General Psychology – Exam 1 Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the General Psychology Exam 1 lecture notes.

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Behavioral Neuroscience

Subfield that examines how the brain and nervous system influence behavior.

Experimental Psychology

Subfield that studies sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking.

Cognitive Psychology

Branch focusing on higher mental processes such as memory, reasoning, and language.

Developmental Psychology

Study of how people grow and change from conception through death.

Personality Psychology

Subfield that examines behavioral consistency and individual traits.

Health Psychology

Field exploring links between psychological factors and physical health.

Clinical Psychology

Study, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders.

Counseling Psychology

Area helping with educational, social, and career adjustment problems.

Social Psychology

Study of how thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Investigation of similarities and differences across cultures and ethnic groups.

Gestalt Psychology

Perspective emphasizing that the whole perception differs from the sum of its parts.

Neuroscience Perspective

Approach viewing behavior via brain, nervous system, and biological functions.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Approach stressing unconscious motives and inner conflicts.

Behavioral Perspective

Approach focusing on observable, measurable behavior.

Cognitive Perspective

Approach emphasizing how people think, understand, and know the world.

Humanistic Perspective

View that people naturally strive to grow and exercise free will.

Scientific Method

Systematic approach for acquiring knowledge through observation and experimentation.

Theory

Broad explanation and prediction concerning observations of interest.

Hypothesis

Testable prediction derived from a theory.

Operational Definition

Translation of a hypothesis into specific, measurable procedures.

Archival Research

Study using existing data to test hypotheses.

Naturalistic Observation

Research method involving watching behavior in its natural context without intervention.

Survey Research

Technique using questionnaires or interviews to sample attitudes or behavior.

Case Study

In-depth analysis of an individual or small group.

Correlational Research

Method examining the relationship between two variables without manipulating them.

Variable

Any characteristic or factor that can change.

Correlation Coefficient

Statistic ranging from +1.0 to –1.0 indicating strength and direction of a relationship.

Experimental Research

Method manipulating one variable to observe effects on another to establish causation.

Experimental Bias

Distortion of results due to experimenter’s expectations.

Placebo

Inactive substance or treatment used to control for participants' expectations.

Double-Blind Procedure

Design in which neither participants nor experimenters know treatment assignments.

Behavioral Neuroscientist

Psychologist who studies how biological structures affect behavior.

Neuron

Basic nerve cell that transmits information.

Dendrite

Branch-like fiber receiving messages from other neurons.

Axon

Long fiber carrying neural impulses away from the cell body.

Terminal Buttons

Small swellings at axon ends that release neurotransmitters.

Myelin Sheath

Fatty coating that insulates axons and speeds neural transmission.

All-or-None Law

Principle that a neuron fires completely or not at all.

Resting State

Neuron’s stable, negative charge when inactive (≈ –70 mV).

Action Potential

Brief electrical impulse traveling along the axon when a neuron fires.

Mirror Neuron

Neuron that activates during both performance and observation of an action.

Synapse

Junction where one neuron communicates with another via chemical signals.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger crossing the synaptic gap.

Nervous System

Network comprising the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves.

Peripheral Nervous System

All nervous tissue outside brain and spinal cord.

Central Nervous System

Brain and spinal cord.

Somatic Division

Peripheral system controlling voluntary muscle movements and sensory information.

Autonomic Division

Peripheral system regulating involuntary bodily functions.

Evolutionary Psychology

Field identifying behavior patterns as products of genetic inheritance.

Behavioral Genetics

Study of hereditary influences on behavior.

Association Areas

Cerebral cortex regions for higher mental processes like thought and language.

Neuroplasticity

Brain’s ability to change via new neurons and connections.

Sensation

Activation of sense organs by physical energy.

Perception

Interpretation and organization of sensory information by the brain.

Absolute Threshold

Smallest stimulus intensity detectable 50 % of the time.

Weber’s Law

Just noticeable difference is a constant proportion of the initial stimulus.

Cornea

Transparent front part of the eye that focuses light.

Iris

Colored part of the eye controlling pupil size.

Pupil

Opening in the iris regulating light entry.

Retina

Light-sensitive inner surface of the eye where images form.

Rods

Retinal receptors sensitive to light, enabling vision in dim conditions.

Cones

Retinal cells for color vision and sharp focus in bright light.

Trichromatic Theory

Color vision theory proposing three cone types (blue, green, red).

Sound

Movement of air molecules produced by vibration.

Eardrum

Membrane that vibrates when struck by sound waves.

Frequency

Number of sound wave cycles per second; determines pitch.

Amplitude

Height of sound waves; perceived as loudness.

Place Theory of Hearing

Idea that different cochlear areas respond to different frequencies.

Frequency Theory of Hearing

Theory that entire basilar membrane vibrates matching sound frequency.

Vestibular System

Structures in the ear that sense balance and head movement.

Semicircular Canals

Fluid-filled inner-ear tubes signaling rotational movement.

Olfaction

Sense of smell.

Pheromones

Chemicals secreted to influence others of the same species.

Gustation

Sense of taste.

Skin Senses

Touch, pressure, temperature, and pain sensations.

Top-Down Processing

Perception guided by knowledge, experience, and expectations.

Bottom-Up Processing

Perception starting with sensory input and building to a whole.

Depth Perception

Ability to perceive three-dimensional space and distance.

Perceptual Constancy

Recognition that objects remain stable despite sensory changes.

Visual Illusion

Physical stimulus producing consistent perceptual errors.

Consciousness

Awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings at a given moment.

Waking Consciousness

Normal alert awareness.

Altered State of Consciousness

Condition differing from waking awareness (e.g., sleep, hypnosis).

Stage 1 Sleep

Light transitional sleep with rapid, low-amplitude brain waves.

Stage 2 Sleep

Deeper sleep featuring sleep spindles and slower brain waves.

Stage 3 Sleep

Deepest non-REM sleep with delta waves; least responsive to stimuli.

REM Sleep

Stage with rapid eye movements, vivid dreams, and physiological arousal.

Nightmare

Frightening dream occurring during REM sleep.

Night Terror

Sudden awakening from non-REM sleep with intense fear.

Sleepwalking

Motor activity during Stage 3 sleep, often harmless.

Meditation

Learned technique for focused attention inducing altered consciousness.

Psychoactive Drug

Substance that alters emotions, perceptions, or behavior.

Stimulant

Drug increasing CNS activity and arousal.

Caffeine

Mild stimulant found in coffee and tea; can cause dependence.

Nicotine

Addictive stimulant in tobacco products.

Cocaine

Powerful stimulant producing euphoria and increased energy.

Depressant

Drug that slows nervous system activity.

Alcohol

Most widely used depressant causing intoxication.

Rohypnol

Depressant sometimes called the “date-rape drug.”