Psychology 101 Final Exam Study Guide Flashcards

Flashcards based on the Psychology 101 lecture notes covering social psychology, personality, psychological disorders, therapy, and stress and coping mechanisms.

Normative Social Influence

Social influence based on the desire to be liked or accepted.

Informational Social Influence

Social influence based on the desire to be correct.

Asch's Study of Conformity

A study where participants judged line lengths, demonstrating conformity due to informational social influence.

Milgram's Study of Obedience

A study where participants administered shocks to a learner, investigating obedience to authority.

Social Loafing

Reductions in motivation and effort when individuals work collectively in a group.

Deindividuation

A state characterized by reduced self-awareness and reduced social identity, leading to following group norms.

Group Polarization

Tendency of groups to make more extreme decisions than individuals alone.

Groupthink

A pattern in group decision-making where members assume their decisions will be correct, and dissenting views are ignored.

Prejudice

A hostile or negative attitude toward a distinguishable group of people.

Stereotype

A generalization about a group of people in which identical characteristics are assigned to virtually all members of the group.

Discrimination

Differential actions toward members of specific social groups.

Explicit Prejudice

Prejudice that can be overtly expressed.

Implicit Prejudice

Prejudice that the individual may not be aware of and/or cannot overtly express.

Implicit Association Test

Measures implicit prejudice.

Just-World Phenomenon

The belief that the world is inherently fair, leading to blaming the victim.

Realistic Conflict Theory

Prejudice arises when groups compete for limited resources.

Sherif's Robber’s Cave Experiment

An experiment demonstrating that intergroup conflict could be reduced by creating superordinate goals.

Social Identity Theory

People form identities based on group memberships, leading to in-group favoritism and prejudice against out-groups.

In-group Bias

The tendency to favor one’s own group over others.

Minimal Groups

Groups formed based on minimal or trivial differences.

Minimal Group Experiment (Tajfel, 1971)

Experiment where participants showed preference for giving more rewards to members of their own minimal group.

Categorization

Grouping people based on shared characteristics; can lead to oversimplified generalized beliefs.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information that confirms pre-existing beliefs, reinforcing stereotypes.

Contact Hypothesis

Contact between members of different groups can reduce prejudice, provided the groups have equal status and cooperate.

Cooperative Interdependence

Occurs when two or more groups must work together toward a shared goal, reducing prejudice.

Jigsaw Classroom

An educational technique where students are divided into diverse groups, each responsible for a part of a lesson.

Drive Theory of Aggression

Aggression is a natural response to frustration.

Catharsis

Releasing pent-up emotions to reduce future aggression; research suggests it may increase aggression.

Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis

Frustration (blocking goal achievement) leads to aggression; more intense frustration leads to more aggression.

Similarity and Proximity in Liking

People tend to like others who are similar to them and who are geographically or physically close to them.

Mere Exposure Effect

People tend to develop a preference for things they are exposed to repeatedly.

Bystander Effect

People are less likely to help a person in need when others are present, due to diffusion of responsibility and other factors.

Psychoanalytic Perspective of Personality

Emphasizes the role of the unconscious mind in shaping personality, with conflict between the id and superego.

Unconscious

The part of the mind that contains thoughts, memories, and desires that are not easily accessible but influence behavior.

Id

The instinctual, pleasure-seeking part of the personality.

Ego

Mediates between the id and reality.

Superego

Represents moral standards and ideals.

Oral Stage

Focus on oral activities (e.g., sucking).

Anal Stage

Focus on control of bodily functions (e.g., toilet training).

Phallic Stage

Focus on the genital area, and the Oedipus complex arises.

Oral Fixations

Person remains preoccupied with oral activities due to unresolved conflicts in the oral stage.

Anal Fixations

Person develops behaviors related to control due to unresolved conflicts in the anal stage.

Oedipus Complex

Child experiences unconscious desires for the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the same-sex parent.

Repression

Pushing unwanted thoughts out of consciousness.

Projection

Attributing one’s own negative traits to others.

Rationalization

Justifying behaviors with logical reasons.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions to a safer target.

Denial

Refusing to acknowledge reality.

Psychological Determinism

Behavior is determined by unconscious desires and past experiences.

Freudian Slips

Unintentional errors in speech or behavior that reveal unconscious thoughts.

Projective Tests

Involve ambiguous stimuli to assess a person’s unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Rorschach

A projective test in which individuals interpret inkblots to reveal their unconscious thoughts and feelings.

Humanistic Perspective of Personality

Focuses on personal growth, self-actualization, and the inherent goodness of individuals; emphasizes free will.

Empathy

Understanding and sharing another person’s feelings.

Unconditional Positive Regard

Accepting and valuing a person regardless of their actions or behavior.

Openness

Creativity and willingness to try new things.

Conscientiousness

Dependability and organization.

Extraversion

Sociability and assertiveness.

Agreeableness

Compassion and cooperation.

Neuroticism

Tendency toward emotional instability.

DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)

A classification system used by mental health professionals to diagnose psychological disorders.

Labeling Theory

Labeling someone with a mental illness can lead to stigma and affect their behavior.

Rosenhan’s Study (1973)

Study demonstrating how labels can influence diagnoses in psychiatric hospitals.

Anxiety Disorders

Characterized by excessive worry, fear, and avoidance behaviors.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Chronic, excessive worry about various life events and activities without a specific cause.

Panic Disorder

Recurrent panic attacks—intense, sudden feelings of fear or discomfort.

Phobias

Intense, irrational fears of specific objects or situations.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Fear of being negatively judged or embarrassed in social situations.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Persistent, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions) performed to reduce anxiety.

Major Depressive Disorder

Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities for at least two weeks.

Bipolar Disorder

Alternating episodes of mania (extreme high mood) and depression (low mood).

Mania

Elevated mood characterized by extreme energy, impulsiveness, and sometimes risky behavior.

Schizophrenia

A serious mental disorder marked by psychotic symptoms, such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and behavior.

Psychotic Symptoms

Include delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations (false sensory perceptions).

Delusions

False beliefs, such as believing one has special powers.

Hallucinations

Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren’t there.

Disorganized Speech

Incoherent or disconnected speech patterns, often seen in schizophrenia.

Word Salad

A jumble of random words or phrases, characteristic of disorganized speech in schizophrenia.

Catatonic Symptoms

Abnormal movements or lack of movement, such as immobility or excessive movement.

Positive Symptoms

Add behaviors (e.g., delusions, hallucinations).

Negative Symptoms

Subtract from normal functioning (e.g., lack of emotion, social withdrawal).

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

The presence of two or more distinct identities or personalities within one person, often due to trauma.

Personality Disorders

Enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and emotion that deviate from societal norms.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Emotional instability, impulsivity, and unstable relationships.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A grandiose sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy, and a need for admiration.

Psychoanalytic Therapy

Focuses on bringing unconscious thoughts to consciousness to understand past influences on current behavior.

Dream Interpretation

Involves analyzing dreams to uncover unconscious desires and conflicts.

Free Association

Patients are encouraged to say whatever comes to mind to uncover unconscious thoughts.

Humanistic Therapy

Focuses on self-actualization and personal growth.

Unconditional Positive Regard (in Therapy)

Accepting clients without judgment.

Behavioral Therapy

Focuses on changing maladaptive behaviors.

Exposure Therapy

Gradual exposure to feared objects or situations to reduce anxiety.

Flooding (Therapy)

An intense form of exposure therapy where clients are exposed to fear-inducing stimuli all at once.

Systematic Desensitization

Exposing a person to anxiety-provoking stimuli while practicing relaxation techniques.

Token Economy

Individuals receive tokens for desired behaviors, which can be exchanged for rewards.

Cognitive Therapy

Focuses on changing negative thought patterns to improve mood and behavior.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Combines cognitive and behavioral approaches to change maladaptive thinking patterns and behaviors.

Drugs to Treat Schizophrenia

Antipsychotics.

Drugs to Treat Anxiety

Benzodiazepines, SSRIs.

Drugs to Treat Depression

Antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs).