Term
|
Definition
| Psychology is the science of behavior and mental process. |
|
|
Term
| What are the goals of psychology? |
|
Definition
| Psychologist gather scientific data in order to describe, understand, predict and control behavior. |
|
|
Term
| What is critical thinking? |
|
Definition
| Its the ability to reflect on, evaluate, compare, analyze, critique, and synthesize information. It is central to the scientific method, to psychology, and to effective behavior in general. |
|
|
Term
| How does psychology differ from false explanations of behavior? |
|
Definition
Pseudopsychologies are unfounded systems that resemble psychology. Unlike psychology, Pseudopsychologies change little over time because followers seek evidence that appears to confirm their beliefs and avoid evidence that contradicts their beliefs. |
|
|
Term
| How is the scientific method applied in psychological research? |
|
Definition
| Psychological research begins by defining problems and proposing hypotheses. Next researchers gather evidence, test hypotheses, and publish results. Scientific debate and theories suggest new hypotheses, which lead to further research. |
|
|
Term
| How did the field of psychology emerge? |
|
Definition
| The field of psychology emerged 130 years ago when researchers began to directly study and observe psychological events. |
|
|
Term
| What are the contemporary perspectives in psychology? |
|
Definition
The Biological Perspective-including biopsychology and evolutionary psychology
The psychological perspective, including behaviorism cognitive psychology, the psychodynamic approach, and humanism.
The sociocultural perspective. |
|
|
Term
| What are the major specialties in psychology? |
|
Definition
| Dozens of specialities in psychology including clinical, counseling industrial, educational, consumer, school, developmental, engineering, medical, environmental, forensic, community, psychometric, and experimental psychology |
|
|
Term
| How is an experiment performed? |
|
Definition
| Involve two or more groups of subjects that differ only with regard to the independent variable . Effects on the dependent variable are then measured. All other conditions (extraneous variables) are held constant. |
|
|
Term
| What is a double blind experiment? |
|
Definition
| Neither the research participants nor the researchers collecting data know who was in the experimental group or the control group, allowing valid conclusions to be drawn. |
|
|
Term
| What non experimental research methods do psychologist use? |
|
Definition
| Psychologist rely on naturalistic observation, the correlational method, case studies, and survey method. |
|
|
Term
| How good is the psychological information found in the popular media? |
|
Definition
| Information found in the mass media varies greatly in quality and accuracy and should be approached with skepticism and caution. |
|
|
Term
| How do nerve cells operate and communicate? |
|
Definition
| The dendrite and soma of a neuron combine neutral input and send it down the axon terminals for output across the synapse to other neurons. |
|
|
Term
| What are the major parts of the nervous systems? |
|
Definition
| Central nervous system (CNS) and the Peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes the Somatic (bodily) and Autonomic (involuntary) nervous systems. |
|
|
Term
| How is the brain studied? |
|
Definition
| A major brain research strategy involves the localization of function to link specific structures in the brain with specific psychological or behavioral functions. |
|
|
Term
| Why is the human cerebral cortex so important? |
|
Definition
| Its largely responsible for our ability to use language, make tools, acquire complex skill, and live in complex social groups. |
|
|
Term
| What are the human cerebral cortex parts? |
|
Definition
It is divided into left and right hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum. Each hemisphere is divided into four lobes:
the frontal lobes,
the parietal lobes,
the temporal lobe,
and the occipital lobes. |
|
|
Term
| What are the major parts of the subcortex? |
|
Definition
| The brain can be subdivided into the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The subcortex includes hindbrain and midbrain structures as well as the lower parts of the forebrain, below the cortex. |
|
|
Term
| Does the glandular system affect behavior? |
|
Definition
| Endocrine glands serve as a chemical communication system within the body. The ebb and flow of hormones from the endocrine glands entering the bloodstream affect behavior, moods, and personality. |
|
|
Term
| In what ways do right and left handed individuals differ? |
|
Definition
| Vast majority of people are right handed and therefore left brain dominant for motor skills. More than 90 percent of right handed persons and about 70 percent of the left handed also produce speech from the left hemisphere. |
|
|
Term
| In what ways are our senses limited? |
|
Definition
| The senses act as data reduction systems in order to prevent the brain from being overwhelmed by sensory output. |
|
|
Term
| How does the visual system function? |
|
Definition
| The visible spectrum is transduced by rods and cones in the retina leading to the construction of visual experience by the brain? |
|
|
Term
| How do we perceive colors? |
|
Definition
| Our ability to see colors is explained by the trichromatic theory (in the retina) and by the opponent-process theory (in the visual system beyond the eyes) |
|
|
Term
| How do we adjust to the dark? |
|
Definition
| Increased concentration of visual pigments in both the rods and the cones but mainly by rhodopsin recombining in the rods. |
|
|
Term
| What are the mechanisms of hearing? |
|
Definition
| Sound waves are transduced by the eardrum, auditory ossicles, oval window, cochlea, and ultimately, hair cells. |
|
|
Term
| How do the chemical senses operate? |
|
Definition
| Olfaction (smell) and gustation (taste) are chemical senses responsive to airborne or liquefied molecules. |
|
|
Term
| What are the somesthetic senses? |
|
Definition
| The somesthetic senses include the skin senses, kinesthesis, and the vestibular senses. |
|
|
Term
| Why are we more aware of some sensations than others? |
|
Definition
| Incoming sensations are affected by sensory adaption (a reduction in the number of nerve impulses sent) by selective attention (selection and diversion of messages in the brain) and by sensory gating (blocking or alteration of messages in the brain) |
|
|
Term
| How can pain be reduced in everyday situations? |
|
Definition
| Pain can be reduced or controlled by altering factors that affect pain intensity. |
|
|
