Psych exam study guide

Behaviorism

A perspective in psychology that focuses on observable behaviors and the ways they are learned.

Cognitive Psychology

The study of mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Psychoanalysis

A therapeutic approach that focuses on the unconscious mind and childhood experiences.

Evolutionary Psychology

The branch of psychology that studies how human behavior is influenced by evolutionary processes.

Abnormal Psychology

The field that examines unusual patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior.

Nature vs Nurture

The debate regarding the relative contributions of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) to human development.

Introspection

The examination of one's own conscious thoughts and feelings.

Structuralism

An early school of psychology that aimed to discover the structures of the mind through introspection.

Functionalism

A school of psychology focused on how mental processes help organisms adapt to their environment.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that occurs through associations between an environmental stimulus and a naturally occurring stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

A learning process that is based on the consequences of responding, where behavior is shaped by rewards or punishments.

Cognitive Neuroscience

A field of study that examines the relationship between cognition and the brain.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons, where communication occurs.

Neurons

Specialized cells that transmit information throughout the nervous system.

Glial Cells

Cells that provide support and insulation for neurons.

Ego Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies used by the ego to protect itself from anxiety.

Flashbulb Memory

A detailed and vivid memory of a significant event.

Cognitive Map

A mental representation of physical space.

Long-Term Potentiation

An increase in the strength of synaptic communication which is thought to be a basis for learning.

Amnesia

Memory loss resulting from psychological or physical causes.

Anxiety Disorders

Psychological disorders that involve extreme anxiety or irrational fear.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

A disorder characterized by unwanted repetitive thoughts (obsessions) and actions (compulsions).

Schizophrenia

A psychological disorder marked by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, and impaired functioning.

Dopamine Hypothesis

A theory suggesting that alterations in dopamine levels are related to the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest.

Personality Disorders

A class of disorders characterized by enduring patterns of behavior, cognition, and inner experience.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

A type of psychotherapy that helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns.

Gestalt Psychology

A psychological approach that emphasizes understanding the whole while analyzing its individual parts.

Frontal Lobe

cognitive functions (thinking, perception, impulse control, & personality)

Parietal Lobe

sensory information (touch, pressure, temperature, spatial orientation)

Occipital Lobe

visual information

Temporal Lobe

auditory stimuli & language