exam review psychology —- Behaviorism, Psychodynamics, Humanism, Sociocultural, and Perception

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering behavioral, psychodynamic, humanistic, sociocultural, split-brain, and perceptual topics from the notes.

What is the main view of the behavioral (behaviorist) approach?

Behavior is learned and is a direct response to environmental stimuli and consequences.

How does the behaviorist view contrast with the structuralist view?

Behaviorism emphasizes observable behavior shaped by the environment, while structuralism focuses on conscious experience and breaking the mind into basic elements.

What do the psychodynamic and humanistic approaches have in common, and how do they differ?

Common: both focus on mental life; differences: psychodynamic emphasizes unconscious drives and childhood experiences; humanistic emphasizes growth, free will, self-actualization, and positive qualities.

What is the main focus of the sociocultural approach?

Social interactions and cultural contexts influence a person’s behavior, thoughts, and emotions.

List the five steps in the scientific method as described in the notes.

Observation; make predictions; analysis; hypothesis; and experiment.

In correlational studies, what numerical value is used to express the association between two variables?

The correlation coefficient (r).

What is Gestalt psychology?

An approach that sees perception as organized wholes; the whole is different from the sum of its parts.

Name some Gestalt principles mentioned in the notes.

Closure, similarity, proximity, good continuation, and figure-ground.

What do depth cues provide in perception?

Depth perception: cues that allow us to perceive objects in three dimensions from two-dimensional retinal images.

What are binocular cues and give examples?

Depth cues that use both eyes; examples include disparity and convergence.

What is disparity in depth perception?

The difference between the two eyes’ views; closer objects produce greater disparity.

What is convergence in depth perception?

The inward turning of the eyes as objects come closer.

What are monocular cues?

Depth cues that can be perceived with one eye; include relative size, familiar size, interposition/occlusion, texture gradient, linear perspective, shading, and relative height.

What is split-brain surgery and what does it show?

Cutting the corpus callosum; the two hemispheres can operate independently and show nonconscious processing and lateral specialization.

In split-brain cases, which hemisphere is typically dominant for language?

The left hemisphere.

In split-brain cases, which hemisphere processes vision and actions?

The right hemisphere.

What does the left hemisphere tend to do in split-brain cases?

Generate a conscious theory of self/world that integrates independent elements.

What is perception?

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory input into meaningful experience; sensation is raw data.

How does perception turn 2D sensory input into 3D understanding?

By combining depth cues with prior knowledge to construct a coherent 3D interpretation.

What is the Gestalt idea about the whole vs. parts?

The whole is different from the sum of its parts; we perceive wholes by grouping.

Name a key concept about perception from the notes related to self/world construction.

Perception constructs a personal theory of self/world from sensory input.

What is the role of knowledge and context in depth perception?

They influence how depth and scenes are interpreted, guiding perception beyond raw cues.

What is the difference between sensation and perception as described in the notes?

Sensation is raw data gathered by sensory receptors; perception is the organization and interpretation of that data into meaning.