Psychology chapters 1-4

Nature

Biological / genetical factors or traits.

ex : eye color, hair, medical symptoms, personality

Nurture

environmental, where and how did people grow up, culture

Psychology Subfields

1. Therapist : treat people

2. Researchers : all areas perspective, personality

Psychologist

study behavioral and mental processes,

• often councilors, therapist,

• doctoral degree.

Psychiatrist

biological/medical ascot

• gives and prescribes medication

Hindsight Bias

tendency to believe something, after the fact it had happned

• “ knew it all along”

Critical thinking

Thinking about thinking - making choices based on reason and not just assumptions

Theory

explanation based on certain beliefs ( predict behavior )

Hypothesis

prediction ( based on theory )

Replication

change things up, to see other factors and effects

Random Sample

Randomly selected group of people, things - not specific purely randomized

Representative sample

sample of people that represent a bigger group.. having key characteristics.

Ex: US College students - age, minors, background, type of college

Case study

observe few people in greater detail

survey

study lot of people in less detail

Wording Effect

when words create a bias to an answer

Naturalistic observation

trying to observe people within a natural setting

Positive correlation

directs relationships

• move same direction

Negative correlation

variables move in two opposite directions

illusory correlation

we believe there is a connection, but isn’t really anything

Experiment

manipulates 1 or more variables, while controlling all other factors

Random assignment

people being randomly assigned

Independent variables

changes/manipulate

Dependent variables

what WE measured that WE expect to change

Neuron

cell Bodie - dendrites - axon - myelin sheaths - glial cells

Cell Bodies

contain nucleus

Dendrites

shorter branches, attach to other cells

Axon

longer branches, transmits and sends messages

Myelin sheaths

thin protective layer that wraps around

• insulation and faster transmission

Glial cells

support cells

Synapse

tiny gap between cells that allow for communication

Vesicles

stores and transport substances

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals that communicates a message

Types of Neurotransmitters

Acetylcholine - contraction to move

Endorphins - natural pain killers

Agonist

magnifies effect/mimics

Antagonist

blocks from having an impact

CNS - nervous system

Thinking/decision making

• Brain and spinal cord

PNS - sensory

Somatic - skeletal ( voluntary )

Autonomic - involuntary ( no control ) eS

Sensory ( PNS )

sensory imput information

Interneurons ( CNS )

decision making

Motor Neuron ( CNS )

move our body

ex : heart beat

Brainstem

inner most layer

medulla

spinal cord enter skull/controls heart beat

thalamus

switch board

• send to different part of the brain

reticular formation

brain stem to thalamus - arousals cycle

• sleep vs awake

cerebellum

tissue at the back of brain

• voluntary

• balance

corpus callosum

thick band of nerves, connects the right and left hemisphere

Limbic system

controls emotions, memory

Amygdala

fear and emotion alarm

hypothalamus

keeps body in balance

• control body temp

• hunger and thirst

• overall regulator

Hippocampus

memories

• short - to - long term memory

• learning

Frontal

front

• problem solving

• decision making

• personality

• last to fully mature

parietal

back half

• routing sensory info

occipital

back

• vision

temporal

side of ear

• auditory

Brain plasticity

brains ability to change and adapt - based on experiences

Behavior genetics

gene and environment can shape someones behavior

split brain

part of brain is cut

• right and left aren’t connect so they can’t communicate together

Twin studies

compares identical vs fraternal twins to undestand nature vs nurture

• behavior and environmental shaping

Evolutionary Psychology

natural selection - how people and animals evolve due to change and become better versions to evolutionary

Natural selection

survival of the fittest

Consciousness

awareness of ourselves and environment

Selective Attention

focus on a particular stimulus w/ conscious awareness

• outside people

Inattentional Blindness

failing to see visible objects when our attention is elsewhere

Circadian Rhythm

sleeping rhythm

sleep stages

1. awake

2. stage 1 - breathing slows down, we can be easily woken up, and we experience hallucinations like the feeling of falling

3. stage 2 - sleep stage where our brains experience spindles that help us process memories

4. stage 3 - really hard to wake up and can wet the bed or sleepwalk

5. REM sleep - deep stage associated with dreaming; most important type of sleep

Sleep cycles

• sleepwalking : occurs in stage 3

• narcolepsy : bizarre & periodic lapses directly into REM sleep; episodes last 5 minutes or less

• REM rebound :