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PSY 101 test #1
5 quizzes
102
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
10/03/2007

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Cards

Term
psychology
Definition
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Term
The placebo effect
Definition
Occurs when the resuls of an experiment are caused by a participant's expectations about what is really going on
Term
an experiment
Definition
is a research method in which a researcher manipulates one or more factors (independent variables) in rder to observe their effect on some behavior or mental process (the dependent variable).
Term
the case study
Definition
is an observation technique in which one person is studied in great depth, often with the intention of revealing universal principles.
Term
a population
Definition
consists of all the mebers of a group being studied.
Term
behaviorism
Definition
is the view that psychology shold focus only on the scientific study of observable behaviors without reference to mental phenomena.
Term
the control condition
Definition
of an experiment in which the treatment of interest, or independent variable, is withheld so that comparison to the experimental condition can be made.
Term
correlation
Definition
is a measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factors predicts the other.
Term
culture
Definition
is the enduring behaviors, ideas, and attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
Term
the nature-nurture issue
Definition
is the controversy over the relative contributions that genes (nature) and experience (nurture) make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors.
Term
counseling psychology
Definition
is the branch of psychology that helps people cope with challenges in their daily lives.
Term
basic research
Definition
is pure science that aims to solve practical problems.
Term
the survey
Definition
is a technique for ascertaining the self-report attiudes or behaviors of a representative, random sample of people.
Term
clinical psychology
Definition
is the branch of psychology concerned with the study, assessment, and treatment of people with psychological disorders.
Term
clinical psychology
Definition
is the branch of psychology concerned with the study, assessment, and treatment of people with psychological disorders.
Term
test 1

a hypothesis
Definition
is the testable prediction, often implied by a theory. It helps scientists to test the theory.
Term
test 1

a random sample
Definition
is one that is representative because every member of the population has an equal chance of being included.
Term
test 1

psychiatry
Definition
is the branch of medicine concerned with the physical diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders.
Term
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random assignment
Definition
is the procedure of assigning participants to the experimental and control conditions by chance to minimize preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.
Term
test 1

a double-blind procedure
Definition
is an esperimental procedure in which neither the experimenter nor the research participants are aware of which condition is in effect.
Term
test 2

the axon
Definition
of a neuron is the extension that sends impulses to other nerve cells or to muscles or glands.
Term
test 2

endorphins
Definition
are natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.
Term
test 2

a reflex
Definition
is a simple, auromatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus; it is governed by a very simple neural pathway.
Term
test 2

hormones
Definition
are chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue nd circulate through the bloodstream to their target tissues, on which they have specific effects.
Term
test 2

the nervous system
Definition
is the speedy, electrochemical communication system, consisting of all the nerve cells in the peripheral and central nervous system.
Term
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nerves
Definition
are bundles of neural axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, that connects the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.
Term
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an electroencephalogram (EEG)
Definition
an amplified recording of the wave of electrical activity of the brain.
Term
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the PET (positron emission tomography) scan
Definition
measures the levels of activity of different areas of the brain by tracing their consumption of a radioactive form of glucose, the brain's fuel.
Term
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MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
Definition
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that show brain sturctures more clearly.
Term
test 2

frontal lobes
Definition
are invovled in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments.
Term
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the dendrites
Definition
of a neuron are the bushy, branching extensions that receive messages from other nerve cells and conduct impulses toward the cell body.
Term
test 2

the endocrine system
Definition
the body's slower chemical communication system, consists of glands that secrete hormones into the blood-stream.
Term
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plasticity
Definition
is the brain's capacity for modification, as evidenced by brain reorganization following damage.
Term
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the cerebellum
Definition
prossesses sensory input and coordinates movement output and balance.
Term
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the brainstem
Definition
the oldest and innermost region of the rain, is an extension of the spinal cord and is the cenral core of the brain; its structures direct automatic survival functions.
Term
test 2

the hypothalamus
Definition
also part of the limbic system. Regulates hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sex.
Term
test 2

the neuron
Definition
or nerve cell is the basic building block of the nervous system.
Term
test 2

biological psychology
Definition
is the study of the links between biology and behavior
Term
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a synapse
Definition
is the junction between the axon tip of the sending euron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron.
Term
test 2

neurotransmitters
Definition
are chemicals that are released into synaptic gaps and so transmit neural messages from neuron to neuron.
Term
test 3

an interaction
Definition
occurs when the effects of one factor (such as environment) depend on another factor (such as heredity).
Term
test 3

identical twins
Definition
develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two and therefore are genetically identical.
Term
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behavior genetics
Definition
is the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental infuences on behavior.
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testosterone
Definition
is the principal male sex hormone. During renatal development, testosterone stimulates the development of the external male sex organs.
Term
test 3

social learning theory
Definition
people learn social behavior (such as gender roles) by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished.
Term
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personal space
Definition
refers to the buffer zone that people like to maintain around their bodies.
Term
test 3

gender
Definition
refers to the biological and social characteristics by which people define male and female.
Term
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a culture
Definition
is the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
Term
test 3

chromosomes
Definition
are threadlike sturctures made of DNA molecules, which contain the genes.
Term
test 3

mutations
Definition
are random errors in gene replication that are the source of genetic diversity within a species.
Term
test 3

a gender role
Definition
is a set of expected ehaviors for males and females.
Term
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temperament
Definition
refers to a person'scharacteristics emotional reactivity and intensity.
Term
test 3

genes
Definition
are the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; they are segments of the DNA molecules capable of synthesizing a protein.
Term
test 3

genes
Definition
are the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; they are segments of the DNA molecules capable of synthesizing a protein.
Term
test 3

genes
Definition
are the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; they are segments of the DNA molecules capable of synthesizing a protein.
Term
test 3

DNA (deoxyribounucleic acid)
Definition
is a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
Term
test 3

gender identity
Definition
is one's sense of being male or female.
Term
test 3

environment
Definition
in behavior genetics this refers to evey nongenetic, or external, influence on our traits and behaviors.
Term
test 3

fraternal twins
Definition
develop from two separate eggs fertilized by different sperm and therefore are no more genetically similar than ordinary siblings.
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test 3

aggression
Definition
is physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt someone.
Term
test 3

individualism
Definition
is giving priority to personal goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identification.
Term
Test 4


Intimacy
Definition
The ability to establish close, loving relationships, is the primary task of late adolescence and early adulthood, according to Erikson's theory
Term
Test 4


Cognition
Definition
Refers to all the mental processes associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating
Term
Test 4


Accomodation
Definition
Refers to changing an existing schema to incorporate new information that cannot be assimilated, according to Piaget's theory
Term
Test 4


The Fetus
Definition
the developing prenatal human from 9 weeks after conception to birth
Term
Test 4


The Zygote
Definition
Greek for "joint", the fertilized egg, that is, the cluster of cells formed during conception by the union of sperm and egg
Term
Test 4


Conservation
Definition
the principle that properties such as numbers, volume, and mass remain constant despite changes in the form of objects; it is acquired during the concrete operational stage
Term
Test 4


Basic Trust
Definition
According to Erickson, is a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy-a concept that infants form if their needs are met by responsive caregiving
Term
Test 4


Menopause
Definition
the cessation of menstruation and typically occurs in the early fifties
Term
Test 4


Geocentricism
Definition
Refers to the difficulty that preoperational children have in considering another's viewpoint, according to Piaget
Term
Test 4


Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Definition
Refers to the physical and cognitive abnormalities that heavy drinking by a pregnant woman may cause in the developing child
Term
Test 4


Schemas
Definition
Mental concepts or frameworks that organize and interpret information, according to Piaget's theory of cognitive development
Term
Test 4


Object Permanence
Definition
develops during the sensorimotor stage and is the awareness that things do not cease to exist when not perceived
Term
Test 4


Assimilation
Definition
Refers to interpreting a new experience in terms of an existing schema, according to Piaget
Term
Test 4


Developmental Psychology
Definition
the branch of psychology concerned with physical, cognitive, and social change through the life span
Term
Test 4


The embryo
Definition
the developing prenatal organism for about 2 weeks through 2 months after conception
Term
Test 4


The embryo
Definition
the developing prenatal organism for about 2 weeks through 2 months after conception
Term
Test 4


Autism
Definition
A disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by deficient communication, social interaction, and understanding of others' state of mind
Term
Test 4


A Critical Period
Definition
limited time shortly after birth during which an organism must be exposed to certain stimuli or experiences if it is to be developed properly
Term
Test 4


Identity
Definition
establishing one's self, the primary task of adolescence, according to Erickson
Term
Test 4


Puberty
Definition
the early adolescent period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproduction
Term
Test 4


Adolescence
Definition
refers to the life stage from puberty to independent adulthood, denoted physically by a growth spurt and maturation or primary and secondary sex characteristics, cognitively by the onset of formal operational thought, and socially by the formation of identity
Term
Test 5

parapsychology
Definition
is the study of ESP, pyschokinesis, and other paranormal forms of interaction between the individual and the environment.
Term
Test 5

Depth Perception
Definition
is the ability to see objects in three-dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two-dimensional; it allows us to judge distance.
Term
Test 5

Audition
Definition
refers to the sense of hearing.
Term
Test 5

Frequency
Definition
is directly related to wavelength: longer waves produce lower pitch; shorter waves produce higher pitch.
Term
Test 5

Gate-control theory
Definition
Melzack and Wall's gate-control theory maintains that a "gate" in the spinal cord determines whether pain signals are permitted to reach the brain.
Term
Test 5

Optic Nerve
Definition
Comprised of the axons of terinal ganglion cells, this nerve carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain.
Term
Test 5

The intensity
Definition
Of light and sound is determined by the amplitude of the waves and is experienced as brightness and loudness, respectively.
Term
Test 5

Sensation
Definition
is the process by which we detect physical energy from the environment and encode it as neural signals.
Term
Test 5

Perception
Definition
is the process by which we select, organize, and interpret sensory information.
Term
Test 5

The retina
Definition
is the light-sensitive, multilayered inner suface of the eye that contains the rods and cones as well as neurons that form the beginning of the optic nerve.
Term
Test 5

Gestalt
Definition
means "organized whole."
Term
Test 5

Kinesthesia
Definition
is the sense of the position and movemnet of the parts of the body.
Term
Test 5

the Young-Helmholtz trichromatic (three color) theory
Definition
maintains that the retina contains red, green, and blue-sensory receptors that in combination can produce the perception of any color.
Term
Test 5

The inner ear
Definition
contains the semicircular canals and the cochlea, which includes the receptors that sound energy into neural impulses.
Term
Test 5

The cochlea
Definition
the coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube of the inner ear through which sound waves trigger neural impulses.
Term
Test 5

The middle ear
Definition
is the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing the three bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrates the eardrum's virbrations on the cochlea's oval window.
Term
Test 5

Wavelength
Definition
Which refers to the distance from the peak of one light (or sound) wave to the next.
Term
Test 5

Weber's law
Definition
states that the just noticeable difference two stimuli is a constant minimum proportion of the stimulus.
Term
Test 5

The rods and cones
Definition
are visual receptors that convert light energy into nerual impulses.
Term
Test 5

Estrasensory Perception (ESP)
Definition
refers to the controversial claim that perception can occur without sensory input.
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