Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Psych of Personality
Exam 2 - Chapter 7
37
Psychology
Undergraduate 3
02/08/2011

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Physiological Systems
Definition
organ systems within the body (nervous, cardiac, musculoskeletal)
Term
Theoretical Bridge
Definition
the connection between two different variables
Term
Electrodes
Definition
a sensor usually placed on the surface of the skin and linked to a physiological recording machine to measure physiological variables
Term
Telemetry
Definition
the process by which electrical signals are sent from electrodes to a polygraph using radio waves instead of wires
Term
Autonomic Nervous System
Definition
that part of the PNS that connects to vital bodily structures associated with maintaining life and responding to emergencies. 2 divisions - sympathetic and parasympathetic
Term
Electrodermal Activity (Skin Conductance)
Definition
electricity will flow across the skin with less resistance if that skin is made damp with sweat, way to measure changes in sympathetic nervous system
Term
Cardiac Reactivity
Definition
the increase in blood pressure and heart rate during times of stress, evidence suggests that chronic cardiac reactivity contributes to coronary artery disease
Term
Type A Personality
Definition
syndrome of several traits - achievement motivation and competitiveness, time urgency, and hostility and aggressiveness
Term
fMRI
Definition
noninvasive imaging technique used to identify specific areas of brain activity, measures elevated concentrations of iron
Term
Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS)
Definition
a structure in the brain system thought to control overall cortical arousal, the structure Eysenck originally thought was responsible for introvert and extrovert differences
Term
Arousal Level & Arousability
Definition
recent research suggests that the differences in introverts and extroverts lie in the arousability of their nervous systems, with extroverts showing less arousability or reactivity than introverts to the same levels of sensory stimulation
Term
Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory
Definition
Gray's model based on two hypothesized biological systems - behavioral activation system and behavioral inhibition system
Term
Behavioral Activation System (BAS)
Definition
in Gray's reinforcement sensitivity theory, the system that is responsive to incentives, when a stimulus is recognized as potentially rewarding, this system triggers approach behavior, highly correlated with the trait of extroversion
Term
Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS)
Definition
In Gray's reinforcement sensitivity theory, the system responsive to cues for punishment, frustration, and uncertainty, the effect of this is to cease behavior or bring about avoidance behavior, this system is highly correlated with the trait of neuroticism
Term
Anxiety
Definition
an unpleasant, high arousal emotional state associated with perceived threat, Freud- control of the ego being threatened by reality (neurotic, moral, objective anxiety) Rogers - result of having an experience that does not fit with one's self conception
Term
Impulsivity
Definition
a personality trait that refers to lowered self control, especially in the presence of potentially rewarding activities, the tendency to act before one thinks, and a lowered ability to anticipate the consequences of one's behavior
Term
Sensation Seeking
Definition
a dimension of personality postulated to have a physiological basis - tendency to seek out thrilling and exciting activities, to take risks and avoid boredom
Term
Sensory Deprivation
Definition
often done in a sound proof chamber containing water in which a person floats, in total darkness, such that sensory input is reduced to a minimum
Term
Optimal Level of Arousal
Definition
level that is "just right", not over or under aroused
Term
Comorbidity
Definition
the presence of 2 or more disorders of any type in one person
Term
Neurotransmitters
Definition
chemicals in nerve cells that are responsible for the transmission of a nerve impulse from one cell to another
Term
Monoamine Oxidase (MAO)
Definition
an enzyme found in the blood that is known to regulate nt's those chemicals that carry messages between nerve cells, MAO may be a causal factor in the personality trait of sensation seeking
Term
Dopamine
Definition
a nt that appears to be associated with pleasure, appears to function something like the "reward system"
Term
Serotonin
Definition
a nt that plays a role in depression and other mood disorders
Term
Norepinephrine
Definition
a nt involved in activating the sympathetic nervous system for flight or fight
Term
Tridimensional Personality Model
Definition
Cloninger's model ties three specific personality traits to levels of the three nt's. first in novelty seeking - dopamine. second is harm avoidance - serotonin. third is reward dependence - norepinephrine.
Term
Novelty Seeking
Definition
novelty and thrills can make up for low levels of dopamine
Term
Harm Avoidance
Definition
low levels of serotonin leave the person extra sensitive so they expect bad things will happen and are always looking for the signs
Term
Reward Dependence
Definition
people high on this trait are persistent and will continue to act in ways that produce reward
Term
DRD4
Definition
a gene located on the short arm of chromosome 11 that codes for a protein called a dopamine receptor
Term
Morningness-Eveningness
Definition
stable differences between persons in preferences for being active at different times of the day. differences appear to be due to differences in the length of underlying circadian biological rhythms
Term
Circadian Rhythms
Definition
biological processes that fluctuate around an approximate 24- 25 hour cycle, found to be as short as 16 hours or as long as 50 in some other people
Term
Free Running
Definition
a condition in studies of circadian rhythms in which participants are deprived of knowing the time, no time cues to influence behavior or biology
Term
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Definition
provides useful info about patterns of activation in different regions of the brain that may be associated with different types of information processing tasks
Term
Alpha Wave
Definition
a particular type of brain wave that oscillates 8 to 12 times a second, amount present is an inverse indicator of brain activity during that time period, given off when a person is calm and relaxed, more that is present the more we can assume that part of the brain was less active
Term
Frontal Brain Asymmetry
Definition
asymmetry in the amount of activity in the left and right brain frontal hemispheres, more relative right brain linked with negative emotions and vice versa
Term
Cortisol
Definition
stress hormone that prepares the body to fight or flight. increase in it indicate that the animal has recently experienced stress
Supporting users have an ad free experience!