Psychology - Final Exam

Biological Psychology Description

Genetics and biological influences shape who you are.

Biological Psychology Key Person

Roger Sperry

Biological Psychology Strengths

Scientific (useful treatments)

Biological Psychology Weaknesses

Doesn't account for outside forces

Evolutionary Psychology Description

Processes exist due to survival/evolutionary purposes

Evolutionary Psychology Key People

Darwin, Pinker

Evolutionary Psychology Strengths

Behaviors evolve over time, accounts for the mind

Evolutionary Psychology Weaknesses

Mostly assumptions without evidence

Behavioral Psychology Description

Controlling behavior through rewards and punishments

Behavioral Psychology Key People

Pavlov, Watson, Skinner

Behavioral Psychology Strengths

Scientific methods to test

Behavioral Psychology Weaknesses

Suggests all behavior is learned, focuses on nurture

Cognitive Psychology Description

Thoughts affect your behavior. Learning, problem-solving, and memory influence behavior.

Cognitive Psychology People

Piaget, Bandura, Harlow

Cognitive Psychology Strengths

Looks at ignored processes, memory and attention affects behavior.

Cognitive Psychology Weaknesses

Compares humans to computers

Psychodynamic Psychology Description

Behavior is determined by unconscious mind and childhood trauma.

Psychodynamic Psychology Key People

Freud, Jung, Adler

Psychodynamic Psychology Strengths

Psychological disorder patients have childhood trauma

Psychodynamic Psychology Weaknesses

Lacks research evidence, up to therapist interpretation

Humanistic Psychology Description

Emphasizes growth, free will, and positive outlooks

Humanistic Psychology Key People

Maslow, Rogers

Humanistic Psychology Strengths

Real life application (self help therapy), emphasizes choice and responsibility

Humanistic Psychology Weaknesses

Ignores biology, lacks evidence

Social Psychology Description

Focuses on how society and culture shape who we are and values.

Social Psychology Key People

Zimbardo, Vygotsky

Social Psychology Strengths

Can improve understanding on human behavior in society

Social Psychology Weaknesses

Social situations change, hard to maintain ethics during experiments.

Descriptive Research

Studies describe situations (no solutions)

Case Study

One or more individuals studied in depth

Survey Method

Self-Report Data relies on individuals

Naturalistic Observation

Careful observations of people in their natural environment, no interference

Correlational Research

Used to see if two variables are related

Causation

A cause and effect relationship in which one variable controls the changes in another variable.

Correlation does not always prove…

Causation

Experimental Research

Manipulation of one variable takes place in controlled conditions to observe its affect on another variable.

Independent Variable

Factor being controlled/changed

Dependent Variable

Variable being tested (could be changed by independent variable)

Confounding Variable

Variable you cannot account for (can skew data).

Central Nervous System Factors (2)

Brain + Spinal Cord

Central Nervous System: Brain

Processes sensory info, stores memories, generates thoughts and emotions

Central Nervous System: Spinal Cord

Controls reflexes and conducts signals to and from the brain.

The Nervous System Consists of (2)

Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System

The Peripheral Nervous System consists of (2)

Motor neurons and sensory neurons

Motor Neurons consist of (2)

Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System

Motor Neurons: Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary movement

Motor Neurons: Autonomic Nervous System

Controls involuntary responses

The Autonomic nervous system consists of (2)

Sympathetic “Fight, Flight, or Freeze” or Parasympathetic “Rest or Digest/Calming”

The Neuron: Axon Terminals

Store chemical signals for emotions + behaviors

The Neuron: Myelin Sheath

Protect covering that protects message from Axon

The Neuron: Axon

Carry messages to other cells

The Neuron: Soma

Maintain the cell + keep neuron functional

The Neuron: Dendrites

Receive messages from other neurons

Neurotransmitters

Chemical in your brain that is passed from one Neuron to another

Neurotransmitters: Serotonin Function

Hapinesses and well-being

Neurotransmitters: Serotonin Effect of Deficit

Depression, Anxiety, Suicide, Mood Disorders

Neurotransmitters: Serotonin Effect of Surplus

Hallucinations

Neurotransmitters: Dopamine Function

Reward and motivation

Neurotransmitters: Dopamine Effect of Deficit

Parkinsons, Anxiety Disorders

Neurotransmitters: Dopamine Effect of Surplus

Schizophrenia, Addictions

Neurotransmitters: Epinephrine (Adrenaline) Function

Response to danger (fight or flight)

Neurotransmitters: Epinephrine (Adrenaline) Effect of Deficit

Depression, Mood Disorders

Neurotransmitters: Epinephrine (Adrenaline) Effect of Surplus

Anxiety, PTSD

Sleep Cycles: Stage 1

Light sleep, drifting in and out, hypnotic jerk (sensation of falling)

Sleep Cycles: Stage 2

Intermediate, body temp and heart rate drop. Breathing is irregular and shallow. Sleep talking

Sleep Cycles: Stage 3

Deep, slowave sleep, delta waves appear, most restorative sleep.

Sleep Cycles: Stage 4

REM, Rapid Eye Movement, Muscle paralysis, brain waves as if you are awake

Sleep Cycles: Circadian Rhythm

Natural internal 24 hour cycles that regulate sleep wake patterns, hormone release, and appetite.

Sleep Cycles: Lucid Dreaming

Being aware that you are dreaming and can gain control of dreams.

Classical Conditioning

a type of learning in which one learns to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events

Classical Conditioning: Neutral Stimulus

Doesn't cause a response

Classical Conditioning: Unconditioned Stimulus

Stimulus leads to automatic response

Classical Conditioning: Unconditioned Response

Natural body response to stimulus

Classical Conditioning: Conditioned Stimulus

Paired with CR

Classical Conditioning: Conditioned Response

Learned response to stimuli

Operant Conditioning

Learning through rewards and punishments

Operant Conditioning: Reinforcement

Behavior Increases

Operant Conditioning: Punishment

Behavior stops/decreases

Operant Conditioning: Positive Reinforcement

Good behavior reward, good behavior increases

Operant Conditioning: Negative Reinforcement

Take something bad away, negative behavior increases

Operant Conditioning: Positive Punishment

Add someting bad, behavior decreases

Operant Conditioning: Negative Punishment

Take away something good, behavior decreases.

Observational Learning

Learning through watching others

Al Bandura + The Bobo Doll Experiement

Kids watched a video of adults beating up a doll. When kids were given their own doll, they mimicked the adults behavior.

Memory Definition

Learning you have held onto over time

Information Processing Model

Your brain works like a computer (encoding, storage, retrieval)

Encoding

Putting info into your brain

Storage

Keeping info in your brain

Retrieval

Can pull info from your brain when you need it

Sensory Memory

Info that comes through your senses, kept for a second

Iconic Memory

Visual memory, short term unless rehearsed

Echoic Memory

Sound memory, short term unless rehearsed

Haptic Memory

Touch memory, short term unless rehearsed

Short-term Memory

Info you are currently thinking about, 2-3 seconds

Long-Term Memory

Anything you hold onto for more than a couple of seconds

Implicit "Unconcious" Memory

Things you don't have to remember (i.e. Tying your shoes)

Effortful Processing

Things you have to try to remember, the FIRST time you do something. Everything learned starts as effortful processing

Semantic Memory

Memory of facts and general information

Episodic Memory

Memory of personal events like episodes

Prospective Memory

Remembering to do something in the future