PSYC 2301 Midterm Exam Study Guide

These flashcards cover key concepts and definitions from the PSYC 2301 Midterm Exam Study Guide, perfect for review before the exam.

What is the definition of psychology?

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

What does statistical significance (p<0.05) indicate in psychological research?

If the p-value is less than 0.05, the results are considered statistically significant.

What is Long Term Potentiation?

A long-lasting increase in neural sensitivity; a biological mechanism for learning and memory.

What are the major differences between biopsychosocial psychology and other types of psychology?

Biopsychosocial psychology incorporates biological, psychological, and social factors. Psychoanalytic focuses on unconscious conflicts, cognitive focuses on thinking processes, and pseudopsychology involves unscientific claims.

What are the sleep theories outlined in the textbook?

Adaptation/Protection, Repair/Restoration, Growth/Development, Learning/Memory.

What are the overall goals of psychology?

To describe, explain, predict, and change behavior and mental processes.

What are the major types of psychoactive drugs?

Depressants, stimulants, opiates/opioids, and hallucinogens.

What is the difference between somatic, sympathetic, and parasympathetic nervous systems?

Somatic = voluntary control; Sympathetic = fight or flight; Parasympathetic = rest and digest.

What is the difference between agonist and antagonist drugs?

An agonist drug binds to a receptor to trigger a response, while an antagonist blocks or dampens a response.

What is the main difference between the nervous system and endocrine system?

Nervous system communicates through fast electrical messages; endocrine system communicates through slower hormonal messages.

What is selective attention?

Choosing what to focus on.

What are feature detectors in the brain?

Tools that notice specific details.

What does habituation mean?

When your brain stops reacting to something that stays the same.

What are perceptual constancies?

Properties that help keep visual perceptions stable, such as size, shape, and color.

What is a perceptual set?

Your brain’s expectations influencing what you perceive.

What is the difference between top-down and bottom-up processing?

Top-down = brain first based on expectations; Bottom-up = senses first based on experience.

What are Gestalt Organizing Principles?

Rules the brain uses to group items together, highlighting the whole rather than the parts.

What is the relationship between infants and depth perception?

Infants can sense depth before they can talk, improving as they start to crawl.

What is the difference between causal and correlational relationships?

Causal = cause and effect proven by experiments; correlational = connection without proof of cause.

What are independent and dependent variables in psychological experiments?

Independent variable = what you change; dependent variable = what you measure.

What is the difference between single-blind and double-blind experiments?

Single-blind means only participants are blind; double-blind means both participants and researchers are blind.

What is extrinsic motivation?

Motivation derived from external rewards.

What is intrinsic motivation?

Motivation derived from internal enjoyment.

What is empirical data?

Data backed by observation or experiment, used to support scientific claims.

What are glial cells?

Helper cells for neurons that protect, nourish, and support the brain and nervous system.

What are the proper steps in the scientific method?

1. Question & literature review; 2. Testable hypothesis; 3. Research design; 4. Data collection & analysis; 5. Publication; 6. Theory development.

Who is Wilhelm Wundt?

Established the first psychology laboratory in 1879, marking the beginning of psychology as a scientific discipline.

What contribution did William James make to psychology?

A leading figure in functionalism, emphasizing the study of behavior and mental processes in adapting to the environment.

What is psychoanalysis?

A theory developed by Sigmund Freud focusing on the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences.

What is behaviorism?

Founded by John B. Watson, it emphasizes the study of observable behaviors and dismisses introspection.

What is operant conditioning?

A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments.

What is neuroplasticity?

The brain’s ability to change and reorganize through experience.

What is the difference between acute and chronic stress?

Acute stress is short-term, while chronic stress is long-lasting and linked to various health problems.

What is the trichromatic theory of color?

A theory describing how the eye perceives color through three types of cone cells.

What are the three stages of the GAS system?

1. Alarm Stage; 2. Resistance Stage; 3. Exhaustion Stage.

What are the differences between SSRIs and MAOIs?

SSRIs are newer and safer antidepressants; MAOIs are older and tend to have more side effects.

What is circadian rhythm?

The body’s natural sleep clock that regulates sleep, energy, and health.

What are the stages of sleep?

Stage 1: Light sleep; Stage 2: Sleep spindles; Stage 3: Deep sleep; REM: Dreaming.

What is the activation-synthesis hypothesis of dreaming?

It suggests dreams are created by the brain attempting to make sense of random brain activity.

What is the difference between conditioned and unconditioned responses?

Conditioned responses are learned; unconditioned responses are automatic.

What are the steps in classical conditioning?

1. Neutral Stimulus (NS); 2. Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS); 3. Unconditioned Response (UCR); 4. Conditioning; 5. Conditioned Response (CR).

How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

Operant conditioning involves behavior and consequences; classical conditioning involves stimulus and response.

What are successive approximations and shaping?

Successive approximations are small steps toward a goal; shaping involves reinforcing those steps to achieve a full behavior.

What is positive reinforcement?

Adding something good to encourage a behavior.

What is negative reinforcement?

Removing something bad to encourage a behavior.

What are reinforcement schedules?

Patterns of reinforcement, such as fixed, variable, ratio, and interval.

What is the difference between bits and chunks in memory?

Bits are individual pieces of information; chunks are grouped bits that are easier to remember.

What is random assignment in an experiment?

Grouping random people to avoid bias.

What are echoic and iconic memory?

Iconic memory is visual and very short; echoic memory is auditory and lasts longer.

What is elaborative rehearsal?

Making meaningful connections to enhance memory.

What is the attribution theory?

How we explain behavior—through personal traits or situational contexts.

What are acronyms, acrostics, and the Method of Loci?

Acronyms = new words from first letters; Acrostics = sentences using first letters; Method of Loci = visualizing items in familiar locations.

What is proactive interference?

When old information interferes with the recall of new information.

What is retroactive interference?

When new information interferes with the recall of old information.