Cedarville University - Gen. Psych - DeWitt - Exam 1

Wilhelm Wundt

Founded the first psychology lab in 1879; from Germany; prior to psychology, he was a physiologist and a philosopher

Ivan Pavlov

Pioneered the study of learning; from Russia; prior to psychology, he was a physiologist

Sigmund Freud

Personality theorist; from Austria, prior to psychology he was a physiologist

Jean Piaget

Influential observer of children's behavior; from Switzerland; prior to psychology he was a biologist

William James

Published "The Principles of Psychology;" from America; prior to psychology he was a philosopher

Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes

Nature-Nurture Issue

Are our reactions a result of genes or heredity (nature) or environment or experiences (nurture)?

Neuroscience

How the body and brain work to create emotions, memories, and sensory experiences

Psychodynamic (Freud)

How behavior springs from unconscious drives

Behavioral

How observable responses are acquired and changed

Cognitive

How we encode, process, store, and retrieve information

Social-Cultural

How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures

The Scientific Attitude

Curiosity - a desire to learn or know; open-minded skepticism - being willing to ask questions; humility - being able to reject one's own ideas

Critical Thinking

Examines assumptions, appraises the source, evaluates evidence, discerns biases, and assesses conclusions

Introspection

Looking inward and noting your immediate sensations and feelings

Descriptive Research

Observing and describing behavior

Case Study

Examining one or more persons in great depth, hoping to reveal things true for us all

Survey

Self-reported attitudes/behaviors or a population by questioning a random sample

Naturalistic Observation

Observing and recording behavior in natural environments

Correlational Research

Measuring two variables and assessing the statistical relationship between them; positive correlation = direct relationship; negative correlation = inverse relationship

prediction, causation

Correlation enables ____________, it does not prove _______________.

Experimental Research

Manipulating one or more factors (IV) to observe the effects on some behavior or mental process (DV)

Experimental Group

The group exposed to treatment

Control Group

The group not exposed to treatment

Independent Variable

The factor being manipulated in an experiment; the variable whose effect is being studied

Dependent Variable

The outcome that is being measured; the variable that may change when the independent variable is manipulated

Placebo Effect

Experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion

Blind Procedure

An experimental procedure where the research participants are ignorant to the expected outcome of the experiment

Double-Blind Procedure

An experimental procedure in which the participants and the research staff are ignorant of whether or not they have received a placebo or the real treatment

Placebo

A substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value

Ethical Principles

Obtain informed consent, protect from harm and discomfort, confidentiality, and debrief

SQ3R Method

Survey, Question, Read, Recite, Review

Phrenology

Ill-fated theory regarding bumps on the skull determining mental abilities and character traits; focused on the localization of the function or areas of the brain

Biological Psychology

Studies links between biology and behavior

Neuron

Nerve cell, consisting of cell body and branching fibers

Dendrites

Receive information from sensory receptors

Axon

Passes information to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Myelin Sheath

Fatty layer or cells encasing the axon; it insulates and increases speed

Multiple Sclerosis

Degeneration of myelin sheath

Action Potential

Brief electrical charge that travels down the axon

Synapse

Gap/junction between 2 neurons

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers released from axon terminals

Sensory Neurons

Send info from tissues and sensory organs inward to the brain and spinal cord

Interneurons

Work in the spinal cord and brain and intervene between sensory and motor neurons

Motor Neurons

Send instructions outward from the brain and spinal cord to body tissue and muscles

SAME

Sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent)

Plasticity

Ability for the brain to develop new neural pathways; the brains ability to modify itself after damage

Agonist

A molecule that excites or increases a neurotransmitter's action

Antagonist

A molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's actions

Peripheral Nervous System

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Central Nervous System

Brain and spinal cord

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)

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles; sensory input, motor output

Sympathic Nervous System

Arousal; fight, flight, or freeze, tend or befriend, oxytocin (women); mobilizing energy

Parasympathic Nervous System

Calming; rest or digest; conserving energy

Endocrine System

The body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced in one tissue, then travels through the blood affecting other tissues

Adrenal Glands

Located at the top of the kidney; triggers fight/flight response; releases epinephrine (adrenaline); provides a surge of energy causing the heart rate, blood pressure, and sugar to rise

Pituitary Gland

"Master gland of the endocrine system;" pea sized structure at the base of the brain; regulates body growth and physical development; releases oxytocin

Brainstem, limbic system, cerebral cortex

The sequence of brain regions from the oldest to newest is

Brainstem

"Old brain;" begins where spinal cord enters skull

Medulla

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing; location of crossover point of nerves from each side of body

Cerebellum

Two wrinkled hemispheres; influences non-verbal learning and skill memory; functions as muscle control

Thalamus

Two egg shaped structures; brain's sensory switchboard; deals with all seeing, hearing, tasting, and touching

Reticular Formation

Inside brainstem; goes from spinal cord to the thalamus; controls arousal/attention

Limbic System

Neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives

Amygdala

Two almond-shaped neural clusters that are components of the limbic system and influences aggression/fear

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature, and sexual behavior)

Hippocampus

A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage

Cerebral Cortex

Outer region of the cerebrum, containing sheets of nerve cells; gray matter of the brain; 1/8in. thick

Frontal Lobe

The lobe at the front of the brain associated with movement, speech, planning, judgement, and impulsive behavior

Parietal Lobe

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position

Occipital Lobe

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head that controls vision

Temporal Lobe

An area on each hemisphere of the cerebral cortex near the temples that is the primary receiving area for auditory information

Corpus Callosum

A thick band of axons that connects the two cerebral hemispheres and acts as a communication link between them

Left, right

Right side of the brain controls the ________ side of the body, while the left side of the brain controls the __________ side of the body

Left hemisphere of brain

Controls right side of the body and is logical, contains mathematics, language, & speech

Right hemisphere of brain

Controls left side of the body and is the more artistic and creative side