and a racing heartbeat (physical response) simultaneously

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62
Q

case study

A

an in-depth analysis of the behaviour of one person or a small number of people

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63
Q

catharsis

A

a theory of emotion that views emotion as a reservoir that fills up and spills over; it predicts that expressing an emotion will reduce arousal

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64
Q

cell body

A

the large, central mass of a neurone, containing the nucleus

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65
Q

cerebellum

A

a structure attached to the brainstem that participates in skilled movement, and in humans, complex cognitive processing

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66
Q

main functions of the cerebellum

A

coordination and balance

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67
Q

chunking

A

the process of grouping similar or meaningful information together

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68
Q

cingulate cortex

A

a subcortical structure above the corpus callosum. its anterior (forward) segment participates in decision making and emotion while its posterior (rear) segment participates in memory and visual processing

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69
Q

circadian rhythm

A

a daily biological internal clock

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70
Q

classical conditioning

A

type of learning in which associations are formed between two stimuli that occur sequentially in time

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71
Q

clinical psychology

A

the psychological perspective that seeks to explain, define, and treat abnormal behaviours

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72
Q

cochlea

A

structure in the inner ear that contains auditory receptors

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73
Q

cognition

A

internal mental processes including information processing, thinking, reasoning, and problem solving

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74
Q

cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)

A

a combination of cognitive restructuring with behavioural treatments that has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of many psychological disorders

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75
Q

cognitive consistency

A

a preference for holding congruent attitudes and beliefs

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76
Q

cognitive dissonance

A

the uncomfortable state that occurs when behaviours and attitudes do not match

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77
Q

how is cognitive dissonance resolved?

A

through attitude changes

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78
Q

cognitive psychology

A

the psychological perspective that investigates information processing, thinking, reasoning, and problem solving

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79
Q

cognitive restructuring

A

a technique used in cognitive therapies in which new, ration beliefs replace the earlier, irrational beliefs held by the client

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80
Q

comorbid

A

two or more disorders in the same individuals

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81
Q

compliance

A

agreement with a request from a person with no perceived authority

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82
Q

compulsions

A

repetitive, ritualistic behaviour with high anxiety

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83
Q

what disorders are compulsions often found in?

A

OCD and autism

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84
Q

concrete operational stage

A

Jean Piaget’s theory of development
ages 6 to 12
characterized by logical but not abstract reasoning

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85
Q

conditioned (secondary) reinforcer

A

a reinforcer that gains value from being associated with other things that are valued

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86
Q

example of secondary reinforcer

A

money

grades

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87
Q

conditioned response (CR)

A

a response learned through classical conditioning

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88
Q

conditioned stimulus (CS)

A

an environmental event whose significance is learned through classical conditioning

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89
Q

cones

A

a photoreceptor un the retina that processes colour and fine detail

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90
Q

confirmation bias

A

the tendency to notice and remember instances that support your beliefs more than instances that contradict them

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91
Q

conformity

A

matching behaviours and appearance to perceived social norms

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92
Q

confounding variables

A

variables that are irrelevant to the hypothesis being testes but can alter a researcher’s conclusions

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93
Q

conscientiousness

A

a big five personality trait characterized by competence, order, dutifulness, achievement striving, self-discipline, and deliberation

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94
Q

control group

A

a group that experiences all experimental procedures with that exception of exposure to the independent variable

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95
Q

conventional morality

A

Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development
ages 7 to 11
moral choices are made according to law or public opinion

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96
Q

example of conventional mortality

A

a ten year old would not steal because it is against the law

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97
Q

corpus callosum

A

a wide band of nerve fibres connecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres

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98
Q

correspondence bias

A

the tendency to view behaviour as a result of disposition, even when the behaviour can be explained by the situation in which it occurs

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99
Q

cortisol

A

stress hormone released from the adrenal gland

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100
Q

cross-sectional study

A

an experimental design for assessing age-related changes in which data are obtained simultaneously from people of differing ages

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101
Q

crystallized intelligence

A

the ability to think logically using specific learned knowledge

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102
Q

cue

A

stimulus that aids retrieval

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103
Q

declarative (explicit) memory

A

a consciously retrieved memory that is easy to verbalize

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104
Q

deep brain stimulation

A

electrical stimulation applied through surgically implanted electrodes that is used to treat some anxiety and mood disorders

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105
Q

defence mechanism

A

a protective behaviour that reduces anxiety

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106
Q

deindividuation

A

immersion of an individual within a group, leading to anonymity

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107
Q

delta wave

A

the large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep with non-rapid eye movement

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108
Q

delusion

A

a false, illogical belief

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109
Q

dendrites

A

a branch from the neural cell body that usually receives input from other neurones

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110
Q

dependent variable

A

a measure that demonstrates the effects of an independent variable; the “result” part of a hypothesis

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111
Q

depth perception

A

the ability to use the two-dimensional image projected on the retina to perceive three dimensions

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112
Q

descriptive methods

A

research methods designed for making careful, systematic observations

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113
Q

developmental psychology

A

the psychological perspective that examines the normal changes in behaviour that occur across the life span

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114
Q

DSM-5

A

a system for classification of psychological disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association

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115
Q

diathesis-stress model

A

a model that suggests that the experience of stress interacts with an individual’s biological predisposition to produce a psychological disorder

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116
Q

difference threshold

A

the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli

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117
Q

discrimination (classical conditioning)

A

a learned ability to distinguish between stimuli

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118
Q

discrimination

A

unfair behaviour based on the stereotyping and prejudice

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119
Q

display rules

A

a cultural norm that signifies when, where, and how a person should express an emption

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120
Q

dispositional attribution

A

a judgment assigning the cause of a person’s behaviour to personal qualities or characteristics

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121
Q

dissociative disorders

A

a disorder characterized by disruptions in a person’s identity, memory, or consciousness

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122
Q

door-in-the-face technique

A

a persuasion technique in which compliance with a target request is preceded by a large, unreasonable request

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123
Q

double-blind procedure

A

a research design that controls for biases in which neither the participant nor the experimenter observing knows whether the participant was given an active substance or a placebo

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124
Q

dreaming

A

a mental state that usually occurs during sleep that features visual imagery

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125
Q

drive

A

a state of tension and arousal triggered by cues important for survival

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126
Q

drive reduction

A

the state of relief and reward produced by removing the tension and arousal of the drive state

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127
Q

ego

A

the self that others see

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128
Q

egocentrism

A

limitations on the ability to understand the point of view of other people

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129
Q

elaboration likelihood model (ELM)

A

a model that predicts responses to persuasive messages by distinguishing between the central and the peripheral routes to persuation

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130
Q

electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

A

a biological treatment in which seizures are induced in an unconscious patient; it is primarily used to treat mood disorders that have not responded to medication or other treatment

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131
Q

embryo

A

the developing human organism from about 3 to 8 weeks

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132
Q

emotion-focused coping

A

a combination of arousal, physical sensations, and subjective feelings that occurs spontaneously in response to environmental stimuli

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133
Q

encoding

A

the transformation of information from one form to another

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134
Q

endocrine system

A

the system for releasing hormones into the blood

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135
Q

eneric nervous system

A

a division of the autonomic nervous system consisting of nerve cells embedded in the lining of the gastrointestinal system

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136
Q

epigenetic

A

the study of gene-environment interactions in the production of phenotypes

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137
Q

episodic memory

A

a memory from personal experience

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138
Q

evolution

A

descent with modification from a common ancestor

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139
Q

evolutionary psychology

A

a psychological perspective that investigates how physical structure and behaviour have been shaped by their contributions to survival and reproduction

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140
Q

exemplar

A

a specific member of a category used to represent the category

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141
Q

exhaustion

A

a third and last stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), characterized by depletion of physical and psychological resources

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142
Q

experiment

A

a research methods that tests hypothesis and can prove causation

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143
Q

experimental group

A

a group of participants who are exposed to the independent variable

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144
Q

extinction

A

the reduction of a learned response

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145
Q

extrinsic reward

A

a reward from an outside source

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146
Q

extroversion

A

a big five personality trait characterized by warmth, gregariousness, assertiveness, activity, excitement seeking, and positive emotion

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147
Q

family therapy

A

a type of therapy in which family members participate individually and in combination with other family members

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148
Q

fetal alcohol syndrome

A

a condition resulting from alcohol consumption by a mother during pregnancy that produces physical abnormalities

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149
Q

fetus

A

a developing organism from 8 to 40 weeks

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150
Q

fitness

A

the ability of one genotype to reproduces more successfully relative to other genotypes

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151
Q

fixed-interval schedule

A

a schedule of reinforcement in which a reinforcement is always given after a certain amount of time

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152
Q

fixed-ratio schedule

A

a schedule of reinforcement in which a reinforcement is always given after a set number of behaviours

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153
Q

flashbulb memory

A

an especially vivid and detailed memory of an emotional event

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154
Q

flow

A

a state characterized by complete absorption in a current activity

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155
Q

fluid intelligence

A

the ability to think logically without the need to use learned knowledge
STREET SMARTS

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156
Q

foot-in-the-door technique

A

a persuasive technique in which compliance with a small request is followed by compliance of a larger request that might otherwise have been rejected

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157
Q

formal operational stage

A

Jean Piaget’s stage of development
ages 12 to adulthood
mature reasoning capabilities

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158
Q

fovea

A

area of the retina that is specialized for highly detailed vision

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159
Q

free association

A

psychoanalytical technique of encouraging a patient to say whatever comes to mind, without attempting to censor the content

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160
Q

frontal lobe

A

responsible for some of the most complex cognitive processes

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161
Q

functional fixedness

A

a barrier to successful problem solving in which a concept is considered only in its most typical form

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162
Q

functionalism

A

an approach that saw behaviour as purposeful and contributing to survival

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163
Q

gamma waves

A

brain waves that indicate attention to sensory input

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164
Q

gate theory

A

theory that suggests that input from touch fibres competes with input from pain receptors, possibly preventing pain messages from reaching the brain

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165
Q

gene

A

a small segment of DNA located in a particular place on a chromosome

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166
Q

gene expression

A

the process in which genetic instructions are converted into a feature of a living organism

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167
Q

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

A

a three-stage model for an organism’s response to stressors, created by Hans Selye

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168
Q

general intelligence (g)

A

a measure of an individual’s overall intelligence as opposed to specific abilities

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169
Q

generalization

A

the tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to an original conditioned stimulus

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170
Q

genetic drift

A

change in a population’s genes from one generation to the next because of chance or accident

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171
Q

genotype

A

a individual’s profile of alleles

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172
Q

gestalt psychology

A

an approach that saw experience as being different than the sum of its elements

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173
Q

glia

A

nervous system cells that perform a variety of support functions, including formation of the blood-brain barrier and myelin

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174
Q

glucose

A

sugar that plays an important role in hunger levels

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175
Q

group polarization

A

the intensifying of an attitude following discussion

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176
Q

group therapy

A

psychotherapy conducted within a group of people rather than individually

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177
Q

groupthink

A

a type of flawed decision making in which a group doesn’t question its decisions critically

178
Q

habituation

A

a simple form of learning in which reactions to repeated stimuli are unchanging

179
Q

hallucination

A

a false perception

180
Q

hallucinogen

A

a drug that stimulates the experience of false perceptions

181
Q

health psychology

A

a branch of psychology that investigates the relationship between psychological variables and health

182
Q

heritability

A

the statistical likelihood that variations observed in a population are because of genetics

183
Q

heterozygous

A

having two alleles for one gene

184
Q

heuristic

A

a shortcut to problem solving; a rule of thumb

185
Q

higher-order conditioning

A

learning in which stimuli associated with a conditioned stimulus also elicits a conditioned response

186
Q

hippocampus

A

subcortical structure that participates in memory

187
Q

homeostasis

A

a steady internal balance or equilibrium

188
Q

homozygous

A

having two of the same alleles for one gene

189
Q

humanistic psychology

A

an approach that saw people as inherently good and motivated to learn and improve

190
Q

hypnosis

A

an altered state of consciousness characterized by relaxation and increased suggestibility

191
Q

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

A

a circuit that responds to perceived stressors by initiating the release of cortisol into the blood stream

192
Q

hypothalamus

A

a subcortical structure that participates in the regulation of primitive urges such as thirst, temperature, hunger, sexual behaviour, and aggression

193
Q

hypothesis

A

a proposed explanation for a situation

194
Q

id

A

the self that contains primitive drives present at birth

195
Q

identity

A

a consistent, unified sense of self

196
Q

imitation

A

copying behaviour that is unlikely to occur naturally and spontaneously

197
Q

immune system

A

the body system that defends against infection and cancer

198
Q

incentive

A

a reward that pulls an organism’s behaviour in a particular direction

199
Q

independent variable

A

an experiment variable controlled and manipulation by the experimenter; the “if ___ happens” part of a hypothesis

200
Q

inferential statistics

A

statistical methods that allow experimenters to extend conclusions from samples to larger populations

201
Q

information processing

A

a continuum including attention, sensation, perception, learning, memory, and cognition

202
Q

informed consent

A

permission obtained from a research participant after the risks/benefits of an experimental procedure have been explained

203
Q

inhibition

A

when a conditioned stimulus predicts the nonoccurrence of an unconditioned stimulus

204
Q

insecure attachment

A

a pattern of infant-caregiver bonding that can take several forms but is generally characterized as less desirable for the child’s outcomes

205
Q

insomnia

A

a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to either initiate or maintain normal sleep

206
Q

instincts

A

an inborn pattern of behaviour elicited by environmental stimuli

207
Q

insula

A

regions of cortex located at the junction of the frontal and temporal lobes

208
Q

intellectual disability

mental retardation

A

a conditioned diagnosed in individuals with IQ scores lower than 70 and poor adaptive behaviours

209
Q

intelligence

A

the ability to understand complex ideas, adapt effectively to the environment, learn from experience, engage in reasoning, and overcome obstacles

210
Q

intelligence quotient

A

a measure of individual intelligence relative to a statistically normal curve

211
Q

inference

A

competition between new and old information in memory

212
Q

interpersonal sef

A

the self we are in the presence of other people

213
Q

intrinsic rewards

A

a reward that arises internally

214
Q

introspection

A

a personal observation of your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviour

215
Q

introversion

A

a big five personality trait characterized by coolness, reserve, passivity, inactivity, caution, and negative emotion

216
Q

iris

A

the brightly coloured circular muscle surrounding the pupil of the eye

217
Q

james-lange theory

A

a theory that proposes that physical sensations lead to subjective feelings

218
Q

example with james-lange theory in use

A

you see a snake which causes your heart to race (physical response) which causes you to feel fear (emotional response)

219
Q

just-world belief

A

the assumption that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people

220
Q

language

A

a system for communicating thoughts and feelings using arbitrary signals

221
Q

latent inhibition

A

the slower learning that occurs in the absence of reinforcement

222
Q

learned helplessness

A

a state in which experiencing random or uncontrolled consequences leads to feelings of helplessness and possibly depression

223
Q

learning

A

a relatively permanent change in behaviour or the capacity for behaviour to change due to experience

224
Q

lens

A

the clear structure behind the pupil that bends light toward the retina

225
Q

leptin

A

a hormone secreted by fat cells that aids the body in maintaining an appropriate level of stored fat

226
Q

external locus of control

A

sees outcomes as resulting from luck or chance

227
Q

internal locus of control

A

sees outcomes as the result of individual effort

228
Q

long-term memory

A

the final stage of the atkinson-shiffrin model that is the location of permanent memories

229
Q

long-term potentiation (LTP)

A

the enhancement of communication between two neurones resulting from their synchronous activation

230
Q

longitudinal study

A

an experimental design for assessing age-related changes in which data are obtained from the same individuals at intervals over a long period of time

231
Q

low-balling

A

making further requests of a person who has already committed to a course of action

232
Q

lucid dreaming

A

a conscious awareness of dreaming accompanied by the ability to control the content of the dream

233
Q

lymphocytes

A

white blood cells that are products of the immune system

234
Q

major depressive disorder

A

a disorder characterized by lengthy periods of depressed mood, loss of pleasure in normal activities, disturbances in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness, and possible thoughts of suicide

235
Q

seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

A

a mood disorder in which depression occurs regularly at same time each year, usually during the winter months

236
Q

mania

A

a period of unrealistically elevated mood

237
Q

mean

A

the numerical average set of scores

238
Q

median

A

the halfway mark in set of data, with half of the scores above it and half below

239
Q

meditation

A

a voluntary alternation of consciousness characterized by positive emotion and absence of thought

240
Q

medulla

A

the brainstem structure that lies just above the spinal cord

241
Q

memory

A

the ability to retain knowledge

242
Q

menopause

A

the complete cessation of a woman’s menstrual cycles

243
Q

mere exposure effect

A

a situation in which repeated exposure increases liking

244
Q

shaping

A

a method for increasing the frequency of behaviours that never or rarely occur

245
Q

midbrain

A

part if the brainstem that lies between the pons and the cerebral hemispheres

246
Q

migration

A

movement to a new location

247
Q

mind

A

the brain and its activities, including thought, emotion, and behviour

248
Q

mixed longitudinal design

A

a method for assessing age-related changes that combines the cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches by observing a cross-section of participants over a shorter period than is used typically in longitudinal studies

249
Q

mnemonics

A

memory aids that link new information to well-known information

250
Q

mode

A

the most frequently occurring score in a set of data

251
Q

monocular cue

A

a depth cue that requires that only requires the use of one eye

252
Q

morphemes

A

the smallest component of speech that carries meaning

253
Q

motivation

A

a process that arouses, maintains, and guides behaviour toward a goal

254
Q

motivated forgetting

A

failure to retrieve negative memories

255
Q

mutation

A

an error that occurs when DNA is replicated

256
Q

myelin

A

the insulating material that covers some axons

257
Q

narcissistic personality disorder

A

a disorder characterized by grandiosity, need for admiration, and low empathy

258
Q

narcolepsy

A

a sleep disorder characterized by the intrusion of rapid eye movement phenomena into waking

259
Q

natural sciences

A

sciences that study the physical and biological events that occur in nature

260
Q

natural observation

A

an in-depth study in its natural setting

261
Q

nature

A

the contribution of heredity to our physical structure and behaviours

262
Q

near-death experience

A

an altered state of consciousness reported by people who were close to death because of cardiac or other medical problems that features out-of-body experiences, light-at-the-end-of-a-tunnel perceptions, and a state of calmness

263
Q

negative punishment

A

a method for reducing behaviour by removing something desirable whenever the target behaviour occurs

264
Q

negative reinforcement

A

a method for increasing behaviour that allows an organism to escape or avoid an unpleasant consequence

265
Q

neo-freudian

A

a theorist who attempts to update and modify freud’s original theory of personality

266
Q

neurofeedback

A

a type of biofeedback used to treat ADHD and seizures by teaching the client to keep measures of brain activity within a certain range

267
Q

neurones

A

a cell of the nervous system that is specialized to send and receive neural message

268
Q

neuroticism

A

a big five personality trait characterized by anxiety, angry hostility, depression, self-consciousness, impulsivity, and vulnerability

269
Q

neurotransmitter

A

a chemical messenger that communicates across a synapse

270
Q

non-associative learning

A

learning that involves changes in the magnitude of responses to stimuli

271
Q

implicit memories

A

an unconsciously and effortlessly retrieves memory that is difficult to verbalize, such as a memory for classical conditioning, procedural learning, and priming

272
Q

non-rapid eye movement sleep

A

the components of sleep characterized by theta and delta wave activity and deep physical relaxation

273
Q

normal distribution

A

a symmetrical probability function

274
Q

nucleus accumbens

A

a subcortical structure that participates in reward and addiction

275
Q

null hypothesis

A

a hypothesis stating the default position that there is no real difference between two measures

276
Q

nurture

A

the contributions of environmental factors and experience to our physical structure and behaviours

277
Q

obedience

A

compliance with a request from an authority figure

278
Q

object permanence

A

the ability to form mental representations of objects that are no longer present

279
Q

objectivity

A

the practice of basing conclusions on facts, without the influence of personal emotion or bias

280
Q

observational learning

A

learning that occurs when one organism watches the actions of another organism

281
Q

obsession

A

an intrusive, distressing thought

282
Q

obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

A

a disorder associated with intrusive obsessions and compulsions

283
Q

occipital lobe

A

location of the primary visual cortex

284
Q

olfactory bulb

A

one of two structures below the frontal lobes of the brain that receive input from the olfactory receptors in the nose

285
Q

olfactory nerve

A

a nerve carrying olfactory information from the olfactory receptors to the olfactory bulbs

286
Q

panic attack

A

the experience of intense fear and the autonomic arousal in the absence of a real threat
many believe they’re having a heart attack

287
Q

panic disorder

A

a disorder characterized by repeated panic attacks and fear of future attacks

288
Q

papillae

A

small bumps on the tongue that contain taste buds

289
Q

parasympathetic nervous system

A

part of the autonomic nervous system associated with rest, repair, and energy storage

290
Q

parietal lobe

A

location of the primary somatosensory cortex

291
Q

partial reinforcement

A

the reinforcement of a desired behaviour on some occasions, but not others

292
Q

peer review

A

the process of having other experts examine research prior to its publication

293
Q

perception

A

the process of interpreting sensory information

294
Q

peripheral nervous system (PNS)

A

the nerves exiting the central sensory system that carry sensory and motor information to and from the rest of the body

295
Q

person-centred therapy

A

a humanistic approach developed by Carl Rogers to help clients achieve congruence, or an alignment of the real and ideal selves

296
Q

personality disorder

A

a disorder characterized by impairments on identity, in personality traits, and in establishment of empathy or intimacy

297
Q

personality inventories

A

an objective test, often using numbered scales or multiple choice, used to assess personality

298
Q

persuasion

A

a change in attitude in response to information provided by another person

299
Q

phenotype

A

an observable characteristics

300
Q

philosophy

A

the discipline that systematically examines basic concepts, including the source of knowledge

301
Q

phonemes

A

a speech sound

302
Q

placebo

A

an inactive substance or treatment that cannot be distinguished from a real, active substance or treatment

303
Q

pons

A

a part of the brainstem between the medulla and the midbrain

deals with sleep (if cut, fall into coma)

304
Q

population

A

the entire group from which a sample is taken

305
Q

positive psychology

A

an approach to psychology that emphasizes normal behaviour and human strengths

306
Q

positive punishment

A

a consequence that eliminates of reduces the frequency of a behaviour by applying an aversive stimulus

307
Q

post-conventional morality

A

Kohlberg’s stage at which moral choices are made according to personal standards and reason
ages 12+

308
Q

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

A

a disorder caused by the experience of trauma, which leads to flashbacks, dreams, hyper-vigilance, and avoidance of stimuli associated with the traumatic event

309
Q

pre-conventional morality

A

Kohlberg’s stage at which moral choices are made according to expectations of reward/punishment
ages 0 to 6

310
Q

prefrontal cortex

A

the most forward part of the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex

311
Q

prejudice

A

a prejudgment, usually negative, of another person on the basis of membership in a group

312
Q

pre-operational stage

A

Piaget’s stage of development
characterized by use of symbols, egocentrism, and limits on the ability to reason logically
ages 2 to 6

313
Q

priming

A

a change in a response to a stimulus as a result of exposure to previous stimulus

314
Q

problem-focused coping

A

a response to stress designed to address specific problems by finding solutions

315
Q

procedural memory

A

a non-declarative or implicit memory for how to carry out skilled movement

316
Q

prototype

A

a representation of a category formed by averaging all members of the category

317
Q

psychiatrist

A

a medical doctor who specializes in psychiatry and can use medical procedures, such as prescribing medication, to treat psychological disorders

318
Q

psychoactive drug

A

any drug with the capability of altering a person’s state of consciousness

319
Q

psychoanalysis

A

Freud’s treatment approach based on his psychodynamic theory

320
Q

psychodynamic

A

a theory put forward by Freud in which psychic energy moves among the compartments of the personality; id, ego, and superego
iceberg theory

321
Q

psychology

A

the scientific study of behaviour, mental processes, and brain function

322
Q

psychophysics

A

the study of relationships between the physical qualities of stimuli and the subjective responses they produce

323
Q

psychosurgery

A

the attempt to improve symptoms of psychological disorders through operating on the brain

324
Q

psychotherapy

A

a treatment designed to improve symptoms of psychological disorders through conversation between the therapist and the patient

325
Q

puberty

A

a period of physical changes leading to sexual maturity in adolescences

326
Q

publication bias

A

the possibility that published studies are not representative of all work done on a particular study done

327
Q

punishment

A

a consequence the eliminates or reduces the frequency of a behaviour

328
Q

pupil

A

an opening in the eye formed by the iris

329
Q

random assignment

A

procedure in which a single participant has an equal chance of being placed in any group in an experiment

330
Q

rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep

A

the component of sleep characterized by brain waves resembling waking accompanied by rapid motion of the eyes, muscular paralysis, and sympathetic nervous system activation

331
Q

receptors

A

a special channel in the membrane of a neurone that interacts with neurotransmitters released by other neurones

332
Q

recessive

A

a feature of an allele that produces only a phenotype if homozygous

333
Q

reciprocal altruism

A

help that is provided for another person when the other person is expected to return the favour in the future

334
Q

reciprocal determinism

A

a social-cognitive learning theory of personality that features the mutual influence of the person and that of the situation on each other

335
Q

recognition heuristic

A

a rule of thumb in which a higher vale is placed on the more easily recognized alternative

336
Q

reconstruction

A

rebuilding a memory out of stored elements

337
Q

reflex

A

an inevitable, involuntary response to stimuli

338
Q

rehearsal

A

repetition of information

339
Q

relatedness

A

the probability that two people share the same allele from a common ancestor

340
Q

reliability

A

the consistency of a measure, including test-retest, interrater, intermethod, and internal consistency

341
Q

replication

A

repeating an experiment and producing the same results

342
Q

representative heuristic

A

a rule of thumb in which similar to a prototype are believed to be more likely than stimuli that are dissimilar to a prototype

343
Q

resilience

A

the ability to adapt to life’s challenges in positive ways

344
Q

resistance

A

the second stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), characterized by coping with ongoing stress

345
Q

resting potential

A

the measure of the electrical charge across a neural membrane when the neurone is not processing information

346
Q

restless leg syndrome (RLS)

A

a disorder characterized by the involuntary movement of an extremity, usually one leg

347
Q

reticular formation

A

a collection of structures located among the midline of the brainstem that participates in mood, arousal, and sleep

348
Q

retina

A

layers of visual processing cells in the back of the eye

349
Q

retinal disparity

A

the difference between the images projected onto each eye

350
Q

retrieval

A

the recovery of stored information

351
Q

reuptake

A

a process in which excess molecules of neurotransmitters in the synaptic gap are returned to the axon terminal from which they were released

352
Q

rods

A

a photoreceptor specialized to detect dim light

353
Q

sample

A

a subset of a population being studied

354
Q

satiety

A

a sense of feeling full and not requiring further food

355
Q

schachter-singer two-factor theory

A

a theory of emotion in which general arousal leads to assessment, which leads to subjective feelings

356
Q

schema

A

a set of expectations about objects and situations

357
Q

schizophrenia

A

a disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thought and speech, disorders of movement, restricted affect, and asociality

358
Q

secondary sex characteristics

A

physical changes occurring at puberty associated with sexual maturity

359
Q

secure attachment

A

a pattern of infant-caregiver bonding in which children explore confidently and return to the parent or caregiver for reassurance

360
Q

seizures

A

an abnormal level of brain activation with sudden onset

361
Q

self

A

patterns of thought, feelings, and actions that we perceive in our own minds

362
Q

self-actualization

A

a state of having fulfilled your potential

363
Q

self-awareness

A

the special understanding of the self as distinct from other stimuli

364
Q

self-concept

A

people’s description of their own characteristics

365
Q

self-esteem

A

a judgment of the value of the self

366
Q

self-schemas

A

a cognitive organization that helps us think about the self and process self-relevant information

367
Q

self-serving bias

A

attributing success to dispositional factors while attributing failure to situational factors

368
Q

semantic knowledge

A

a general knowledge memory

369
Q

sensation

A

the process of detecting environmental stimuli or stimuli arising from the body

370
Q

sensitization

A

an increased reaction to many stimuli following exposure to one strong stimulus

371
Q

sensorimotor stage

A

piaget’s theory of development
characterized by active exploration of the environment
ages 0 to 2

372
Q

sensory adaptation

A

the tendency to pay less attention to a non-changing source of stimulation

373
Q

sensory memory

A

the first stage of the atkinson-shiffrin model that holds large amounts of incoming data for brief amounts of time

374
Q

set points

A

a value that is defended to maintain homeostasis

375
Q

sexual orientation

A

a stable pattern of attraction to members of a particular sex

376
Q

sexual selection

A

the development of traits that help an individual compete for mates

377
Q

short term memory

A

the second stage of the atkinson-shiffrin model that holds small amount of information for a limited time

378
Q

signal detection

A

the analysis of sensory and decision-making processes in the detection of faint, uncertain stimuli

379
Q

situational attribution

A

a judgment assigning the cause of a person’s behaviour to the environment

380
Q

sleep apnea

A

a sleep disorder in which the person stops breathing while asleep

381
Q

sleep terrors

A

a sleep disorder occurring in non-REM sleep in which the sleep wakes suddenly in great distress but without experiencing the imagery of a nightmare

382
Q

social anxiety disorder

A

a disorder characterized by an unrealistic fear of being scrutinized and criticized by others

383
Q

social facilitation

A

a situation in which the presence of other people changes performance

384
Q

social loafing

A

reduced motivation and effort shown by individuals working in a group

385
Q

social norms

A

usually unwritten or unspoken rules for behaviour in social settings

386
Q

social-cognitive learning theories

A

a theory of personality that features cognition and learning, especially from the social environment, as important sources of individual differences in personality

387
Q

somatic nervous system

A

the part of the peripheral nervous system that brings sensory information to the central nervous system and transmits commands to the muscles
voluntary movements

388
Q

somatosensation

A

the body senses, including body position, touch, skin temperature, and pain

389
Q

somatovisceral afference model of emotion (SAME)

A

a model of emotion in which a range of physical sensations from precise to general requires varying degrees of cognitive processing prior to subjective feelings

390
Q

specific phobias

A

fears of objects other than those associated with agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder

391
Q

spinal cord

A

a long cylinder of neural tissue extending from the medulla of the brain down to the middle of the back; part of the central nervous system

392
Q

spontaneous recovery

A

during extinction training, the reappearance of conditioned responses after periods of rest

393
Q

spreading activation model

A

a connectionist theory proposing that people organize general knowledge based on their individual experiences

394
Q

standard deviation

A

a measure of how tightly clustered around the mean a group scores are

395
Q

statistical significance

A

a standard for deciding whether an observed result is because of chance

396
Q

stereotype

A

a simplified set of traits associated with membership in a group of category

397
Q

stimulant

A

any drug that increases the activity of the nervous system

398
Q

storage

A

the retention of information

399
Q

stress

A

an unpleasant emotional state that results from the perception of danger

400
Q

stressor

A

a stimulus that serves as a source of stress

401
Q

structuralism

A

an approach in which the mind is broken into the smallest elements of mental experience

402
Q

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

A

a sleep disorder in which an otherwise healthy infant dies while asleep

403
Q

superego

A

the component of Freud’s personality theory that internalizes society’s rules for right and wrong, or the conscience

404
Q

survey

A

a descriptive method in which participants are asked the same question

405
Q

sympathetic adrenal-medullary (SAM) system

A

a circuit that responds to perceived stressors by initiating the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine into the blood stream

406
Q

sympathetic nervous system

A

the division of the autonomic nervous system that coordinates arousal

407
Q

systematic desensitization

A

a type of counterconditioning in which people relax while being exposed to stimuli that elicit fear

408
Q

tardive dyskinesia

A

a movement syndrome that results from the use of medications used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia

409
Q

taste buds

A

a structure found in papillae that contain taste receptor cells

410
Q

temperament

A

a child’s pattern of mood, activity, or emotional responsiveness linked to later personality

411
Q

temporal lobe

A

location of the primary auditory cortex

412
Q

tend and befriend

A

an alternative to fight or flight as a response to stressors

characterized by soothing and building social connections, which is possibly more characteristic of females

413
Q

teratogen

A

a chemical agent that can harm a forming infant

414
Q

testosterone

A

a male hormone

415
Q

thalamus

A

a subcortical structure involved with to processing of sensory information, states of arousal, and learning and memory

416
Q

the central nervous system (CNS)

A

the brain and spinal cord

417
Q

theory of mind

A

the understanding that others have thoughts that are different from one’s own

418
Q

theta waves

A

a waveform that is characteristic of lighter stages of non-REM sleep

419
Q

third variable

A

a variable that is responsible for a correlation observed between two other variables of interest

420
Q

token economy

A

an application of operant conditioning in which tokens that can be exchanged for other reinforcers are used to increase the frequency of desirable behaviours

421
Q

tolerance

A

the need to administer greater quantities of a drug to achieve the same subjective effect

422
Q

top-down processing

A

a perceptual process in which memory and other cognitive processes are required for interpreting incoming sensory information

423
Q

trait

A

a stable personality characteristic

424
Q

transduction

A

the translation of incoming sensory information into neural signals

425
Q

transference

A

a psychoanalytic technique in which the therapist uses the responses of the patient to the therapist to understand the patient’s approach to authority figures in general

426
Q

trichromatic theory

A

a theory of colour based on the existence of different types of cones for the detection of short, medium, and long wavelengths

427
Q

type A personality

A

a competitive, workaholic, and in some cases hostile personality tyoe

428
Q

type B personality

A

a mellow, laidback personality type

429
Q

unconditioned response (UCR)

A

a response to an unconditioned stimulus that requires no previous experience

430
Q

unconditioned stimulus (UCS)

A

a stimulus that elicits a response without prior experience

431
Q

unconscious mind

A

the part of mental activity that cannot be voluntarily retrieved

432
Q

validity

A

a quality of a measure that leads to correct conclusions

433
Q

variable interval (VI) schedule

A

a schedule of reinforcement in which the first response following a varying period is reinforced

434
Q

variable ratio (VR) schedule

A

a schedule of reinforcement in which reinforcement occurs following some variable number of behaviours

435
Q

vegetative state

A

an abnormal state following brain injury featuring wakefulness without consciousness

436
Q

vestibular system

A

the system of the inner ear that provides information about body position and movement

437
Q

waking

A

a normal state of consciousness characterized by alertness and awareness of external stimuli

438
Q

withdrawal

A

physical responses to the removal of some habitually administered drugs

439
Q

working memory

A

an extension of the concept of short-term memory that includes the active manipulation of multiple types of information simultaneously

440
Q

yerkes-dodson law

A

a description of the relationships among task complexity, arousal, and performance

441
Q

zygote

A

the term used to describe a developing organism immediately following conception

psy100 (3 decks)

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