Psychology Concepts from Harry Potter Lecture

These flashcards cover key psychological concepts discussed in a Harry Potter-themed lecture, providing a fun and engaging way to study for the exam.

What must relay messages from Harry's central nervous system to his leg muscles to allow him to run away from dementors?

Motor neurons

What brain region is likely damaged if Professor Snape lost the ability to feel pain in his left arm?

Left parietal lobe

What is the most likely outcome for identical twins separated at birth?

They will have similar personality traits.

What part of the brain does alcohol interfere with to hinder the formation of new memories?

Hippocampus

What does savant syndrome suggest about intelligence?

Intelligence is a diverse set of distinct abilities.

In Ron Weasley's case of feeling ill upon seeing slugs after a spell backfired, what are the slugs considered?

Conditioned stimulus

In a normal distribution, what percentage of the data falls within one standard deviation of the mean?

68%

What does it mean if a test is standardized?

A person's test performance can be compared with a pretested representative group.

What type of reinforcement schedule is Ginny Weasley on when looking for shooting stars?

Variable-interval

What type of conditioning explains Ron’s salivation when smelling the feast in the Great Hall?

Classical conditioning

What does a negative correlation between casting illegal spells and exam scores imply?

As illegal spells increase, exam scores decrease.

What must one achieve to form close relationships in young adulthood, according to Erikson?

A sense of identity.

What statistical technique clusters traits like talkative and social with extroversion?

Factor analysis

What might happen if Fang's amygdala is stimulated?

He may begin to bark and seek physical contact.

What is the median of Harry Potter's Quidditch team's scores: 4, 6, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 19?

10.5

What does the corpus callosum enable?

It transmits information between the cerebral hemispheres.

How do identical twins originate?

From the fertilization of a single egg cell by a single sperm cell.

Which concept is likely related to self-fulfilling expectations?

Stereotype threat.

What type of morality does Henry represent if he thinks he will be spanked for stealing jelly beans?

Preconventional morality.

Who is criticized for extending the definition of intelligence to a broad range of talents?

Howard Gardner.

What is integral to Freud’s theory?

The unconscious mind.

What outcome is expected of children raised by authoritative parents?

They have high self-esteem and are self-reliant.

What does Ron Weasley’s symptoms of tingling and inability to speak suggest on an MRI?

An increase in brain activity in the left frontal lobe.

What happens to a split-brain patient who sees different items in each visual field?

They may report the item seen in the right visual field.

What system regulates emotional reactions and physical responses to threats?

Sympathetic nervous system.

What concept explains older people's better learning of meaningful material?

Crystallized intelligence.

What is the term for Harry developing fear of dark streets due to his fear of dementors?

Generalization.

What part of a neuron receives signals from other neurons?

Dendrite.

What is a teratogen?

A substance that can harm an unborn child crossing the placental barrier.

What is Harry Potter's training method for Hedwig in vocalizing?

Shaping.

What gland is known as the master gland of the endocrine system?

Pituitary gland.

What exemplifies an unconditioned response (UCR)?

Jerking your hand off a very hot stove.

What is involved in high emotional intelligence?

Predicting accurately when feelings may change.

What method is Hagrid likely implementing to study owls in natural habitats?

Naturalistic observation.

What are two characteristics of authoritarian parents?

They impose rules and expect obedience.

What method did Albus Dumbledore use by asking students to recall conscious experiences?

Introspection.

What does Spearman's g factor refer to?

A general intelligence that underlies performance on various tasks.

What reinforcement schedule is Hermione using if she is rewarded every third time?

Fixed-ratio.

What does praise for high grades function as?

A positive reinforcer.

What type of test did Molly take for computer programming?

Aptitude test.

Which brain structure receives sensory information (except smell)?

Thalamus.

What is most immediately threatened by the destruction of the medulla?

Life, due to its control over vital functions.

What is the only research method proving cause and effect?

Experiment.

What does Erikson's sense of integrity refer to in late adulthood?

Feeling that one's life has been meaningful.

What schedule of reinforcement are wizards responding under while working hard before Snape's door opens?

Fixed-interval.

What does the cognitive perspective focus on?

How people encode, process, store, and retrieve information.

What is true for the control group in an experiment?

The experimental treatment is absent.

What hormone might be released when Ron feels accused by Professor Snape?

Epinephrine.

Which stage of moral development is based on upholding laws of society?

Conventional stage.

What is the correct order of Piaget's cognitive development stages?

Sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational.

What did Watson and Rayner's study indicate about specific fears?

They can be produced through classical conditioning.

What indicates that males are more aggressive due to environmental pressures?

Behavioral perspective.

What does random assignment eliminate?

Concerns over validity.

What does McGonagall's cross-sectional study involve?

Different age groups tested at the same time.

What is Piaget known for studying?

Cognitive development.

Which system do hormones serve as chemical messengers for?

Endocrine system.

What area was likely damaged if a wizard cannot produce speech but can understand it?

Broca's area.

What does mental age refer to in children?

The chronological age corresponding to a certain level of performance on an intelligence test.

What does assimilation refer to in Piaget's theory?

Interpreting new experiences using current understanding.

What is true about children in the preoperational stage?

They can represent objects with words and images.

What may limit Dr. DeVries' ability to generalize his findings?

His sample is not representative of the population.

What does the Flynn effect show regarding intelligence testing?

It requires up-to-date standardization samples.

What does the knee-jerk reflex involve?

Interneurons in the spinal cord.

What substances include morphine and heroin?

Opiates.

What result might indicate when increased drug levels suppress the brain's natural painkillers?

The brain stops producing endorphins.

What does a correlation coefficient measure?

Direction and strength of the relationship between two variables.

What tests measures what a person has learned?

Achievement tests.

What confusion can arise from survey results?

Wording effects.

Which branch of psychology studies changes throughout the life cycle?

Developmental psychology.

What is needed to ensure participants represent a larger population in survey sampling?

Random sampling.

What debate focuses on the influence of biology vs. home environments on intelligence?

Nature versus nurture.

How does information travel from the spinal cord to the brain?

Via sensory neurons.

What behavior is superstitious if Harry catches the golden snitch after tapping his broom?

Reinforced behavior is more likely to be repeated.

What do students do in the formal operational stage according to Piaget?

Reason abstractly.

How can experimenters accurately infer cause and effect?

Using random assignment.

What is being tested for statistical significance?

Accepting a 5 percent likelihood that results occurred by chance.

What type of psychologist is studying changes in intelligence with age?

Developmental psychologist.

What happens during classical conditioning when stimulus is presented with no reinforcement?

Extinction.

What reflects the strongest relationship between two variables, using correlation coefficients?

-.93.

What is the range in terms of statistical measures?

The difference between the highest and lowest scores.

How many intelligences did Howard Gardner identify?

Eight.

What do endocrine glands secrete hormones into?

The bloodstream.

What neurotransmitter is linked to Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia?

Dopamine.

What is the independent variable in Harry Potter's candy study?

Invisibility candy.

How is money classified in relation to food?

Secondary reinforcer; primary reinforcer.

What perspective helps understand the effects of strokes on memory?

Biological perspective.

What limitation does case study research involve?

Individual cases can lead to misleading generalizations.

What does Draco's continued misbehavior in class illustrate?

Positive reinforcement.

What does the set of cases from which samples can be drawn refer to?

Population.

What does the medulla control?

Heartbeat, breathing, and circulation.

What structure releases epinephrine and norepinephrine?

Adrenal glands.

What type of intelligence did Robert Sternberg identify alongside analytical and creative?

Practical intelligence.

What are schemas in Piaget’s theory?

Conceptual frameworks for understanding experiences.

What is an example of stimulus discrimination?

Hedwig choosing a triangle to receive a treat.

What does a cross-sectional study involve?

Different age groups tested simultaneously.

What does correlational research primarily allow for?

Prediction.

What type of test are the Stanford-Binet and WAIS?

Intelligence tests.

What best illustrates the g factor's importance?

Better scores in verbal aptitude with higher rates in mathematical aptitude.

What is necessary for a proficiency typical of an average 8-year-old?

An IQ of 125 when a 6-year-old performs at that level.

What do participants given a placebo receive in a drug study?

Treatment containing no actual drug.