PSY100 Final Exam Review: Key Concepts in Psychology

White Matter Integrity

Myelination linked to intelligence and cognitive function.

Meta-Analysis

combining the results of multiple studies to find the average effect.

Confirmation Bias

overvaluing information that agrees with our beliefs and undervaluing information does not.

Illusion of Causality

hardwired to find relationships between phenomena linked in space + time.

Spurious Relationship

A false connection between two variables that seems causal but is not.

Structuralism

breakdown of mental process into components.

Functionalism

Studying the purpose of thought rather than its elements.

Gestalt Psychology

whole is greater than the sum of its parts, especially in visual perception.

Terminal Button

Sends neurotransmitter signals to other neurons.

Lateral fissure

Divides upper and lower halves of the brain.

Parietal Lobes

Processes sensory information and spatial relationships.

Hypnosis

Trance-like state induced for suggestibility.

Extinction (in classical conditioning)

The unreinforced presentation of the CS that results in elimination/reduction of a CR.

Multi-store model of memory

Incoming information → Sensory memory → Short-term memory → Long-term memory.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

Ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions.

Incidental Emotion

Emotions indirectly influencing decision-making.

Lying

Deceptive behavior for various personal reasons.

Heritability of Personality

Approximately 50% genetic influence on personality traits.

Individualistic societies

Prioritize personal goals and independence (e.g., Western cultures), high index.

Aggression

Behavior intended to harm others either verbally or physically. Factors: frustration, arousal, media reinforcement, alcohol, and environmental.

Acceptance-Based Therapy

Known as the 'third wave' of therapy, focuses on accepting thoughts and emotions without judgment.

Psychoanalysis

Study of unconscious thoughts, feelings and memories.

Behaviorism

Observable behavior, ignoring the 'black box' (mind).

Cognitivism

mental processes like perception, thinking, and memory.

Social Psychology

how social situations and culture influence decision making.

Null hypothesis (Ho)

no difference between groups.

Alt Hypothesis (Ha)

there is a difference.

Positive Impression Management

exaggerating positive traits to make yourself look good.

Malingering

exaggerating or faking problems for personal gain.

Halo Effect

Assuming all traits of a generally good person are good.

Horns Effect

Assuming all traits of a generally bad person are bad.

Framing

How info is presented affects interpretation.

Reliability

consistency of a measure.

Validity

accuracy of a measure.

Standard Deviation (SD)

Measure of how much scores deviate from the mean.

Outliers

A score that is at least 2 standard deviations away from the mean.

Descriptive Research

often concerned with a single variable of interest.

Correlational Methods

associations between two or more variables.

Correlation coefficient

Shows strength and direction of two variables (-1.00 to +1.00).

Random assignment

everyone has an equal chance to participate in conditions to control the independent variable.

Quasi-Experiments

Experimental design where random assignment is not possible/ethical.

Within-Subject Design

One group observed multiple times (e.g., before and after treatment).

Between-Subject Design

Different groups receive different treatments.

Mixed Design

Combines elements of both within-subject and between-subject designs.

Placebo Effect

a treatment that cannot be attributed to the active properties of that treatment.

p value

The probability that the result is due to chance.

p-threshold

The cutoff value for determining statistical significance.

Statistical significance

tells us whether an effect exists but not how large or impactful the effect is.

Neurons

basic units of the nervous system that communicate via electrical impulses + chemical signals.

Cell body

Central mass containing the nucleus of a neuron.

Dendrites

Receive information from other neurons.

Axons

Transmit information to other neurons.

Gila

Support functions like blood and myelin formation.

Myelin sheath

Insulates axons for faster neural signaling.

Nodes of Ranvier

Gaps between myelin sheaths on axons.

Agonists

Bind to receptors and produce a response.

Antagonists

Bind to receptors but do not produce a response.

Longitudinal fissure

Divides the left and right hemispheres.

Central Fissure

Separates frontal and parietal lobes.

Precentral gyrus

Frontal lobe area before the central fissure.

Postcentral gyrus

Parietal lobe area after the central fissure.

Contralateral representation

Each hemisphere controls opposite body side.

Cerebral Cortex

Outer layer of the brain with four lobes.

Frontal Lobe

Involved in decision making and voluntary movements.

Orbitofrontal cortex

Processes taste, smell, and impulse control.

Temporal Lobe

Associated with hearing, language, and memory.

Occipital Lobes

Primary visual cortex for processing sight.

Amygdala

Processes fear and emotional responses.

Hypothalamus

Regulates drives and connects nervous/endocrine systems.

Hippocampus

Involved in formation of long-term memories.

Cingulate gyrus

Involved in emotion, pain, and learning.

Basal Ganglia

Regulates voluntary movement and habit formation.

HPA Axis

Regulates stress response via cortisol release.

Somatic Nervous System

Controls voluntary functions in the external environment.

Autonomic Nervous System

Regulates involuntary bodily functions.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Prepares body for 'fight or flight' response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Returns body to 'rest and digest' state.

fMRI

Measures blood oxygenation for brain activity.

PET

Uses radiotracer to detect tissue reactions.

EEG

Tracks electrical activity in the brain.

Sensation

Initial phase of receiving environmental information.

Perception

Interpreting sensory information for understanding.

Trichromatic Theory

Color perception from three cone types.

Opponent-Process Theory

Color pairs inhibit each other when stimulated.

Absolute Threshold

Minimum stimulus intensity detected 50% of time.

Difference Threshold

Smallest detectable difference between two stimuli.

Weber-Fechner Law

JND ratio to stimulus intensity remains constant.

NREM Stages

Gradual brain wave slowing from light to deep sleep.

REM Stage

Vivid dreaming and brain activity like wakefulness.

Dream Protection Theory

Transforms unconscious desires into dream symbols.

Evolution Theory

Dreams simulate threats and problem-solving scenarios.

Activation-Synthesis Theory

Interprets random brain activity as dreams.

Meditation

Trains mind or induces altered consciousness.

Near-death experiences

Profound psychological events during close encounters with death.

Near Death Experiences (NDE)

An experience associated with death or near-death.

Characteristics of NDE

Feelings of peace, out-of-body sensations, seeing a bright light, and encounters with deceased loved ones.

Causes of NDE

Psychological + physiological aspects, including social attitude, religious attitude.

Consequences of NDE

Profound changes in beliefs, attitudes towards life and death, increased spiritual awareness, and reduced fear of death.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that involves associating a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response.

Unconditioned stimulus (US)

Stimulus that unconditionally triggers a response.