Intro to Psychology Midterm Review Flashcards

These flashcards cover the theoretical approaches to psychology, research methods, functions of the brain, memory processes, and ethical considerations in research.

What is the key idea of the Psychoanalytic Approach?

The unconscious mind influences our thoughts and behavior.

What do Psychoanalytic theorists consider significant in behavior?

Deep fears or desires, childhood experiences, repressed memories, and dreams.

What is the main idea behind the Behavioral Approach?

Past learning experiences influence behavior.

How does the Behavioral Approach view the mind?

The mind cannot be directly observed; the focus should be on behaviors observed.

What does the Cognitive Approach emphasize?

Our thoughts and behaviors are influenced by our own thought processes.

What factors does the Biological Approach consider in influencing thoughts and behaviors?

Genetics, brain physiology, and medications.

What is the driving idea behind the Sociocultural Approach?

Other people influence our thoughts and behaviors.

What can Descriptive Research determine?

Correlation: the degree to which two variables are related.

What are some examples of Descriptive Research methods?

Surveys, case studies, and naturalistic observation.

What can experiments determine that descriptive research cannot?

Cause and effect.

What is Random Assignment in research?

A procedure for creating groups that controls for differences among subjects.

What are Operational Definitions?

Explanations of the exact procedures used to measure a variable.

What is the difference between Experimental and Control Groups?

The Experimental Group is exposed to the independent variable, while the Control Group is not.

What is a Confounding Variable?

A variable other than the independent variable that could cause a change in the dependent variable.

What is the purpose of a Blind Procedure?

To keep research subjects unaware of the purpose and/or expected outcome of the experiment.

What is a Double-Blind Procedure?

Both the researcher and the subjects are unaware of group assignments to prevent bias.

What is a Placebo?

An inactive substance or condition given to the control group.

What is the Placebo Effect?

When a person’s health improves after taking a placebo, driven by the power of expectation.

What must be included in Informed Consent?

Participants must be told about the nature of the research and any potential risks.

What does Protection from Harm & Discomfort entail for researchers?

Avoiding causing mental or physical distress to participants.

What does Confidentiality in research ensure?

Individual data about participants should never be published or released.

What is Debriefing?

A complete explanation of the research provided to participants at the end of the study.

What are the ethical guidelines for animal research?

Must generalize to humans, provide food/water/shelter, avoid harm, and humane treatment.

What functions are associated with the Left Hemisphere of the brain?

Language, math, logical reasoning, and chronology.

What functions are associated with the Right Hemisphere of the brain?

Spatial reasoning, pattern recognition, and emotional processing.

What is the Corpus Callosum?

The bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres.

What is the role of the Cerebral Cortex?

The outer, wrinkly layer of the cerebrum responsible for higher brain functions.

What is the Limbic System?

A brain area located below the cerebral cortex that includes the hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus.

What does the Hypothalamus regulate?

Maintains homeostasis including hunger, thirst, body temperature, and feelings of pleasure.

What is the significance of the Amygdala?

Controls emotions like anger and fear, involved in the fight or flight response.

What function does the Hippocampus serve?

Processes short-term memories for storage in long-term memory.

What is the Brainstem responsible for?

Automatic survival functions like heartbeat and breathing.

What does the Medulla regulate?

Heartbeat, breathing, swallowing, and digestion.

What does the Reticular Formation control?

Arousal and alertness.

What is the role of the Thalamus?

Acts as the brain's sensory switchboard, directing sensory input to the appropriate areas.

What does the Cerebellum control?

Balance and coordination of muscle movement.

What is a Neuron?

A nerve cell, the building block of the nervous system.

What are Dendrites?

Extensions from the cell body of a neuron that receive messages from other cells.

What does the Axon do?

Passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands.

What are Neurotransmitters?

Chemical messengers that allow neurons to communicate with each other.

What is a Synapse?

The tiny space between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of the next.

What is Automatic Processing?

Unconscious and effortless encoding of information.

What is Effortful Processing?

Encoding that requires attention and conscious effort.

What is the Serial Position Effect?

The tendency to recall the first and last items in a list more easily.

What is the Spacing Effect?

Distributed rehearsal is more effective than massed rehearsal.

What is Semantic Encoding?

Encoding of meaning, more effective than visual or auditory encoding.

What are Mnemonic Devices?

Memory tricks or techniques used to aid in remembering information.

What is the importance of Sensory Memory?

The brief initial encoding of sensory information that helps determine its importance.

What is Short-Term Memory?

The storage system that contains information you are consciously aware of before it is stored or forgotten.

What characterizes Long-Term Memory?

A relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of information.

What are the two main types of Retrieval?

Recall and Recognition.

What is the Context Effect in retrieval?

Enhanced ability to retrieve information when the environment is similar to the encoding environment.

What is the Misinformation Effect?

Incorporating misleading information into the memory of an event.