Big Scary Vocab List

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Biological approach

An approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially the brain and nervous system.

Evolutionary approach

A perspective that emphasizes the role of natural selection and adaptation in the evolution of behavior and mental processes.

Cognitive approach

An approach that focuses on how we perceive, think, remember, and solve problems.

Psychodynamic approach

A perspective emphasizing unconscious drives and conflicts, often rooted in childhood, that influence behavior.

Psychoanalysis

Freud's theory and therapeutic technique that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts.

Sociocultural approach

A perspective that examines how behavior and thinking vary across cultures and social situations.

Humanistic approach

A perspective that emphasizes human growth potential, self-actualization, and free will.

Behavioral approach

A perspective that focuses on observable behavior and the ways it's learned through rewards and punishments.

Biopsychosocial model

An integrated approach that considers biological, psychological, and social-cultural influences on behavior and mental processes.

Critical thinking

Analyzing and evaluating information and arguments in a disciplined, logical, and reflective manner.

Hindsight bias

The tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it ('I-knew-it-all-along' phenomenon).

Confirmation bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms preexisting beliefs.

Scientific method

A systematic process of observing, forming hypotheses, testing, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction often implied by a theory.

Falsifiability

The principle that a scientific claim must be able to be proven wrong through evidence.

Operational definition

A carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used to define research variables.

Replication

Repeating a research study to see whether the results can be reproduced and are reliable.

Peer review

The process of having other experts evaluate research before it is published to ensure quality and validity.

Case study

An in-depth study of a single individual or group to reveal universal principles.

Naturalistic observation

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without manipulating the environment.

Survey

A research method that uses questionnaires or interviews to gather information about people's thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.

Random sampling

A sampling technique where every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected.

Population

The entire group of individuals the researcher is interested in studying.

Wording effects

Subtle changes in the wording of questions that can influence respondents' answers.

Social desirability bias

The tendency for people to respond in ways they think are socially acceptable or favorable rather than being truthful.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two variables are related or change together.

Correlation coefficient

A numerical value that indicates the strength and direction of a correlation, ranging from -1 to +1.

Scatterplot

A graphical representation of the relationship between two variables using dots on a grid.

Illusory correlation

The perception of a relationship between two variables when no such relationship exists.

Regression toward the mean

The tendency for extreme or unusual scores to return to their average over time.

Experiment

A research method where an investigator manipulates one variable to observe its effect on another, while controlling other variables.

Independent variable

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment to see if it causes a change in the dependent variable.

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured in an experiment; it is affected by the independent variable.

Experimental group

The group in an experiment that is exposed to the independent variable.

Control group

The group in an experiment that is not exposed to the independent variable; used for comparison.

Placebo effect

The phenomenon where participants experience real changes in behavior after receiving a placebo, believing it to be a real treatment.

Single blind procedure

An experimental procedure where the participants do not know whether they are in the experimental or control group.

Double blind procedure

An experimental procedure where neither the participants nor the experimenters know who is in the experimental or control group.

Confederates

People who are part of the experiment but are not the real participants, often helping the researcher deceive the participants.

Confounding variables

Variables other than the independent variable that may affect the dependent variable and lead to false conclusions.

Random assignment

The process of randomly assigning participants to different experimental groups to ensure each has an equal chance of being in any group.

Generalizability/generalization

The extent to which findings from a study can be applied to or have relevance for settings, people, or times beyond the study.

Longitudinal study

A research study that follows the same participants over an extended period of time.

Cross-sectional study

A research study that compares different groups of participants at one point in time.

Qualitative research

Research that focuses on exploring concepts, experiences, or phenomena in a descriptive, non-numerical way.

Quantitative research

Research that collects and analyzes numerical data to find patterns or relationships.

Mean

The average of a set of numbers, calculated by adding them together and dividing by the number of values.

Median

The middle value in a set of data when the values are arranged in numerical order.

Mode

The value that occurs most frequently in a set of data.

Histogram

A type of bar graph that represents the frequency distribution of a dataset.

Skew

The degree of asymmetry in a distribution of data; data can be positively or negatively skewed.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set.

Standard deviation

A measure of how spread out or dispersed the values in a data set are.

Normal distribution

A symmetrical, bell-shaped distribution of data, where most values cluster around the mean.

Inferential statistics

Statistical methods used to draw conclusions about a population based on a sample.

Statistical significance

The likelihood that a result or relationship is not due to chance.

Effect size

A measure of the strength or magnitude of the relationship between two variables.

Informed consent

The process of informing participants about the nature of the research and obtaining their agreement to participate.

Informed assent

The process of obtaining agreement from participants who are unable to give full informed consent (e.g., minors), often with parental consent.

Debriefing

The process of informing participants about the purpose and results of the study after it is completed, especially if deception was used.

Institutional review board

A group that reviews and approves research studies to ensure they meet ethical standards and protect participants' rights and well-being.

Behavior genetics

The study of the relative influence of genetic and environmental factors on behavior and traits.

Nature vs nurture

The debate over the relative contributions of genetics (nature) and environment (nurture) in determining behavior and traits.

Heredity

The genetic transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring.

Environment

All external factors, including social, cultural, and physical surroundings, that can influence an individual's development and behavior.

Fraternal twins

Twins who develop from two separate fertilized eggs and are genetically no more alike than siblings born at different times.

Identical twins

Twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos, resulting in genetically identical individuals.

Nervous system

The network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to transmit signals and control bodily functions, including the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

Peripheral nervous system

The division of the nervous system consisting of all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

Central nervous system

The division of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.

Reflex arc

The pathway followed by nerve impulses in a reflex action, from sensory receptors to the spinal cord and back to muscles or glands.

Neuron

A nerve cell that carries electrical impulses throughout the body, serving as the basic functional unit of the nervous system.

Neurogenesis

The process of generating new neurons, typically occurring in certain regions of the brain.

Sensory neurons

Neurons that carry sensory information from the body to the brain and spinal cord.

Motor neurons

Neurons that carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands, enabling movement.

Interneurons

Neurons that communicate and process information between sensory and motor neurons within the central nervous system.

Glial cells

Non-neuronal cells in the nervous system that provide support, nourishment, and protection to neurons.

Action potential

A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of a neuron when it is stimulated to transmit a signal.

Resting potential

The electrical charge across the membrane of a neuron when it is not actively firing an action potential; typically negative inside the neuron.

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger an action potential in a neuron.

All-or-nothing reaction (action potential)

The principle that once the threshold is reached, the neuron will fire an action potential at full strength; there is no partial firing.

Refractory period

A brief period after an action potential during which a neuron cannot fire again.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across the synapse between neurons.

Reuptake

The process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the neuron that released them, terminating the signal.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter involved in learning, memory, and muscle movement; deficiency is associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease

A progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and personality changes, often associated with a decrease in acetylcholine.

Myasthenia gravis

A neuromuscular disorder that causes weakness in voluntary muscles, often due to a lack of acetylcholine.

Norepinephrine

A neurotransmitter involved in alertness, arousal, and the stress response; imbalances are linked to mood disorders like depression.

GABA

Gamma-aminobutyric acid; an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces neuronal activity and helps prevent overexcitement, playing a role in anxiety regulation.

Glutamate

An excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory, learning, and cognitive functions; excessive levels can lead to excitotoxicity.

Substance P

A neurotransmitter involved in transmitting pain signals and regulating mood.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, and motor control; imbalances are linked to conditions such as Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, and appetite; low levels are associated with depression and anxiety.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers and are involved in feelings of pleasure and well-being.

Agonist

A substance that mimics or enhances the effect of a neurotransmitter by binding to its receptor site.

Antagonist

A substance that blocks or reduces the effect of a neurotransmitter by binding to its receptor site, preventing activation.

Psychoactive drugs

Substances that alter mood, perception, or behavior by affecting the brain's chemistry.

Tolerance

A condition where, over time, a person needs larger doses of a drug to achieve the same effect due to repeated use.

Dependence

A state in which a person relies on a drug to function normally, often accompanied by tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.