Psychology 101 Exam 1 (Chapter 1,2,3)

Pyschology

the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.

Behavior

anything that humans do that is directly observable.

Mental Processes

unobservable functions of the mind such as desires, motives, and private experiences.

4 attitudes of psychological frame of mind

critical thinking, curiosity, skepticism, objectivity

Critical Thinking

thinking actively and deeply

Curiosity

asking the big questions

Skepticism

challenging a supposed fact

Objectivity

deals with facts without distortion of personal bias

3 Psychological Perspectives

structuralism, functionalism, natural selection

Structuralism

William Wundt, focuses on the basic elements of the mind

Functionalism

William James, focuses on the purpose or function of the mind

Natural Selection

Charles Darwin, survival of the fittest

Approaches to Psychology

biological, behavioral, psychodynamic, cognitive, humanistic, evolutionary, sociocultural

Biological

focuses on the body, especially the brain and nervous system

Behavioral

focus on directly observable behaviors

Psychodynamic

Sigmund Freud, focuses on childhood experiences, the unconscious mind, sex

Cognitive

focuses on mental processes such as attention, perception, memory, intelligence, problem solving, language, and decision making

Humanistic

focuses on a persons positive qualities and capacity for growth

Evolutionary

focuses on ability to adapt

Sociocultural

focuses on aspects of society and culture

Scientific Method 1.

observe a phenomenon

Scientific Method 2.

formulate a hypothesis

Hypothesis

an educated guess

Scientific Method 3.

testing through empirical research

Empirical Research

collecting and analyzing data

Scientific Method 4.

draw conclusions

Scientific Method 5.

evaluate conclusions

Descriptive

investigate the parameters of a variable

Descriptive Methods

observation, interviews, surveys, case study

Variable

anything that can change

Case Study

an in-depth look at a single individual

Correlational

identifies the relationship between 2 variables

Positive Correlational

occurs when variables move in the same direction

Negative Correlational

occurs when variables move in the opposite direction

Experimental

investigate the cause and direction of the relationship between variables

Placebo

an innocuous substances that has no effect on behavior

Placebo Effect

occurs when a person's expectations cause an experimental outcome

4 Ethical Research

informed consent, confidentiality, debriefing, deception

Informed Consent

the researcher needs to reveal the risk of participation

Confidentiality

protecting the info of the participant

Debriefing

reveal the purpose/method of the experiment

Deception

is only allowed if the benefits to the participants outweigh the risk

Nervous System

the body electrochemical communication system

4 Features of The Nervous System

complexity, integration, adaptation, electrochemical transmission

Complexity

the nervous system is made of billion of nerves

Integration

the nervous system integrates information from the environment

Adaption

the nervous system allows the person to adjust to changes

Electrochemical Transmission

allows the brain to act as an information processing system

Plasticity

special capacity for modification and change (early childhood)

Central Nervous System

made up of the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System

made up of nerves that connect the brain and spinal to other parts of the body

Function of the Nervous System

directs information to and from the brain and spinal cord to the central nervous system

Autonomic Nervous System

provides information to the central nervous system about internal organs

Functions of the Autonomic System

regulates heart rate, breathing, and digestion

Sympathetic Nervous System

prepares the body for stressful situations

Parasympathetic Nervous System

calm the body in a stressful situation (after)

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that carry electrical information across the synoptic gap

7 Neurotransmitters

acetylcholine, GABA, norepinephrine, dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, oxytocin

Excitatory

speeds up

inhibitory

slows down, stops

Acetylcholine

excitatory, involved in learning, memory, and muscle action

GABA

inhibitory, Inhibit neuron firing, low levels are indicated in anxiety

Norepinephrine

excitatory and inhibitory, inhibits some neuron firing and excites muscles intestines and the urogenital tract

Dopamine

excitatory and inhibitory, inhibits voluntary muscle movement and excites the recognition reward

Endorphines

excitatory, alleviates pain and elevate pleasure

Serotonin

inhibitory, involved in sleep mood attention learning and depression

Oxytocin

excitatory, involved in love and human bonding

Agonists

mimics the effects of a neurotransmitter

Antagonists

blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter

Endocrine System

controls certain organs by releasing chemicals into blood system

6 Endocrine System

hormones, pituitary gland, adrenal gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes

Hormones

chemicals manufactured by the endocrine system

Pituitary Gland

involved in growth

Adrenal Gland

involved in stress response and in energy

Pancreas

involved in regulated of blood sugar produces insulin

Ovaries

female sex characteristic and reproduction

Testes

male sex characteristic and reproduction

Sensation

occurs when a person detects stimulus energy from the external environment

Perception

occurs when a person organizes and interprets sensory information

Extrasensory Perception

refers to ability to read another thoughts or foretell future events

Iris

colored part of the eye

Retina

light sensitive

Middle Ear

eardrum is located

Depth Perception

perceiving in 3 dimensions

Gestalt Psychology

refers to the whole is greater than its parts

Skin Senses

cutaneous (medical term for skin)

Touch

mechicarpressure against the skin newborns strongest sense is

Kinesthetic

movement, posture, orientation

Temperature

skin sense, thermo receptors under he skin detect changes in temperature

Pain

warning sensor

Vestibular

balance and movement

Subliminal Perception

below conscious level of awareness

Myelin Sheath

fatty layer of tissue that protects the axon

Early childhood shows what

the most plasticity