PSY 150: Revised Final Exam Study Guide

Classical conditioning

A learning process associating a neutral stimulus with a meaningful one to elicit a response.

Operant conditioning

Learning through behavior consequences, aiming to increase rewarded behaviors and decrease punished ones.

Unconditioned stimulus

Stimulus evoking a response without prior learning.

Unconditioned response

Automatic response to an unconditioned stimulus.

Observational learning

Learning by observing and imitating others' behaviors.

Conditioned stimulus

Previously neutral stimulus that triggers a conditioned response.

Acquisition

Pairing a conditioned stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to form an association.

Generalization

Responding to similar stimuli as the original conditioned stimulus.

Discrimination

Learning to respond to specific stimuli and not others.

Aversive conditioning

Pairing a stimulus with an unpleasant one to reduce behavior.

Law of effect

Behaviors followed by pleasant outcomes are reinforced, while those followed by unpleasant outcomes are weakened.

Reinforcement

Stimulus following a behavior to increase its likelihood of repetition.

Chunking

Grouping information to enhance memory capacity.

Working memory

Mental workspace including short-term memory and attention.

Retrieval cue

Information aiding in recalling stored memories.

Interference theory

Memory failure due to other memories disrupting retrieval.

Problem solving

Finding solutions to achieve goals when the solution is not obvious.

Inductive reasoning

Drawing general conclusions from specific observations.

Deductive reasoning

Inferring specific conclusions from general principles.

Confirmation bias

Seeking information supporting existing beliefs rather than challenging them.

Practical intelligence

Skills such as applying knowledge and making ideas work.

Divergent thinking

Engaged in brainstorming.

Person perception

Forming impressions of others through social stimuli.

Types of intelligence by Gardner

Intrapersonal, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, verbal.

Spatial intelligence

Ability to think three-dimensionally.

Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence

Ability to manipulate objects adeptly.

Existentialist intelligence

Ability to ponder human existence's big questions.

Musical intelligence

Sensitivity to pitch, melody, rhythm, and tone.

Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory

Frames of mind, intrapersonal/interpersonal intelligence.

Social cognition

Studies how individuals think in social situations.

Sternberg’s triarchic theory

Creative/practical intelligences, analytical intelligence.

Self-fulfilling prophecy

Expectations influencing future events.

Fundamental attribution error

Overestimating internal traits and underestimating external factors.

Attribution theory

Explains underlying causes of behavior based on samples.

False consensus effect

Overestimating others' thoughts/actions.

Cognitive dissonance

Conflict from contradictory attitudes/thoughts.

Social psychology

Study of how people think, influence, and relate.

Conformity

Behavior change to match others' standards.

Obedience

Compliance with authority demands.

Social contagion

Spread of actions, emotions, and ideas.

Abnormal behavior

Involves personal distress, maladaptive behavior, and deviance.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Long-term, uncontrollable worry.

Specific phobia

Irrational, persistent fear of an object/situation.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Disturbing thoughts leading to compulsions.

Major depressive disorder

Prolonged feelings of worthlessness, loss of interest.

Bipolar disorder

Extreme mood swings including manic episodes.

Schizophrenia

Serious disorder with disordered thoughts.

Antisocial personality disorder

Lack of guilt, exploitation, deceit.

Psychotherapy

Nonmedical process to overcome psychological problems.

Biological therapies

Treatments altering bodily functioning.

Client-centered therapy

Emphasizes understanding genuine feelings.

Antidepressants

Medications to improve mood.

MAO inhibitors

Antidepressants regulating neurotransmitters.

Lithium

Associated with kidney and thyroid complications.

Antipsychotic drugs

Reduce symptoms of severe disorders like schizophrenia.

Electroconvulsive therapy

Activates seizures in the brain.

Psychosurgery

Brain surgery to alleviate mental disorder symptoms.