PY101 Exam 3

encoding, storage, retrieval

three processes of memory

encoding

the processing of information so that it can be stored

storage

maintaining information

retrieval

accessing stored information

sensory memory

what the system registers in just one glance, information is not yet processed

large capacity (sm)

capacity of sensory memory

brief duration (0.5-3 seconds)

duration of sensory memory

short-term memory

memory system that briefly holds information

limited capacity (cannot hold much at one time)

capacity of short-term memory

limited duration (30 seconds or so)

duration of short-term memory

long-term memory

memory for events, experiences, and knowledge accumulated across your lifetime

large capacity (l)

capacity for long-term memory

long duration

duration for long-term memory

photographic memory is used to describe flawless memories, like a photograph that is permanently stored whereas eidetic memory is the maintenance of visual imagery over several minutes

difference between photographic and eidetic memory

semantic memory, episodic memory, and procedural memory

what are the long-term memory systems?

semantic memory

knowledge of information that does not include contextual elements - type of explicit memory (water freezes at 32 degrees, snow is cold)

episodic memory

personally experienced events that include contextual elements - type of explicit memory (first time you went on a date, first time you went skiing)

procedural memory

knowledge about how to do something- underlies ability to perform well-learned skills, non-verbal, "muscle memory" - type of implicit memory

explicit memory

information consciously acquired and retrieved

implicit memory

memories not consciously accessible

levels-of-processing approach

deep, meaningful processing is better for memory compared to shallow processing- participants answered questions about a list of words and then completed a surprise memory test

self-reference effect

reference information to yourself - form of deep processing

encoding specificity principle

states that its easier to recall information when you are in the same context in which you memorized or studied it

Godden and Baddeley

Participants learnt word lists on ground or underwater (scuba). Recall was best if the conditions were the same as during learning - whether back on ground or underwater

prefrontal cortex

part of brain associated with working memory

hippocampus

part of brain associated with consolidation and spatial memory

cerebellum

part of brain associated with implicit memory - procedural memory

amygdala

part of brain associated with implicit memory - fear learning

temporal lobe

part of brain associated with explicit memory

forgetting

the failure to encode or retrieve information from long-term memory

amnesia

severe deficits in episodic memory

retrograde amnesia

loss of memory for what happened before an accident

anterograde amnesia

unable to form new memories

Duncker candle problem

Karl Duncker gave participants a candle, a pack of matches, a box of tacks; using only these objects, attach the candle to the wall in order for the candle to be lit and burned properly

what makes the Duncker candle experiment difficult to solve?

difficult due to functional fixedness

thinking

the mental manipulation of representations of knowledge about the world

analogical representations

representations that maintain physical characteristics of objects (mental image)

symbolic representations

representations that are abstract (words or ideas)

mental map

representation based upon subjective perceptions

analogical component

forming the mental map

symbolic component

using information about relative locations

schema

mental structures that organize information and guide thoughts and behaviors (ideas, prior knowledge, and experiences)

category

grouping of objects or ideas that have underlying features

concept

mental representation of a category

difference between exemplar and prototype approach

prototype - one single member and abstraction is required
exemplar - comparison to exemplars (multiple members)

schemas can lead to __________________

stereotypes

stereotypes

generalizations about a group or groups of individuals

reasoning

using information to determine if a conclusion is valid or reasonable

decision making

selecting the best alternative

problem solving

overcoming and obstacle to meet a goal

Heurisitics

a shortcut used to reduce the amount of thinking needed to make a decision

availability heuristic

estimates based upon what information comes to mind

representativeness heuristic

basing decisions based on the degree to which a person or object fits with our expectations of the event

intelligene

the ability to use knowledge to reason, make decisions, solve problems, learn quickly, and adapt to environmental challenges

average IQ

100

general intelligence

the idea that one general factor underlies intelligence - people who score high on one type of item, typically score high on other types of items

fluid intelligence

reflects ability to process information in novel to complex circumstances - typically declines with age and relies on working memory

crystallized intelligence

reflects the knowledge a person acquires through experience - stays the same (or may even strengthen) as we age, relies on semantic memory

multiple intelligences

the idea that people have many different types of intelligence that are independent of one another

triarchic theory

people have three types of intelligence: analytical, creative, and practical

analytical

measured by standard intelligence tests

creative

ability to gain insight and solve novel problems

practical

ability to accomplish everyday tasks

emotional intelligence

managing our own emotions, using emotions to guide thoughts and actions, recognizing other peoples emotions, understanding emotional language

what influences intelligence?

genetics and environment

biological sex

The physical aspects of a person's sex.

biological sex is determined by _______

genetics

we have ____ pairs of chromosomes

23

What does the 23rd pair of chromosomes determine?

sex

Female sex chromosomes

XX

Male sex chromosomes

XY

primary sex characteristics for a female

vagina, 2 ovaries, uterus

secondary sex characteristics for a female

fat on the breasts, armpit hair, pubic hair, greater definition in waist, fat on the hips

primary sex characteristics for a male

penis, 2 testes, sperm production

secondary sex characteristics for a male

facial hair, deeper voice, more angular jaw, armpit and chest hair, increased muscle mass, pubic hair

Klinefelter's syndrome

XXY (1 in 500 and 1 in 1,000 births)

turners syndrome

XO (2 in 2,500 births)

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

XX chromosomes but genitals look like a penis

Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS)

XY chromosomes but genitals look like a vagina

gender

the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of masculinity and femininity

difference between sex and gender

Sex is biological, gender is social

gender schemas

categorization of gender-related information - used to conceptualize gender - experiences, beliefs and information informs these ideas of gender, updated over time

gender roles

characteristics considered normal and appropriate for genders in a particular culture - traditional vs. non traditional roles

Gender role theories

gender role socialization and cognitive development theory

gender role socialization

formed by being exposed to social information

cognitive development theory

children begin to categorize individuals into genders as they develop mentally

transgender

does not match biological sex

gender dysphoria

distress about mismatch between assigned gender and gender identity

sexual orientation

persons sexual, emotional, or romantic attraction to others

heterosexual

straight - attracted to the opposite sex

homosexual

(gay, lesbian) attracted to the same sex

Bisexual

attracted to both sexes

Pansexual

attracted to others regardless of sex and gender identity

asexual

experience emotional and/or romantic attraction but not sexual attraction

factors that motivate sexual activity

biology, environment and culture, individual difference

desire

psychological experience of wanting to have sex

4 steps of sexual response cycle

excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution

what impacts frequency and views toward sex

culture and society

Greece and Croatia

most sex

Japan

least sex