Psychology exam 1

Psychology

scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Wilhelm Wundt

father of psychology

Tictchner

structuralism

William James

first American psychologist

Sigmund Freud

First American psychoanalysis

John Watson

Founder of behaviorism

Little Albert experiment

B.F. Skinner

Became one of the leaders of behaviorism

designed the Skinner box

Biological Perspective

study of physiological mechanisms in brain and nervous system that organize and control behavior

psychodynamic perspective

emphasize the importance of the unconscious mind on behavior

Psychoanalytic Approach

addresses internal motivations and feelings shaped by early childhood experiences

Behavioral Perspective

View of behavior based on experience or learning

founder(John Watson)

Humanistic Perspective

People are innately good

developed. By Abraham Maslow and Carl rogers

cognitive perspective

Studies mental processes including how people think

developmental perspective

Study of development across the lifespan: physical

Social Perspective

Study of how we interact with and relate to others

prejudice

attraction

The profession of psychology

Apa has 56 divisions

Goals of Psychology

describe

basic research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems and improve the quality of life

Scientific Method

A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data

descriptive research

research methods that yield description of behavior

naturalistic observation

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation

labratory observation

watching animals or humans behave in a laboratory setting

case study method

an in-depth study of one or more individuals

survey research

Using interviews and/or questionnaires to gather information about attitudes

questionnaire

A survey that doesn't become more accurate based on more respondents.

interview

A face-to-face or telephone questioning of a respondent to obtain desired information.

experimental method

A method of investigation used to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships by purposely manipulating one factor thought to produce change in another factor.

independent variable

variable that is manipulated

dependent variable

measurable effect

experimental group

In an experiment

The control group

Is not exposed to the independent variable

correlational method

a research procedure used to determine how much events or characteristics vary along with each other

correlational coefficient

a number between -1 and +1 expressing the degree of relationship between two variables

Reinforcement

A consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior.

postive reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers.

negative reinforcement

Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli.

primary reinforcer

a reinforcer that fulfills a basic physical need for survival and does not depend on learning

food, water

secondary reinforcer

any reinforcer that becomes reinforcing after being paired with a primary reinforcer

schedules of reinforcement

specific patterns that determine when a behavior will be reinforced

continuous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

partial reinforcement

reinforcing a response only part of the time

fixed ratio

reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

Fixed interval

Applying the reinforcer after a specific amount of time

variable-ratio

applying the reinforcer after a varying number of behavior

variable interval

applying the reinforcer after a varying amount of time

punishment

an event that decreases the behavior

positive punishment

behavior decreasing from an added consequence

negative punishment

behavior decreasing from removing a consequence

observational learning

learning by observing others

biological perspective

A psychological approach that emphasizes bodily events and changes associated with actions

biological psychology

The study of the physiological

neurons

Transmits information within the nervous system

depend on contact with on another for survival

they work both as individuals and as part of large groups

Sensory neurons

input from sensory organs to the brain and spinal cord

Interneurons

carry information between other neurons only found in the brain and spinal cord (relay neurons) WE HAVE THE MOST OF THESE

cell body (soma)

contains nucleus

carries out metabolic functions of the neuron

Nucleus

Contains cell genetic material

Dendrites

receive messages from other neurons

Axon

carries neurons information to other body areas

myelin sheath

provides insulation to the axon

Neurotransmitters

chemical substances released into the synaptic cleft from the axon terminal of a sending neuron.

Reputake

neurotransmitters taken from the synaptic cleft back into the axon terminal for later use

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Causes excitatory effect on the skeletal muscle fibers causing them to contract so the body can move

norepinephrine

Affects eating, alertness, sleep

Epinephrine

Affects metabolism of glucose, energy release during exercise.

Serotonin

important role in regulating mood, sleep, impulsivity, aggression, and appetite

Glutamate

A major excitatory neurotransmitter; involved in memory

GABA

An inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Endorphins

chemicals naturally produced by the brain that reduce pain and stress of rigorous exercise; positively effects mood

endocrine system

Consists of glands that control many of the body's activities by producing hormones.

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord

peripheral nervous system

carries messages to and from the CNS

spinal cord

Nerves that run up and down the length of the back and transmit most messages between the body and brain

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles

autonomic nervous system

Transmits messages from the brain to the rest of the body

sympathetic nervous system

mobilizes our body during stress and emergencies; prepares our body for action

parasympathetic nervous system

returns the body to normal after emergency

Hindbrain

medulla, pons, cerebellum

Medulla

controls heartbeat and breathing

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain; influences sleep and dreaming

reticular formation

Arousal system and activates cerebral cortex

cerebellum

coordinates skilled movment, role in motor learning and probably cognition

Midbrain

A small part of the brain above the pons that integrates sensory information and relays it upward.

substantia nigra (midbrain)

controls unconscious motor actions

forebrain

The largest and most complicated region of the brain

Thalamus (forebrain)

relay station between cerebral cortex and lower brain centers

Limbic System (Forebrain)

emotion and memory

corpus callosum

a broad band of nerve fibers joining the two hemispheres of the brain.

cerebral hemispheres

The right and left halves of the cerebrum.; controls movement and feeling on the opposite side of the body

Lateralization

specialization of function in one hemisphere of the cerebral cortex or the other

left hemisphere

controls the right side of the body; speech and written language

Right hemisphere

controls the left side of the body; creative, intuitive, spacial

frontal lobe

Largest of brain lobes

motor cortex

controls voluntary movements

Broca's area

controls speech production

Broca's asphasia

physical inability to create speech or speech sounds

frontal association area

thinking, planning, impulse control

The parietal lobes

Body awareness and spatial orientation; somatosensory cortex; touch, pressure, temp, and pain register