Psychology Exam 3

What is fertilization?

When a single sperm penetrates an egg

What is formed immediately after a sperm penetrates an egg?

A zygote

What is a longitudinal study?

Research method that collects data from the same individuals over an extended period of time.

What is habituation?

When an individual becomes accustomed to a stimulus and requires a new/different stimulus to regain attention.

What are the three stages of prenatal development in order?

Germinal stage, Embryonic stage, Fetal stage.

What is a teratogen?

Agents (chemicals, viruses, bacteria) that can harm a developing fetus.

Define schema

A mental framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information.

What is assimilation

Fitting new information into existing schemas.

What is accommodation

Modifying existing schemas or creating new ones to incorporate new information that doesn't fit.

What did the Face Preference study find?

Infants as young as 2-5 days old show preferences for certain faces; preferences are shaped by experience, not just genetics.

By what age do 50% of U.S. children begin to walk?

12 months

By what age do 90% of U.S. children begin to walk?

15 months (1 year and 3 months)

Why is myelin growth important during adolescence?

It increases the speed of action potentials (neural processing), allowing for more mature decisions.

Why are adolescents prone to impulsive decisions?

The frontal lobe (judgment/decision-making) is not fully developed, and the reward system is highly active.

What is emerging adulthood?

A phase spanning the twenties where a person is classified as an adult but does not feel like one

What happens to telomeres due to chronic stress?

They diminish (they are the tips of DNA strands).

What is secure attachment?

Children explore their environment, are distressed when the mother leaves, but find comfort when she returns

What is stranger anxiety?

Distress by infants when confronted with unfamiliar people

What is imprinting?

Forming a strong attachment to the first moving object seen (common in ducks, occurs during a critical period).

What happens to self-esteem during adolescence?

It diminishes due to puberty and an increase in bullying.

What did the Strange Situation experiment measure?

How long it takes a child to calm down after a mother leaves and returns.

Why was Harlow’s monkey study important?

It showed that comfort and connection are more important than food for attachment, and that lack of maternal interaction causes severe long-term consequences.

Describe Authoritarian parenting.

High demands, low responsiveness; strict with no negotiations

Describe Neglectful parenting

Low demands, low responsiveness

Describe Authoritative parenting

High demands, high responsiveness; clear rules with negotiation, love, and support.

How many chromosomes do humans have?

46 (23 from each parent)

Which chromosomes determine sx

The 23rd pair (XX for female, XY for male)

What is relational aggression

Aggression most likely committed by women (e.g., social exclusion, rumor spreading)

What is the difference between Gender Role and Gender Identity?

Gender role is societal expectations; Gender identity is one's internal sense of self.

What did Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment demonstrate?

Children learn and internalize gender behavior through reinforcement (punishment/rewards) – Social Learning Theory

What are the four stages of the sexual response cycle?

Excitement, Plateau, Orgasm

What are paraphilias?

Sexual arousal from fantasies involving nonhuman objects, suffering, or non-consenting persons.

List three factors that predict sexual restraint in adolescents.

High intelligence, religious engagement, father presence (also: sex ed, service learning)

How is motivation defined?

A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior

What is homeostasis?

The tendency to maintain a balanced internal state.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivated by personal passion

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivated by external rewards

Which hormone signals hunger from an empty stomach

Ghrelin

Which hormone signals "I am full" (decreases appetite)?

PYY (also leptin signals to decrease metabolism)

What is the set point?

A balancing point that the body tries to maintain through homeostasis.

What is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?

The body's resting rate of energy expenditure (energy used while at rest, like sleeping).

What is ostracism?

Being socially excluded; it threatens the need to belong.

What is the association between teen social media use and depression?

The more time teens spend on social media, the more likely they are to be depressed.

Describe a narcissistic peron

Someone with excessive self-love and self-absorption