MIDTERM

Psychology

Scientific methods to understand human behavior and mental processes.

Wilhelm Wundt

Developer of structuralism, known as the father of psychology.

William James

Recognized as the father of psychology.

John B Watson

Known as the father of behaviorism; famous for the Little Albert experiment.

B.F Skinner

A major proponent of behaviorism.

Sigmund Freud

Known as the father of psychoanalysis.

Introspection

Examining one's own thoughts and experiences.

Functionalism

Focuses on the function of sensations, ideas, and memories.

Biological

Refers to genetic influences on behavior.

Evolutionary

Focuses on survival, reproduction, and adaptation, emphasizing behavior and emotions as acts of natural sexual selection.

Psychodynamic

Explores the unconscious mind and past conflicts that influence behavior.

Behavioral

Suggests that behavior is mostly influenced by environmental factors.

Cognitive

Studies internal processes to understand how behavior is influenced.

Humanistic

Emphasizes free will and potential for personal growth in guiding behavior.

Sociocultural

Examines how environment shapes cultures, actions, values, and mindsets.

Scientific method

Process of research involving observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and analysis.

Goals of Basic Research

To expand knowledge and understanding.

Case Studies

In-depth studies of one or a few individuals.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in real-world settings.

Laboratory Observation

Studying behavior in a controlled situation.

Surveys

Self-report questionnaires or interviews.

Sampling

Ensures each person has an equal chance of participating.

Longitudinal Method

Observing a group over time.

Cross Sectional Method

Compares behaviors of different age groups.

Independent Variable

The variable that the researcher controls.

Dependent Variable

The factor that may change due to the independent variable.

Control Group

Group that does not receive treatment.

Placebos

Treatments containing nothing but believed to be beneficial.

Experimenter Bias

When a researcher favors a certain group.

Single Blind Experiment

Participants are unaware of the treatment they are receiving.

Double Blind Experiment

Both participants and staff are unaware of the research.

Correlation

Statistical measure of the relationship between two variables.

Positive Correlation

Both variables increase or decrease together.

Negative Correlation

One variable increases while the other decreases.

Correlation Coefficients

Range from -1.00 to +1.00 to determine the strength of a correlation.

Neuron

Nerve cells that communicate throughout the body.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messenger that carries impulses across synaptic gaps.

Central Nervous System

Composed of the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

Nerves located outside the brain and spinal cord.

Hindbrain

Controls vital functions such as heart rate and respiration.

Medulla

Regulates blood pressure and breathing.

Pons

Involved in bodily movement, attention, and sleep.

Cerebellum

Responsible for balance and coordination.

Reticular Activating System

Regulates attention, sleep, and arousal.

Thalamus

Functions as the hub for sensory information.

Hypothalamus

Regulates body temperature, motivation, emotion, hunger, and thirst.

Limbic System

Involved in memory, emotion, and aggression.

Cerebrum

Largest part of the brain associated with voluntary activities.

Frontal Lobe

Responsible for movement and thinking.

Parietal Lobe

Processes touch sensations and spatial relationships.

Occipital Lobe

Processes visual information.

Temporal Lobe

Processes sounds, including speech.

Corpus Callosum

Connects the two hemispheres of the brain.

Broca’s Area

Involved in language production located in the left hemisphere.

Wernicke Area

Responsible for speech comprehension.

Pituitary Gland

Regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands; known as the master gland.

Thyroid Gland

Regulates body metabolism by producing thyroxin.

Genetics

Building blocks of heredity that make up chromosomes.

Sensation

Stimulation of sensory receptors.

Perception

The psychological process of interpreting sensory information.

Absolute Threshold

The weakest amount of stimulus that can be sensed.

Signal Detection Theory

Focuses on how we prioritize sensory information.

Vestibular Sense

The body's mechanism for balance and orientation.

Conductive Deafness

Hearing loss caused by damage to the outer or middle ear.

Sensorineural Deafness

Hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve.

Kinesthesis

Sense that informs about the position and motion of body parts.

Olfactory Nerve

Transmits scents to the limbic system.

Proximity

Gestalt principle that groups items based on closeness.

Similarity

Gestalt principle that groups similar objects together.

Continuity

Gestalt principle that favors smooth and continuous patterns.

Common Fate

Gestalt principle that groups moving objects together.

Closure

Gestalt principle that allows us to perceive complete images.

Figure Ground Perception

Distinguishing figures from their background.

Monocular Cues

Visual cues using one eye to perceive depth and distance.

Binocular Cues

Visual cues using both eyes, including retinal disparity and convergence.

Color Constancy

Perception of objects maintaining color despite light changes.

Size Constancy

Perception that objects maintain a constant size.

Shape Constancy

Perceiving objects as retaining their shape.

Brightness Constancy

Perception of an object's brightness as constant.

Conscious

Awareness of oneself and one’s environment.

Preconscious

Information that is not currently in consciousness.

Subconscious/Unconscious

Hidden thoughts and information.

Nonconscious

Processes happening without awareness.

Circadian Rhythm

Biological clock that regulates sleep cycles.

Insomnia

Difficulty in falling asleep.

Narcolepsy

Condition characterized by excessive sleepiness.

Night Terrors

Sudden awakenings with fear or panic.

Sleep Walking

Walking while not fully awake.

Sleep Apnea

Condition where breathing stops during sleep.

Stimulants

Drugs that increase neural activity and body functions.

Depressants

Drugs that slow neural activity and body functions.

Hallucinogens

Drugs that distort perceptions.

Opioids

Drugs like morphine and heroin that stimulate endorphins.

Addiction

Compulsive craving for substances.

Hypnosis

State of altered consciousness where a person is deeply relaxed.

Biofeedback

Learning to control bodily states through feedback from machines.

Meditation

Focusing attention to clear the mind and relax.

Classical Conditioning

Learning where one stimulus elicits a response from another stimulus.

Neutral Stimulus

A stimulus that does not elicit a response initially.

Unconditioned Stimulus

Stimulus that naturally elicits an unconditioned response.