Term
| Who was Wilhelm Wundt and why is he important to the science of psychology? |
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Definition
| He was the proffessor. Created machine that measured the time lag between people's hearing a ball hit a platform and their pressing a telegraph key. |
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Term
| Who was Ivan Pavlov? What are of study did he develop in psychology? |
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Definition
| Recieved a medical degere at 33 and studied the digestive system, so he wasn't initally a psychologist. He explored "classical conditioning" and helped develop "behaviorism" |
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Term
| Who was John Watson and how did he define the study of psychology? |
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Definition
| Defined psychology as "The scientific study of observable behavior." He was a psychologist. Did the "Little Albert" experiments |
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Term
| Define huministic psychology and tell how it is different from other areas of study. |
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Definition
| Emphasizes the importance of current environmental influences on our growth potential and the importance of having our needs for love and acceptance satisfied. Used to focus on the meaning of early childhood memories and learning behaviors too mechanistic. |
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Term
| Describe the nature- nurture issue as it applies to the study of psychology. |
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Definition
Nature- People are who they are because of their biology and genetics
Nurture- people are who they are because of their environment and external influences |
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Term
| Define the biopsychosocial approach |
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Definition
| Considers the influences of biological, psychological, and social- cultural factors. |
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Term
| Give an example of the biopsychosocial approach |
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Definition
In a fight/ anger-
Biological Influences: could be more hormonal or short tempered.
Psychological Influences: maybe his day was angry or aggressive and learned it from him.
Social-Cultural: he's a man so he's supposed to fight for himself in times of controversy. |
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Term
| What is neuroscience concerned with in the field of psychology? |
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Definition
| How the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences. |
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Term
| Describe the psychodynamic perspective and who might use it. |
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Definition
| Views on how behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflict |
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Term
| What is the social cultural perspective? Give an example of how it might affect behavior. |
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Definition
Studies how behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures.
People from different cultures might have different behaviors: here we greet by shaking hands, in France they greet by kissing eachothers cheeks |
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Term
| Define hindsight bias and give an example |
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Definition
THe tendancy to believe, after learning an outcome, that one should have forseen it.
Most senators did not anticipate the chaos that would seem so predictable after the 9-11 attacks on the world trade centers.. or the Virginia Tech massagre-- They say that its obvious school officials shold have locked down the school-- after the fact |
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Term
| Define overconfidence and give an example |
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Definition
THe tendancy to be more confident than corret- to overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgements.
WREAT --> WATER
ETRYN --> ENTRY
GRAGE --> BARGE
*Once people knew the answer it seemed obvious but it actually took about 3 mintues when timed |
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Term
| What traits describe a critical thinker? Why is it important? |
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Definition
THinking does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, if examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions
It's important because they learn the Truth |
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Term
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Definition
| An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events |
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Term
| Define what a hypothesis is |
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Definition
| a testable prediction often implied by a theory |
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Term
| What does replication consist of? |
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Definition
| Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances |
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Term
| What psychological research method did Jean Piaget use and how did he use it? |
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Definition
| HE used the Case Study by carefully observing and questioning only a few children and taught us about children's thinking |
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Term
| What is a possible negative effect to only using the case study method? |
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Definition
| The individual being studied may be atypical and can be misleading and can result in false conclusions. |
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Term
| What is a survey research method? Give an example |
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Definition
A technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitues or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative; random sample of the group- in less depth
EX: should cigarette ads or pornography be allowed on television? |
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Term
| Define naturalistic observation and give an example |
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Definition
observing and recording behavior in naturally occuring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
EX: watching chimpanzee societies in the jungle |
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Term
| What is a scatterplot and how is it used? |
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Definition
| A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables. Used to illustrate range of possible correlations |
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Term
| What is a positive correlation and give an example |
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Definition
When two sets of scores rise together or fall together
EX. Height and weight |
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Term
| What is a negative correlation? Give an example |
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Definition
When 2 sets of scores relate inversely
EX. Toothbrushing and decay |
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Term
| What does an experimental research method consist of? Give an example |
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Definition
To explore cause and effect
manipulate one or more factors; use random assignment
Ex. Children who are breast fed are smarter supposedly |
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Term
| What is a placebo and give an example |
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Definition
A pill with no drug in it
Placebo effect- experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by administration of an inert substance or condition which the recipient assumes is an active agent |
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Term
| Define what an independent and dependent variable are in a psychological experiment |
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Definition
IV: Factor that is manipulated; effect is studied
DV: The outcome factor, may be changed in response to manipulations of the IV |
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Term
| Which variable are the researchers studying the effects of? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which variable are the researchers seeking the influence of the experimental treatment on? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution |
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Term
| Define what standard deviation is |
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Definition
| A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score |
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Term
What is statistical significance?
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Definition
| A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occured by chance |
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Term
| What is the belief of scientists who use animals in experimental research? |
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Definition
| It's not a question of good vs. evil but of compassion of animals vs compassion for people |
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Term
| What are the four ethical principals mentioned in your book developed by the American Psychoogical Association and the British Psychological Society governing human experimentation? |
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Definition
1. Obtain the informed conscent of potential participants
2. Protect them from harm and discomfort
3. treatment info about individual participants confidentially
4. Fully explain the research afterward |
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Term
| What is a neuron and how is it referred to in the body's information system? |
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Definition
| A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system |
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Term
| What is the job of the sensory neuron? |
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Definition
| Carry incoming info from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord |
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Term
| What is a dendrite and what is its purpose? |
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Definition
| The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that recieves messages and conducts impulses towards the cell body |
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Term
| Define synaptic gap and what happens there |
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Definition
| The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the recieving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap. |
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Term
| What is an axon terminal and how what part does it play in reuptake? |
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Definition
| Knoblike terminals at axons end, triggers the release of chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitting molecules cross synaptic gap and bind to receptor sites, neurotransmitters unlock tiny channels and electrically charged atoms flow in, then reuptake occurs |
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Term
| What is a neuron and how is it referred to in the body's information system? |
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Definition
| a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system |
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Term
| Define endorphins and give an example of what they can do |
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Definition
| Natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure- make you happy |
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Term
| Prozac is what kind of drug and affects which neurotransmitter? |
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Definition
| Antidepressant; raises serotonin levels |
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Term
| What is an agonist? Give an example |
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Definition
Mimics a neurotransmitter's effects
Ex. Morphine |
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Term
| What is an antagonist? Give an example |
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Definition
Blocks a neurotransmitter's effects
Exs. -Curare Poisoning
-Black Widow Spider Venom |
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Term
| Define motor neurons and give an example of them at work. |
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Definition
Neurons that carry outgoing info from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands
*signals to move hand when touch hot stove.. ? |
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Term
| Define reflexes and give an example. |
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Definition
| A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee jerk response |
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Term
| What is an empirical approach? |
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Definition
| Letting facts speak for themselves |
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Term
| Define adrenal glands and how they work in a highs stress situation |
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Definition
| A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secret hormones that help arouse the body in times of stress |
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Term
| What are the body's two communicating systems and which one is fast and which one is slow? |
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Definition
| Nervous (faster) and endocrine system (slower) |
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Term
| Which system is the pituitary gland a part of and what does it do? |
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Definition
| The endocrine system; under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. |
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Term
| What is a brain lesion and give an example of when this could occur |
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Definition
Tissue destruction. a brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue
-damage to the hypothalamus in rats causes reduced eating |
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Term
| What is the job of the thalamus? |
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Definition
| The brain's sensory switchboard, located on the top of the brainstem, it directs messages to the sensory recieving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla |
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Term
| What are the jobs of the amygdale and hypothalamus and what system are they part of? |
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Definition
The limbic system
amygdale- linked to aggression and fear (linked to emotion)
Hypothalamus- directs several maintenance activities, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituatary glands and is linked to emotion and reward |
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Term
| What is the function of a glial cell? |
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Definition
| Cell in nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons |
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Term
| What is the function of the motor cortex? |
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Definition
| An area at the rear of the fronal lobes that controls voluntary movements |
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Term
| What is constraint- induced therapy? |
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Definition
| Aims to rewire the brains by restraining a fully functioning limb and forcing to use of the "bad hand" or the uncooperative leg. Eventually imporves dexterity. |
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Term
| What is a corpus callosum and what is its function? |
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Definition
| The large band of neural fibers connecting the 2 brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them |
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Term
| What is accomplished in split brain surgery? |
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Definition
| The corpus callosum is severed so messages cannot be transferred from 1 hemisphere to the other |
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Term
| The left hemisphere is usually superior to the right in what abilities? |
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Definition
| literal interpretations of language, process speech, rationalizes |
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Term
| When was the study of consciousness revived? What was brought back into focus as an area of interest? |
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Definition
1960's..?
Neuroscience..? |
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Term
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Definition
| The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24 hour cycle |
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Term
| Give an example of how circadian rhythm works. |
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Definition
| Body temperature rises as morning approaches, peaks during the day, dips for a time in the early afternoon and begins to drop again before bed |
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Term
| What are different levels of sleep? |
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Definition
| Stages 1, 2, 3, 4 and REM sleep |
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Term
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Definition
| The relatively slow brain waves of a relaxed, awake state |
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Term
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Definition
| Rapid eye movement sleep, a recurring sleep stage during which vivid dreams commonly occur. Also known as paradoxical sleep, because the muslces are relaxed but other body systems are active |
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Term
| When people are experienceing vivid dreams, what physical manifestations are they likely to show? |
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Definition
Occasional finger, toe, or facial twitch, but you are still "paralyzed." Rapid Eye Movement
Possible tossing and turning.? |
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Term
| What is sleep's function? |
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Definition
| Sleep protects, helps us recuperate, make memories, feeds creative thinking, may play role in growing process |
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Term
| Deep sleep is important to us for what reasons? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| Recurring problems in falling or staying aleep |
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Term
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Definition
| A sleep disorder characterized by uncontrollable sleep attacks. The sufferer may lapse directly into REM sleep, often in inopportune times |
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Term
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Definition
| A sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings |
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Term
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Definition
| A sleep disorder characterized by high arousal and an appearance of being terrified, unike nightmares, night terror occur during stage 4 sleep, within 2 or 3 hours of falling asleep and are seldom remembered |
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Term
| Define manifest content of a dream |
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Definition
| According to Freud, the remembered story line of a dream (as distinct from it's latent, or hidden content) |
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Term
| Define latent content of a dream |
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Definition
| According to Freud, the underlying meaning of a dream ( as distinct from it's latent, or hidden content) |
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Term
| Describe one theory for brain activity associated dreaming |
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Definition
| activation- synthesis: explains dreams and how our brain tries to make sense of random neurons and random images |
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Term
| What happens when you are repeatedly denied REM sleep and are then allowed to sleep undisturbed? |
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Definition
| People sleep like babies, also an increase in REM sleep- called REM rebound |
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Term
| Define age regression and give an example |
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Definition
Age regression- the supposed ability to relive childhood experiences.
ex. feel childlike and print much as they know a 6 yr old would |
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Term
| Hypnosis has been shown to allow what percentage of people to undergo major surgery without anesthesia? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the theory behind this kind of hypnotic pain relief? |
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Definition
| Light hypnosis can reduce fear, thus reducing hypersensitivity to pain- inhibition of pain released brain activity |
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Term
| Define psychoactive drugs and name those given in your book |
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Definition
A chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods
Depressants- alchohol, barbiturates, opiates
Stimulants- methamphetamine, caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy
Hallucinogens- LCD, marijuana |
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Term
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Definition
| The diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's affect |
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Term
| Define a psychological dependence and give an example |
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Definition
a psychological need to use a drug, such as to relieve negative emotions
ex. stress relieving drugs become important part of users life |
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Term
| How does alcohol affect memory? |
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Definition
| It disrupts the processing of recent experiences into long term memory. Blackouts can also occur partly from the way alcohol suppresses REM sleep, which helps fix the day's experiences into permanant memories |
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Term
| What is Ecstasy and what are its effects? |
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Definition
A synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short term health risks, and longer term harm to serotonin- producing neurons and to mood and cognition
emotional elevation, connectedness with those around |
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Term
| What does research show as being important factors leading to teen drug abuse? |
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Definition
| Social influence and the direction their lives are taking ( if they think their lives are meaningless and they are no use to anyone) |
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Term
| Describe the near death experience |
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Definition
| An altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death; often similar to drug- induced hallucinations. |
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