Edit · Psychology Chapters 1–4: Key Concepts and Research Methods

What is confirmation bias?

The tendency to look for information that supports what you already believe while ignoring contradictory information.

What is hindsight bias?

The belief that you knew something would happen after it has occurred.

What does overconfidence refer to in psychology?

Being more confident in your knowledge or ability than is warranted.

What is the availability heuristic?

Judging how likely something is based on how easily examples come to mind.

What does structuralism focus on?

Breaking the mind into its basic parts.

Who are the key figures associated with structuralism?

Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener.

What is functionalism concerned with?

What the mind and behavior do and how they help us adapt.

Who is a key figure associated with functionalism?

William James.

What does behaviorism focus on?

Observable behavior and how the environment influences it.

What are some key areas studied in behaviorism?

Rewards, punishments, conditioning, and learned behaviors.

What does cognitive psychology focus on?

Mental processes such as thinking, memory, attention, and problem-solving.

What are the three levels of analysis in psychology?

Biological, psychological, and social/cultural.

What does the biological level of analysis examine?

Brain, nervous system, hormones, genetics, and neurotransmitters.

What does the psychological level of analysis focus on?

Thoughts, emotions, memories, personality, and behavior.

What does the social/cultural level of analysis involve?

Family, friends, society, culture, and relationships.

What is the biopsychosocial model?

A model that states behavior is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.

What is a theory in psychology?

A well-supported explanation for observations and behavior.

What is a hypothesis?

A specific, testable prediction.

What is the difference between independent and dependent variables?

Independent Variable (IV) is manipulated by the researcher; Dependent Variable (DV) is measured.

What is descriptive research?

Research that describes behavior rather than explaining why it happens.

What are the three major types of descriptive research?

Case study, naturalistic observation, and survey.

What does correlational research examine?

The relationship between two variables.

What does correlation NOT prove?

Causation.

What is an experimental research method?

A method that allows researchers to determine cause and effect.

What is validity in research?

Whether the study/test measures what it is supposed to measure.

What is reliability in research?

Whether the measurement produces consistent results.

What does the central nervous system consist of?

The brain and spinal cord.

What does the Central Nervous System (CNS) consist of?

The brain and spinal cord.

What is the function of the CNS?

It processes information and controls many body functions.

What does the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) include?

Everything outside the brain and spinal cord, including the somatic and autonomic nervous systems.

What does the Autonomic Nervous System control?

Functions that do not require conscious thought, such as heart rate, breathing, and digestion.

What is the role of the Sympathetic Nervous System?

It prepares the body for 'fight-or-flight' responses during stress or excitement.

What does the Parasympathetic Nervous System do?

It helps the body calm down after stress, promoting rest and digestion.

What are neurons?

Specialized cells that send information throughout the nervous system.

What are the main parts of a neuron?

Dendrites, cell body (soma), axon, myelin sheath, and axon terminals.

What is an action potential?

The electrical signal that travels down a neuron's axon.

What are neurotransmitters?

Chemical messengers that allow neurons to communicate.

What is the function of dopamine?

Involved in reward, motivation, movement, and learning.

What is the role of serotonin?

Involved in mood, sleep, and appetite.

What does GABA do?

Generally reduces or inhibits neural activity.

What is the function of the frontal lobe?

Responsible for planning, decision making, personality, judgment, and voluntary movement.

What does the parietal lobe control?

Touch, temperature, pain, and spatial awareness.

What is the primary function of the occipital lobe?

Responsible primarily for vision.

What does the cerebellum help with?

Balance, coordination, and fine motor control.

What is the role of the thalamus?

Acts as a relay station for much sensory information going to the cerebral cortex.

What are qualia?

The personal, subjective experiences of consciousness.

What is selective attention?

Focusing on one thing while ignoring other information.

What is divided attention?

Trying to focus on multiple things at once.

What is altered consciousness?

A condition where normal awareness changes, such as during sleep or hypnosis.

What is the activation-synthesis theory of dreams?

The theory that dreams occur when the brain tries to make sense of neural activity during sleep.

What is the importance of sleep?

Associated with rest and recovery, memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and physical health.

What is the difference between identical and fraternal twins in studies?

Identical twins share nearly all genes, while fraternal twins share roughly half.