PS101 Dunne Exam 1 - Boston University

Psychology

the scientific study of behavior and the mind

behavior

Actions and responses that we can directly observe and measure

mind

internal states and processes - inferred from behavior

5 goals of psychology

describe, understand, predict, influence, apply

critical thinking

Taking an active role in the world around us; ability to evaluate the validity of information presented to us as fact

2 types of research

basic (for its own sake) and applied (to solve a specific problem)

Why is psychology a multi factorial science?

Learning experiences, mental state, Biological Make up, Cultural Biases

Wilhelm Wundt

father of psychology who used introspection as the methodology; Structuralist

Edward Titchener

Student of Wilhelm Wundt; founder of Structuralist school of psychology.

Structuralism

the analysis of the basic elements that constitute the mind

Functionalism

Study the functions of consciousness

William James

founder of functionalism; studied how humans use perception to function in our environment

psychodynamic perspective

Seeks cause of behavior from within the inner workings of our personality

What are the two points psychodynamic perspective emphasizes

1. Role of unconscious processes

2. Unresolved conflicts from the past

Sigmund Freud

founder of psychoanalysis

Legacy of Psychodynamic perspective

Research on Personality, Psychological Makeup, Psychological Disorders, Aggression, Childhood Experiences, Dreams, Therapeutic Treatments

Psychoanalysis

Freud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious tensions

Freud's premise

1. Human beings have powerful inborn aggressive and sexual drives

2. Adult personality is determined by childhood experiences

defense mechanisms

in psychoanalytic theory, the ego's protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality

Psychodynamic Conflicts

Between impulses (drives) and defenses

Behavioral Perspective

An approach to the study of psychology that focuses on the role of learning in explaining observable behavior. External environment alone is responsible for governing our actions

Behavior is determined by two things

1. Habits

2. Stimuli

How is knowledge gained in behaviorist perspective?

Empirically, which means that knowledge should be observable and/or measurable

John Locke

Behaviorist who came up with the idea of Tabula Rasa - blank state of mind

Ivan Pavlov

Behaviorist who came up with classical conditioning. Renowned for the experiment he did with his dog.

Edward Thorndike

behaviorism; Law of Effect-relationship between behavior and consequence

John Watson

behaviorism; emphasis on external behaviors of people and their reactions on a given situation; famous for Little Albert study in which baby was taught to fear a white rat. Believed that only subject matter that counts is observable behavior

B.F. Skinner

Behaviorist that developed the theory of operant conditioning by training pigeons and rats, who said that only reason to engage in behaviors is because of consequences

Humanist Perspective

Stresses choice and free will of people; we choose our action and make our own destinies; choices are due to physiological, emotion, and spiritual needs

Dan Gilbert

Humanist who stresses the important on human strengths, fulfillment, and optimal living

self-actualization

according to Maslow, one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one's potential

cognitive perspective

Examines how we perceive, store and organize information. Believes that cause of behavior is the thought process

Gestalt Psychology

the whole is greater than the sum of its parts

cognitive neruoscience

A field that attempts to understand the links between cognitive processes and brain activity.

sociocultural perspective

Investigates how social environment and cultural learning influences thoughts and behaviors

Culture

Shared set of values beliefs, traditions, and behaviors

social norms

accepted behavior that an individual is expected to conform to in a particular group, community, or culture

Socialization

Process of cultural transmission

cross-cultural psychology

investigates the similarities and differences in psychological functioning in and across various cultures and ethnic groups

Individualism

giving priority to one's own goals over group goals and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications

Collectivism

giving priority to the goals of one's group (often one's extended family or work group) and defining one's identity accordingly

Biological Perspective

the psychological perspective that emphasizes the influence of biology on behavior / bodily functions

behavioral neuroscience

an approach to psychology that links psychological processes to activities in the nervous system and other bodily processes

Karl Leshley

Studied biological perspective, his research led to brain mapping (Engram)

Engram

physical trace of memory

Donald Hebb

Biological perspectivist who's research led to discovery of neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters

brain chemicals that allow neural communication and cause action

Big 6 neurotransmitters

Acetylcholine, Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine & Epinephrine, GABA, Endorphins

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction

lack of acetylcholine

Alzheimer's disease

floods of acetylcholine

ATCH (Black Widow Spider Poison)

Serotonin

Affects mood, drives, and arousal

lack of serotonin

depression

Autism

a disorder that appears in childhood and is marked by deficient communication, social interaction, and understanding of others' states of mind. Caused by having too little serotonin in brain and too much in body

Dopamine

influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion

loss of dopamine

Parkinson's disease

too much dopamine

schizophrenia

Norepinephrine

Effects mood (motivation, attention, and concentration), learning and memory, fight or flight response. Norepinephrine is found more in the brain than the mind

Epinephrine

adrenaline. Found more in the body than the mind

Vasoconstrictors

epinephrine and norepinephrine

GABA

Slows down messages to the brain coming through brain stem

Endorphins

Body's natural opiates and blocks pain and produces euphoria

Behavioral Genetic Research

examines how behavioral tendencies are influenced by genetic factors

evolutionary psychology

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of Darwin's Evolutionary Theory

3 major types of neurons

sensory, motor, interneurons

Sensory Neuron

neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord

Motor Neuron

a neuron that sends an impulse to a muscle or gland, causing the muscle or gland to react

Interneurons

neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs

3 main parts of neuron

cell body, dendrites, axon

Glial Cell

cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons

myelin sheath

A layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

Neural Impulses are caused

by action potential

5 steps of chemical (neurotransmitter) communication

1. Synthesis

2. Storage

3. Release

4. Binding

5. Deactivation

Synthesis

Neurotransmitters manufactured inside the neuron

Storage

Neurotransmitters stored in synaptic vesicles

Release

Action potential leads to movement of vesicles to axon terminal surface and release of neurotransmitters

Binding

Neurotransmitters bind themselves to sites on receiving (postsynaptic) neuron's membrane

Deactivation

Through breakdown / re-uptake

Central Nervous System (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Nervous system outside of brain and spinal cord

2 components of PNS

somatic and autonomic

somatic nervous system

the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles (voluntary movement)

autonomic nervous system

the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). (Involuntary movement)

two parts of the autonomic nervous system

sympathetic and parasympathetic

sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Brain Stem

connects the brain to the spinal cord and is made up of the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

Pons

A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain

Reticular Formation

a nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal

Cerebellum

the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance

Midbrain

A small part of the brain above the pons that integrates sensory information and relays it upward. Contains Thalamus, Hypothalamus, and Limbic System

Thalamus

the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla

Hypothalamus

a neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs eating, drinking, body temperature

Limbic System

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives. Consisted of Amygdala and Hippocampus

Amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion. Determines intents.

Hippocampus

memory

4 cerebral lobes

frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital

Frontal Lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement. (Broca's Area, motor cortex, association cortex)

Broca's Area

speech production