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Psy-100 Exam 3
Exam 3
89
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
03/28/2007

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Term
What movie clip example did we see in class to demonstrate how the body and mind mature at different rates?
Definition
Tom Hanks in "Big"- his body was an adult's while his mind was a child's
Term
What are cross-sectional studies?
Definition
A method of studying development that looks at people of different ages.
Term
What are longitudinal studies?
Definition
A method of studying development while observing the same person across a time span.
Term
What are biographical studies?
Definition
A method of studying development that reconstructs the past through interviews and investigates the effects of past events on a person's behavior.
Term
What are the three types of studies in the descriptive method?
Definition
Naturalistic studies, Surveys, and Case Studies
Term
What is a naturalistic study?
Definition
Observing someone without any interference of the behavior.
Term
What is a survey?
Definition
A questionnaire or interview administered to a select group of people. One can obtain descriptions of behavior from more people than direct observation allows. The test sample should represent the group well.
Term
What is a case study?
Definition
An intensive description and analysis of a single individual, very rare.
Term
What is the correlational method?
Definition
Investigating the relationship between two variables to determine whether they occur together or not (values between -1 and 1). Correlation does not imply causality.
Term
What is the experimental method?
Definition
Manipulating independent variables to see the effect on the dependent variable. Allows one to establish cause and effect. There are no statements of certainty. Best to have error < 0.05.
Term
What is prenatal development and what occurs at this stage?
Definition
Development from a fertilized egg to a fetus. Most important is the growth of neural connections.
Term
What are the genetic influences on behavior?
Definition
Chromosomes and genes
Term
What are chromosomes?
Definition
Double strands of DNA in nuclues of cells that contain genes.
Term
What are genes?
Definition
Segments along chromosome strands that contain the "blueprint" and "timetable" for our development.
Term
What characteristics do genetics affect?
Definition
Physical AND psychological characteristics.
Term
What do many people argue about limits in terms of development?
Definition
That genetics sets an upper limit for our development, and how close we come to that limit is dependent on our learning and environment. (e.g. height sets limit, eating influences growth. low IQ, raised through learning.
Term
What are some common behaviors of newborns apart from eating, sleeping, etc.?
Definition
Imitating adults, Reflexes
Term
What are some of the useful reflexes seen in a newborn?
Definition
"Rooting"- finger touches cheek, baby turns head in anticipation of nipple. "Grasping" objects with hands. "Stepping" reflex when held in air. "Sucking" reflex for eating.
Term
Describe vision development in an infant.
Definition
Fuzzy at first, but develops rapidly. Mature vision within 6-8 months. Can see some colors even in first week of life, but more interested in contrasts (black and white) at first.
Term
How much will a child grow in the first year of life? At what rate does it continue?
Definition
10 inches and 15 pounds. Development slows down until adolescence.
Term
Does every part of the body grow at the same rate?
Definition
No, the body grows differentially (head most quickly, and neurons very quickly).
Term
What is the regular course of development that a child follows called?
Definition
Maturation
Term
What is the maturation progression in the first years of a baby's life?
Definition
3 months (reaching and missing), 6 months (grasping and getting), 10 months (crawling), 12 months (standing), 15 months (walking).
Term
What is cognitive development?
Definition
Intellectual growth of perceiving, reasoning, imagining, problem solving, and remembering.
Term
Who used the "stages" approach to cognitive development? What was this approach?
Definition
Jean Piaget- said that there are qualitative differences at each stage, not just quantitative (amount of intelligence).
Term
What is true about each stage in cognitive development?
Definition
Each stage is consistent and different from the others, and each new stage involves new schemes (basic units of knowledge).
Term
What are the four stages of cognitive development?
Definition
Sensorimotor (birth to 2), Preoperational (2 to 7), Concrete Operation (7 to 11), Formal Operation (11 and up)
Term
Describe the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development.
Definition
Stage where motor reactions and sensory impressions develop. No past or planning for the future. No distinction between stable objects and fleeting objects. Starting to develop object permanence (images representation in head).
Term
Describe the Preoperational stage and centrism.
Definition
Centrism means that the child has trouble understanding what someone else is seeing. They have not yet developed conservation (can't take into account more than one perceptual factor at a time, tall cup vs. stout cup).
Term
Describe the Concrete operation stage.
Definition
Achieve conservation- able to mentally transform and mentally reverse sequences. Can take into account multiple perceptual factors.
Term
Describe the Formal operation stage.
Definition
Capable of abstract reasoning. Reality seen as one aspect of what might be.
Term
With whom does social development begin?
Definition
The infant's first human bond with its caretaker. Distress may develop without this relationship.
Term
What did Harry Harlow research?
Definition
Separation. Baby monkeys separated from their moms huddled in corner, bit themselves, didn't interact, and had trouble with sex and parenting issues.
Term
What did Harlow discover about the origins of attachment?
Definition
Although people originally believed that attachment to parents was because they fulfilled child's physical needs, he found that the love for the mother goes beyond bodily needs. Monkeys preferred "comfort contact".
Term
What are some psychological changes that occur during adolescence?
Definition
Stress, Identity Crisis, thought is no longer dependent on direct experience, committing to basic beliefs, and deciding on a preferred social role.
Term
Describe Erikson's view of social development called "Psychosocial Development".
Definition
All humans pass through crises between the self and society's demands, and each conflict must be resolved before moving onto the next stage. These crises come to define who you are.
Term
What is another term for motivation?
Definition
Self-regulation.
Term
What does the Instincts As Motivators theory say about motivation? What are some criticisms of this theory?
Definition
We have certain instincts that govern our behavior and that are common to all humans. Cons include that the theory fails to explain behavior and just names it. Also, it focuses too much on innateness.
Term
Explain the Drive-Reduction theory. What are some problems with it?
Definition
We are driven to reduce our needs in order to maintain homeostasis. Criticisms are that human behavior isn't always motivated by physiological drives (e.g. roller coasters don't reduce our tension).
Term
Explain the Humanistic theory.
Definition
We do things according to the Pyramid of Human Needs. (physiological needs, safety needs, psychological needs, self-actualization)
Term
Explain the Arousal theory.
Definition
People are motivated to behave in ways that maintain a level of arousal optimal for their functioning. (e.g. riding roller coasters.)
Term
Explain the Incentive theory.
Definition
People are motivated to attain desirable stimuli and avoid unwanted stimuli.
Term
What are some internal signals of hunger?
Definition
Glucose gets low hypothalamus activates to stimulate hunger. (lateral hypothalamus = start eating, ventromedial hypothalamus = stop eating.) Also, the liver keeps track of our metabolic rate.
Term
What are some external signals that trigger hunger?
Definition
Expected mealtimes, sight or smell of food, stress, and boredom.
Term
What percent body fat classifies men and women respectively as obese?
Definition
Men- over 25% body fat. Women- over 30% body fat.
Term
What happens to fat cells when you diet as an adult?
Definition
They shrink but don't disappear (they don't change numbers after puberty, just change in size).
Term
What are the major causes of weight gain?
Definition
Calorie intake, expending too few calories (low BMR, low exercise), self-perpetuation of weight gain (body keeps weight at "set point"), genetics, modeling parents' eating habits.
Term
What is different about human sexual response when compared with that of animals?
Definition
Human sexual response depends more on psychological factors, while animals are more physical factors (being in heat).
Term
What is a problem with surveys about sex that may skew the results?
Definition
Men tend to say they have more sex while women tend to say they have less sex.
Term
What are the four stages of the sexual response cycle?
Definition
Excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution (body returns to normal state, longer refractory period in men).
Term
Why should we study sexual behavior? How do we study it?
Definition
To better understand it so that we can help those with sexual disorders. We study it through observation and surveys.
Term
Why do people partake in premarital sex?
Definition
Judge that something is missing (sex), but it's not wrong enough to ask for a divorce.
Term
How many men and women respectively have had sex outside of marriage?
Definition
Men- 21%, Women- 11%
Term
What is personality?
Definition
Unique psychological qualities that influence a variety of characteristic patterns of behavior and ways of thinking that determine a person's adjustment to the environment.
Term
What is the Type theory?
Definition
Says that people have distinct patterns of personality with no overlap.
Term
What are the Sheldon somatotypes?
Definition
An example of the Type theory where people's personalities are determined by their body types.
Term
What are the three somatotypes and their corresponding traits?
Definition
Endomorph (short, plump)- sociable, relaxed, even-tempered. Ectomorph (tall, thin)- restrained self-conscious, fond of solitude. Mesomorph (heavy-set, muscular)- noisy, callous, fond of physical activity.
Term
What was Esynck's contribution to the Type theory?
Definition
Introverts vs. extroverts.
Term
What is Type A an example of?
Definition
The type theory.
Term
What is the trait theory?
Definition
Certain traits exist in all people to a certain degree. They tend to cluster together in the 5-Factor model of personality.
Term
What are the factors in the 5-factor model of personality?
Definition
Neuroticism (tendency to experience negative affect), Extroversion, Openness, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness.
Term
What are some criticisms of the Type and Trait theories?
Definition
Identifies behavior but doesn't explain it. People lack consistency in different situations. Traits may emerge in more comfortable situations. No conception of development.
Term
Despite its shortcomings, what is a benefit of the Types and Traits theories?
Definition
They help us describe individual differences in behavior. Also, types and traits can be regarded to as predispositions in familiar situations.
Term
How did Freud come to developing the Psychodynamic theory?
Definition
He was interested in the treatment of nervous disorders, such as hysterical blindness.
Term
What are the three basic concepts of the Psychodynamic theory?
Definition
The Id, Ego, and Superego.
Term
What is the Id?
Definition
An unconscious portion of personality where life instincts (eros) and energy (libido) reside. Operates on the "pleasure principle".
Term
What does Freud believe death instincts are responsible for?
Definition
Aggression and destruction.
Term
What is the Ego?
Definition
The "self", which operates on the "reality principle" by mediating impulsive demands of the Id and the restraining demands of the Superego.
Term
What is the Superego?
Definition
The part of personality dealing with values and morals.
Term
What is the Iceberg Model?
Definition
A portion of the ego and superego are conscious, but the rest of them as well as the id are below consciousness.
Term
Give an example of the three parts of Freud's personality model working together.
Definition
Mr. X is attracted to Ms. Y (Id). Mr. x does not feel he should have sex (Superego). Mr. X joins a club with Ms. Y so that he can be close to her (Ego).
Term
What is important when trying to prevent anxiety?
Definition
It is important to prevent unconscious conflicts between the id, ego, and superego from becoming conscious.
Term
How do we naturally prevent conflicts in our mind from leading to anxiety?
Definition
Through defense mechanisms such as Denial, Regression, and Rationalization (e.g. Jeff Goldblum in The Big Chill).
Term
What were Freud's views on personality development?
Definition
He believed that personality is affected by how a child deals with changes in the focus of the id on different parts of the body as a child gets older. (Psychosexual Development Stages)
Term
What are the five stages of psychosexual development?
Definition
Oral (0-18 months), Anal (18 months - 3 years), Phallic (3-6 years), Latency (6 years - puberty), Genital (puberty)
Term
Explain the Phallic stage.
Definition
Males have a sexual love towards their mother, fear their dad castrating them, and learn to identify with dad.
Term
What is the Latency stage?
Definition
Child is exploring the environment and developing skills, not interested in the opposite sex.
Term
What did Freud believe might affect someone's personality later in life?
Definition
Fixation on a certain stage (e.g. Anal Fixation, problems during potty training lead to a stubborn, stingy person).
Term
What are some criticisms of the Psychodynamic theory?
Definition
Freud only studied emotionally disturbed adults but no children (even though he was concerned with development). Theory has abstract concepts that are difficult to test (id, ego, etc.). Offers an after-the-fact explanation for behavior, can't predict behavior. Sexual conflicts from childhood are not the only cause of personality.
Term
Despite the negative aspects of the psychodynamic theory, what are some of Freud's contribution from this theory?
Definition
Emphasis on internal conflict. Introducing more research on sexuality. Had a wide range of contributions (language, personality, disorders, development, memory, dreams, etc.).
Term
What is the Humanistic theory?
Definition
Emphasizes people's innate goodness and their motivation to reach fulfillment. Concerned with the person's current concept of self (no emphasis on childhood). Do not like the idea of personality being controlled by internal instincts.
Term
What is self-actualization in the Humanistic theory?
Definition
One's innate push towards growth with all parts of personality working together in harmony.
Term
What are the criticisms of the Humanistic theory?
Definition
Unclear concepts, neglect of environmental variables, neglect of a person's past, and the inability to predict behavior.
Term
What are four types of personality assessment?
Definition
Objective personality tests, behavior observation, interviews, and projective (unstructured) measures.
Term
What is a very common personality test?
Definition
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) looks for numerous psychiatric patterns at once. Compares answers to norms to detect patterns for different types of mental disorders.
Term
What are some problems with personality tests? How is this accounted for?
Definition
People feel like they're on trial, so they may intentionally lie. This is accounted for by inserting certain questions that will catch someone trying to lie on their answers.
Term
What is a Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)?
Definition
Shows a picture and asks the person to tell what is going on. Looks for certain themes to detect problems (failure, etc.).
Term
What is the Rorschach test?
Definition
The ink blot test. Using the whole inkblot indicates integrative thinking. Using color indicates emotionality and impulsiveness. Describing motion indicates imagination and a rich inner life.
Term
What is a criticism of Personality Assessments?
Definition
They are very poor at predicting values.
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