Cedarville Psychology Final

Wilhelm Wundt

1879, founded 1st psychology lab, from Germany, Physiologist, philosopher

Ivan Pavlov

Pioneered the study of learning, from Russia, physiologist

Sigmund Freud

personality theorist, from Austria, physician

Jean Piaget

influential observer of children’s behaviors, from Switzerland, biologist

William James

published textbook “Principle’s of Psychology”, from America, philosopher

Psychology

the Science of Behavior and Mental processes

Behavior

action observed

Mental

internal subjective experiences

Nature/Nurture Issue

longstanding controversy over the relative contributions of genes/experience to the development of psychological traits/behaviors

Genes

heredity

Experience

enviornment

Neuroscience

how the body and brain work to create emotions, memories, sensory experiences

Psychodynamic

behavior springs from unconscious drives

Behavioral

observable responses are acquired and changed

Cognitive

how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information

Social Cultural

how behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures

The scientific attitudes

curiosity, open-minded skeptism, humility

Critical Thinking

Examines assumptions, appraises the source, evaluates evidence, discerns biases, and assesses conclusions

Introspection

looking inward and noting any immediate sensations, feelings, etc…

Descriptive Research

Observes and describes behavior

Correlational Research

Measuring 2 variables and assessing the statistical relationship between them

Experimental Research

manipulating one or more factors to observe effects on a behavior

Placebo

inert substance (pill with no drug in it)

Placebo effect

results are caused by expectations alone

SQ3R

study method that incorporates critical thinking and emphasizes the importance of retrieving information

Phrenology

theory that held that bumps on one’s skull revealed mental abilities and character traits

Biological Psychology

studies links between biology and behavior

Neurons

nerve cells/basic building blocks of the nervous system, consist of cell body and branching fibers

Dendrites

receive info from sensory receptors

Axon

single fiber that passes info through its terminal branches

Myelin Sheath

fatty layer of cells encasing the axon. Insulates and Increases speed

MS

Caused by degeneration of myelin sheath, loss of muscle control

Action Potential

brief electrical charge that travels down the axon

Threshold

level of stimulation needed to trigger a neural impulse

Synapse

gap between sending and receiving neuron

Neurotransmitters

chemical messenger released from the axon terminal

Sensory Neurons

send sensory info from tissue and sensory organs inward to the brain and spinal cord

Interneurons

work in the spinal cord and brain and intervene between sensory and motor neurons

Motor neurons

send instructions outward from the brain and spinal cord to body tissue

Plasticity

ability for the brain to develop new neural pathways

Agonist

molecule that increases a neurotransmitters action

Antagonist

inhibits or blocks

Endorphins

triggers a positive feeling on the body, “runners high”

Peripheral Nervous System

sensory/motor neurons

Central Nervous System

Brain and Spinal cord

Autonomic Nervous System

Muscles, glands, internal organs

Sematic Nervous System

Skeletal Muscles

Sympathetic Nervous System

Mobilizes energy, arousal, fight/flight/freeze, Tend/befriend

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Conserves energy, calming, rest/digest

Endocrine System

the body’s slow chemical communication system

Hormones

chemical messengers

Adrenal Glands

top of kidney, triggers fight/flight, provides a surge of energy, releases epinephrine, norepinephrine, adrenaline

Pituitary Gland

Master gland of endocrine system, pea-sized, regulates body growth/ development, releases oxytocin

Brainstem

old brain, Begins where spinal cord enters skull

Medulla

Controls heartbeat/breathing, crossover point for nerves

Cerebellum

two wrinkled hemispheres, nonverbal learning and skull memory, most obvious function- muscle control

Thalamus

Pair of egg shaped structures, brains sensory switchboard, deals with seeing, hearing, tasting, touching

Reticular Formation

Inside the brainstem, from spinal cord to the thalamus, controls arousal and attention

Limbic System

at the border of brainstem and cerebral hemispheres, linked to emotion and motivation

Amygdala

two almond-shaped neural clusters, influences aggression/fear

Hypothalamus

below the thalamus, performance of bodily maintenance duties, hunger, thirst, body temp, sexual behavior

Hippocampus

helps process explicit memories for storage

Cerebral Cortex

Covers the cerebrum, wrinkled appearance, 1/8 inch sheet of nerve cells

Structure of Cortex

4 lobes

Frontal Lobes

Speaking, making plans, judgement, muscle movement

Parietal Lobes

touch and body position

Occipital Lobes

seeing

Temporal Lobes

Hearing

MRI-Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Shows brain anatomy

fMRI- Functional MRI

Reveals blood flow, shows function and structure

PET Scan

Visual display display of brain activity

EEG

Measures electrical activity in brain

Corpus Callosum

Wide band of axon fibers connecting right and left hemispheres

Field of Vision

Vision from one side of eye goes to opposite sides of brain

Motor Cortex

Right side of brain controls left side of body, vice versa

Left brained

More logical, more verbal, analytical

Right brained

more creative, emotional expression, imaginative

Developmental Psychologist

study mental, physical, and social changes occurring throughout life

3 Major Issues of Developmental Psychology

Nature/Nurture, Continuity/Stages, Stability/Change

Nature/Nurture

Genes and heredity vs. Experience and environment

Continuity/Stages

Is development gradual and continuous or is development processed through stages

Stability/Change

Do our individual traits persist or do we become different persons as we age

Sperm and Ovum unite

23 chromosomes from each

23 pair

body’s master plan

Gender

23rd pair

0-2 weeks-Zygote

fertilized egg(s), 2 weeks of rapid cell division, 10 days after conception the zygote attaches to uterine wall

2-9 weeks-Embryo

Organs form and begin to function, the heart begins to beat

Placenta

The organ through which nutrients and oxygen pass from mom to baby

9 weeks-Birth-Fetus

Organs continue to develop, 24 weeks- age of viability, the fetus has a chance of survival outside the uterus

Teratogens

drugs, chemicals, stress, virus, hormones cross the placenta during prenatal development that causes harm

(FAS)-Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

mom drank heavily

(FASD)-Fetal Alcohol Spectrum disorder

Small misproportioned heads, abnormal facial features, lifelong brain abnormalities, dangerously low birth weight, low intelligence

Reflexes

Unlearned responses triggered by a specific stimuli

Babinski Reflex

baby’s foot fans out when stroked

Moro Reflex/aka Startle Reflex

Arms out and back in when falling or hearing a loud noise

Rooting Reflex

Cheek stroked, baby turns head in that direction

Sucking Reflex

Baby will suck when object placed in mouth

Palmer Reflex/ aka Grasping Reflex

Baby will grasp when an object is placed in their hand

Stepping Reflex

When held upright and moved forward baby will step rhythmically

After Birth

Neural networks grow increasingly complex forming billions of synapses