Psychology

Psychology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

List the goals of psychology:

1. describe behavior

2. explain behavior

3. predict behavior

4. control or influence behavior

Nature vs. Nurture

Nature = genetics

Nurture = environment/experiences

Hypothesis

a testable prediction or educated guess about behavior or mental processes

Independent Variable

the variable that a researcher changes or manipulates

Dependent Variable

the variable being measured or observed

Control Group

the group that does not receive the treatment or independent variable

Random Sample

a group selected so everyone in the population has an equal chance of being chosen

Correlation vs Causation

Correlation = two things are related

Causation = one thing directly causes another

Central Nervous System

• Brain

• Spinal Cord

Peripheral Nervous System

all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord

Dendrites

branch-like part of a neuron that receive messages

Axon

the part of a neuron that sends messages away from the cell body

Synapse

the small gap between neurons where communication occurs

Cerebrum

the largest part of the brain responsible for thinking, memory, senses, & voluntary movement

Cerebellum

controls balance, coordination, and movement

Brainstem

controls basic life functions like breathing and heartbeat

Consciousness

aware of yourself and your surroundings

Stages of Sleep:

1. NREM-1: light sleep

2. NREM-2: deeper sleep, body slows down

3. NREM-3: deep sleep, restoration

4. REM: dreaming

REM Sleep

stage 4 where most dreaming occurs and brain activity is high

Classical Conditioning

learning through association between two stimuli.

Example: Dogs salivating when they hear a bell.

Operant Conditioning

learning through rewards and punishments

Example: Getting a cookie for good behavior

Reinforcement

a consequence that increases the chance a behavior will happen again

Punishment

a consequence that decreases the chance a behavior will happen again

Encoding

the process of getting information into memory

Storage

keeping information in memory over time

Retrieval

the process of getting information out of memory

Short-Term Memory

temporary memory that holds small amount of information for a short time

Long-Term Memory

relatively permanent memory storage with large capacity

Nature vs Nurture

genetics or environmental influence on behavior and development

Stages of Development

the different periods of growth and change throughout life

• infancy

• childhood

• adolescence

• adulthood

Indentity

a person’s sense of self, including beliefs, values, and personality

Personality

the unique pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person different from others

Trait Theory

a theory that explains personality through characteristics or traits

Id

the part of personality driven by basic instincts and desires

Ego

the part of personality that makes realistic decisions, balances Id and Superego

Superego

the part of personality that focuses on morals and rules

Disorder

a condition that affects a person’s thinking, emotions, or behavior; distress or difficulty functioning

Anxiety

excessive worry, fear, or nervousness

Depression

a mood disorder marked by persistent sadness and loss of interest

Therapies

treatments used to help people manage or overcome psychological disorders