Psych Final Multiple Choice

Sensation

Passive biological process: sensory receptors detect stimuli (light, sound, chemicals, pressure) and send neural signals to the brain.

what is perception

active psychological process: selects, organizes, interprets sensory input

how is perception shaped

by attention, past experiences, expectations and culture

perception example

French flag colors mean something to a french citizen, but not bangladeshi child

sensory adaptation

decreased sensitivity to constant, unchanging stimuli

Sensory adaptaition example

odor fades, background noise disappears, spice level feels milder over time

absolute threshold

minimym stimulation needed to detect a stimulus

physical/environmental conditions to sensation and perception

attitude, light, noise, temperature

genetic differences

difference in perception color brightness, stromg sense of smell

socialization norms

influence what we notice/interpret

acculturation practices

create hybrid ways of perceving stimuli

red - universal trend in color perception

active, powerful

black/grey - universial trend in color perception

negative

white/blue/green - universal trend in color perception

positive

yellow/white/grey - universal trend in color perception

passive

idioms of color perception

feel blue in english means your sad while, in germany blau sein means you are drunk

Wispé & Drambarean (1953) - Motivated Perception

Hungry people detected food words faster

Bruner & Goodman (1947) - Motivated perception

Poor children overestimated coin sizes; perception shaped by value.

western culutre time perception

time = linear, measured

swahili culutre time perception: sasha time

present and near future

swahili culutre time perception: zamani time

mythic and ancestral past, overlaps with sasha

variation in beauty - aesthetic experience

pleasure from perceived attractiveness or emootional meaning

cultural beauty preferences: japan

symmetry, minimalism, zen gardens

cultural beauty preferences: india

religious themes, symbolism

cultural beauty preferences: mexico

bright colors, political/social commentaryvibrant patterns, folk art

group

two or more people with shared identity and interaction

in group/out group

belonging vs non belonging

status

role/position in group

norms

expectations of behavior

sanctions

rewards/punishments for rule following

social influence

changing behavior/thoughts due to others (compliance, obedience, conformity)

Formal Power

Based on role (teacher, offical)

informal power

based on charisma and respect

conformity

adjusting behavior to match group norms

asch experiment

line length judgement, people conformed even when group was clearly wrong

Bond & Smith 1996 Collectivist Societies

Higher conformity

Bond and Smith 1996 Individualist societies

lower conformity

stereotypes

general beliefs about a group that may or may not reflect reality and can lead to prejudice

Erikson’s Stages

8 stages (e.g., trust vs. mistrust, identity vs. role confusion)

In collectivist cultures, identity is often assigned (religion, caste), reducing role confusion.

Piaget Stages

Concrete Operational (7–11): Culture affects what is "concrete" (e.g., market experience)

Formal Operational (12+): Depends on education; not universal

Kohlberg’s Moral Stages

Pre-conventional: Avoid punishment
Conventional: Obey laws/rules
Post-conventional: Justice-based ethics
Cultural bias: Western focus on individual rights; many cultures prioritize duty, tradition, or religion

Three Phases of Migration: Pre-migration

reasons for leaving (traua or threat)

Three Phases of Migration: migration

journey (can be unsafe)

Three Phases of Migration: post migration

Life in host country (adaptation)

Migration Challenges

Language barriers

Cultural misunderstandings

Acculturation gaps (generational)

Social isolation/discrimination

Acculturative Stress

Loss of old habits

Conflict in values

Culture shock

Political Censorship and Culutre

Maintain Control

Ideological Censorship and Culture

Block confronting worldviews

Moral Censorship and Culture

Enforce Social Decency

Re Entry

Returning Home after study abroad

Readjustment

Navigating Familiar culture again

reverse culture shock

harder than the initial shock because it is unexpected,emotional discomfort and orientaiton (Uehara 1983)

differences between acculteration and readjustment and reentry

Expectation: Home should feel familiar, but it doesn’t

Change: You and home have changed

Awareness: Others don’t always notice your internal changes

Sussman (1985) – 5 Key Challenges

Re-entry is unexpectedly difficult
Returnee has changed
Home has changed
Others expect no change
Disinterest in your experience

Adler – 4 Re-entry Coping Styles: Proactive

Optimistic, integrates old and new culture

Adler – 4 Re-entry Coping Styles: alienated

Pessimistic, disconnected

Adler – 4 Re-entry Coping Styles: re-scoailized

Optimistic but conforms to old norms

Adler – 4 Re-entry Coping Styles: rebellious

Pessimistic, rejects home culture