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Psych 110 EXAM II
from textbook
136
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
10/18/2008

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Term
Learning
Definition
Some experience that results in a relatively permanent change in the state of the learner
Term
Habituation
Definition
A general process in which repeated or prolonged exposure to a stimulus results in a gradual reduction in responding
Term
Classical conditioning
Definition
When a neutral stimulus evokes a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally evokes a response
Term
Unconditioned stimulus (US)
Definition
Something that reliably produces a naturally occurring reaction in an organism
Term
Unconditioned response (UR)
Definition
A reflexive reaction that is reliably elicited by an unconditioned stimulus
Term
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
Definition
A stimulus that is initially neutral and produces no reliable response in an organism
Term
Conditioned Response (CR)
Definition
A reaction that resembles an unconditioned response but is produced by a conditioned stimulus
Term
Acquisition
Definition
Th phase of classical conditioning when the CS and the US are presented together
Term
Second-order conditioning
Definition
Conditioning where the US is a stimulus that acquired its ability to produce learning from an earlier procedure in which it was used as a CS
Term
Extinction
Definition
The gradual elimination of a learned response that occurs when the US is no longer present
Term
Spontaneous Recovery
Definition
The tendency of a learned behavior to recover from extinction after a rest period
Term
Generalization
Definition
A process in which the CR is observed even though the CS is slightly different from the original one used during acquisition
Term
Discrimination
Definition
The capacity to distinguish between similar but distinct stimuli
Term
Biological Preparedness
Definition
A propensity for learning particular kinds of associations over others
Term
Operant conditioning
Definition
A type of learning in which the consequences of an organism's behavior determine whether it will be repeated in the future
Term
Law of effect
Definition
The principle that behaviors that are followed by a 'satisfying state of affairs' tend to be repeated and those that produce an 'unpleasant state of affairs' are less likely to be repeated
Term
Operant Behavior
Definition
Behavior that an organism produces that has some impact on the environment
Term
Reinforcer
Definition
Any stimulus or event that functions to increase the likelihood of the behavior that led to it
Term
Punisher
Definition
Any stimulus or event that functions to decrease the likelihood of the behavior that led to it
Term
Overjustification effect
Definition
Circumstances when external rewards can undermine the intrinsic satisfaction of performing a behavior
Term
Fixed interval schedule (FI)
Definition
An operant conditioning principle in which reinforcements are presented at fixed time periods, provided that the appropriate response is made
Term
Variable Interval Schedule (VI)
Definition
An operant conditioning principle in which behavior is reinforced based on an average time that has expired since the last reinforcement
Term
Fixed Ratio Schedule (FR)
Definition
An operant conditioning principle in which reinforcement is delivered after a specific number of responses have been made
Term
Variable Ratio Schedule (VR)
Definition
An operant conditioning principle in which the delivery of reinforcement is based on a particular average number of responses
Term
Intermittent Reinforcement
Definition
An operant conditioning principle in which only some of the responses made are followed by reinforcement
Term
Intermittent-reinforcement effect
Definition
The fact that operant behaviors that are maintained under intermittent reinforcement schedules resist extinction better than those maintained under continuous reinforcement
Term
Shaping
Definition
Learning that results from the reinforcement of successive approximations to a final desired behavior
Term
Latent Learning
Definition
A condition in which something is learned but it is not manifested as a behavioral change until sometime in the future
Term
Cognitive map
Definition
A mental representation of the physical features of the environment
Term
Observational Learning
Definition
A condition in which learning takes place by watching the actions of others
Term
Concept
Definition
A mental representation that groups or categorizes shared features of related objects, events, or other stimuli
Term
Category-specific deficit
Definition
a neurological syndrome that is characterized by an inability to recognize objects that belong to a particular category while leaving the ability to recognize objects outside the category undisturbed
Term
family-resemblance theory
Definition
members of a category have features that appear to be characteristic of category members by may not be possessed by every member
Term
Prototype
Definition
the 'best' or 'most typical' member of a category
Term
Exemplar theory
Definition
A theory of categorization that argues that we make category judgments by comparing a new instance with stored memories for other instances of the category
Term
rational choice theory
Definition
the classical view that we make decisions by determining how likely something is to happen, judging the value of the outcome, and then multiplying the two
Term
availability bias
Definition
items that are more readily available in memory are judged as having occurred more frequently
Term
heuristic
Definition
a fast an efficient strategy that may facilitate decision making but does not guarantee that a solution will be reached
Term
algorithm
Definition
a well-defined sequence of procedures or rules that guarantees a solution to a problem
Term
Conjunction fallacy
Definition
when people think that two events are more likely to occur together that either individual event
Term
Representativeness Heuristic
Definition
A mental shortcut that involves making a probability judgment by comparing an object or event to a prototype of the object or event
Term
Framing effects
Definition
When people give different answers to the same problem depending on how the problem is phrased (or framed)
Term
Sunk-cost fallacy
Definition
A framing effect in which people make decisions about a current situation based on what they have previously invested in the situation
Term
Prospect Theory
Definition
Proposes that people choose to take on risk when evaluating potential losses and avoid risks when evaluating potential gains
Term
Frequency Format Hypothesis
Definition
The proposal that our minds evolved to notice how frequently things occur, not how likely they are to occur
Term
Means-end analysis
Definition
A process of searching for the means of steps to reduce differences between the current situation and the desired goal
Term
analogical problem solving
Definition
Solving a problem by finding a similar problem with a known solution and applying that solution to the current problem.
Term
Functional Fixedness
Definition
The tendency to perceive the functions of objects as fixed
Term
Reasoning
Definition
A mental activity that consists of organizing information or beliefs into a series of steps to reach conclusions
Term
Practical reasoning
Definition
figuring out what to do, or reasoning directed toward action
Term
Theoretical reasoning
Definition
Reasoning directed toward arriving at a belief
Term
Belief Bias
Definition
People's judgments about whether to accept conclusions depend more on how believable the conclusions are than on whether the arguments are logically valid
Term
Syllogistic Reasoning
Definition
Determining whether a conclusion follows from two statements that are assumed to be true
Term
Consciousness
Definition
The person's subjective experience of the world and the mind
Term
Cartesian theater
Definition
(After philosopher Rene Descartes) A mental screen or stage on which things appear to be presented for viewing by the mind's eye
Term
Phenomoenology
Definition
How things seem to the conscious person
Term
Problem of other minds
Definition
The fundamental difficulty we have in perceiving the consciousness of others
Term
Mind/body problem
Definition
the issue of how the mind is related to the brain and body
Term
Dichotic listening
Definition
A task in which people wearing headphones hear different messages presented in each ear
Term
Cocktail Party Phenomenon
Definition
A phenomenon in which people tune in one message even while they filter out others nearby
Term
Minimal consciousness
Definition
A low-level kind of sensory awareness and responsiveness that occurs when the mind inputs sensations and may output behavior
Term
Full consciousness
Definition
Consciousness in which you know and are able to report your mental state
Term
Self-consciousness
Definition
A distinct level of consciousness in which the person's attention is drawn to the self as an object
Term
Mental control
Definition
The attempt to change conscious state of mind
Term
Thought suppression
Definition
Thee conscious avoidance of a thought
Term
Rebound effect of thought suppression
Definition
The tendency of a thought to return to consciousness with greater frequency following supression
Term
Ironic process of mental control
Definition
mental processes that can produce ironic errors because monitoring for errors can itself produce them
Term
Dynamic unconscious
Definition
An active system encompassing a lifetime of hidden memories, the person's deepest instincts and desires, and the person's inner struggle to control these forces
Term
Repression
Definition
A mental process that removes unacceptable thoughts and memories from consciousness
Term
Cognitive unconscious
Definition
The mental processes that give rise to the person's thoughts, choices, emotions, and behavior even though they are not experienced by the person
Term
Subliminal perception
Definition
A thought or behavior that is influenced by stimuli that a person cannot consciously report perceiving
Term
Psychoactive Drug
Definition
A chemical that influences consciousness or behavior by altering the brain's chemical message system
Term
Drug tolerance
Definition
The tendency for larger doses of a drug to be required over time to achieve the same effect
Term
Depressants
Definition
Substances that reduce the activity of the central nervous system
Term
Expectancy Theory
Definition
The idea that alcohol effects can be produced by people's expectations of how alcohol will influence them in particular situations
Term
Balanced Placebo Design
Definition
A study design in which behavior is observed following the presence or absence of an actual stimulus and also following the presence or absence of a placebo stimulus
Term
Alcohol myopia
Definition
A condition that results when alcohol hampers attention, leading people to respond in simple ways to complex situations
Term
Stimulants
Definition
Substances that excite the central nervous system, heightening arousal and activity levels.
Term
Narcotics/Opiates
Definition
Highly addictive drugs derived from opium that relieve pain
Term
Endorphins/Endogenous Opiates
Definition
Neurotransmitters that have a similar structure to opiates and that appear to play a role in how the brain copes internally with pain and stress
Term
Hallucinogens
Definition
Drugs that alter sensation and perception and often cause visual and auditory hallucinations
Term
Marijuana
Definition
The leaves and buds of the hemp plant
Term
Hypnosis
Definition
An altered state of consciousness characterized by suggestibility and the feeling that one's actions are occurring involuntarily
Term
Posthypnotic Amnesia
Definition
The failure to retrieve memories following hypnotic suggestions to forget
Term
Hypnotic Analgesia
Definition
The reduction of pain through hypnosis in people who are susceptible to hypnosis
Term
Meditation
Definition
The practice of intentional contemplation
Term
Emotion
Definition
A positive or negative experience that is associated with a particular pattern of physiological activity
Term
James-Lange theory
Definition
A theory about the relationship between emotional experience and physiological activity suggesting that stimuli trigger activity in the autonomic nervous system, which in turn produces an emotional experience in the brain
Term
Cannon-Bard Theory
Definition
A theory about the relationship between emotional experience and physiological activity suggesting that a stimulus simultaneously triggers activity in the autonomic nervous system and emotional experiences in the brain
Term
Two-Factor Theory
Definition
A theory about the relationship between emotional experience and physiological activity suggesting that emotions are inferences about the causes of undifferentiated physiological arousal
Term
Appraisal
Definition
An evaluation of the emotion-relevant aspects of a stimulus that is performed by the amygdala
Term
Emotion Regulation
Definition
The use of cognitive and behavioral strategies to influence one's emotional experience
Term
Reappraisal
Definition
A strategy that involves changing one's emotional experience by changing the meaning of the emotion-eliciting stimulus
Term
Emotional Expresion
Definition
Any observable sign of an emotional state
Term
Universality Hypothesis
Definition
The hypothesis that emotional expressions have the same meaning for everyone
Term
Facial Feedback Hypothesis
Definition
The hypothesis that emotional expressions can cause the emotional experiences they signfy
Term
Display Rules
Definition
Norms for the control of emotional expression
Term
Motivation
Definition
The purpose for or cause of an action
Term
Hedonic Principle
Definition
The notion that all people are motivated to experience pleasure and avoid pain
Term
Bulimia Nervosa
Definition
An eating disorder characterized by binge eating followed by purging.
Term
Anorexia Nervosa
Definition
An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of being fat and severe restriction of food intake
Term
Metabolism
Definition
The rate at which energy is used by the body
Term
Human sexual response cycle
Definition
The stages of physiological arousal during sexual activity
Term
Extrinsic Motivation
Definition
A motivation to take actions that are not themselves rewarding but that lead to a reward
Term
Extrinsic Motivation
Definition
A motivation to take actions that are not themselves rewarding but that lead to a reward
Term
Intrinsic motivation
Definition
A motivation to take actions that are themselves rewarding
Term
Conscious Motivation
Definition
A motivation of which one is aware
Term
Unconscious motivation
Definition
A motivation of which one is not aware
Term
Need for achievement
Definition
The motivation to solve worthwhile problems
Term
Approach motivation
Definition
A motivation to experience positive outcomes
Term
Avoidance motivation
Definition
A motivation not to experience negative outcomes
Term
Cognitive Development
Definition
The emergence of the ability to understand the world
Term
Sensorimotor Stage
Definition
A stage of development that begins at birth and lasts through infancy in which infants acquire information about the world by sensing it and moving around within it
Term
Schemas
Definition
Theories about or models of the way the world works
Term
Assimilation
Definition
The process by which infants apply their schemas in novel situations
Term
Accomodation
Definition
The process by which infants revise their schemas in light of new information
Term
Object permanence
Definition
The idea that objects continue to exist even when they are not visible
Term
Childhood
Definition
The stage of development that begins at about 18-24 months and lasts until adolescence
Term
Preoperational Stage
Definition
The stage of development that begins at about 2 years and ends at about 6 years, in which children have a preliminary understanding of the physical world
Term
Concrete operational stage
Definition
The stage of development that begins at about 6 years and ends at about 11 years, in which children acquire a basic understanding of the physical world and a preliminary understanding of their own and other's minds
Term
Conservation
Definition
The notion that the quantitative properties of an object are invariant despite changes in the object's appearance
Term
Formal Operational Stage
Definition
The stage of development that begins around the age of 11 and lasts through adulthood, in which children gain a deeper understanding of their own and other's minds and learn to reason abstractly
Term
Egocentrism
Definition
The failure to understand that the world appears differently to different observers
Term
Theory of Mind
Definition
The idea that human behavior is guided by mental representation, which gives rise to the realization that the world is not always the way it looks and that different people see it differently
Term
Attachment
Definition
The emotional bond that forms between newborns and their primary caregivers
Term
Strange situation
Definition
A behavioral test developed by Mary Ainsworth that is used to determine a child's attachment styte
Term
Internal Working Model of Attachment
Definition
A set of expectations about how the primary caregiver will respond when the child feels insecure
Term
Temperaments
Definition
Characteristic patterns of emotional reactivity
Term
Preconvetional stage
Definition
A stage of moral development in which the morality of an action is primarily determined by its consequences for the actor
Term
Conventional stage
Definition
A stage of moral development in which the morality of an action is primarily determined by the extent to which it conforms to social rules
Term
Postconvetional stage
Definition
A stage of moral development at which the morality of an action is determined by a set of general principles that reflect core values
Term
Adolescence
Definition
The period of development that begins with the onset of sexual maturity (11-14 years) and lasts until the beginning of adulthood (18-21)
Term
Puberty
Definition
The bodily changes associated with sexual maturity
Term
Primary sex characteristics
Definition
Bodily structures that are directly involved in reproduction
Term
Secondary sex characteristics
Definition
Body structures that change dramatically with sexual maturity but that are not directly involved in reproduction
Term
Adulthood
Definition
The stage of development that begins around 18-21 years and ends at death.
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