Notes for Exam 2 (Psychology)

Sex

The biologically influenced characteristics by which people define males and females.

Gender

The physical, social, and behavioral characteristics currently associated with male and female roles and identities.

Chromosomes

The structures that contain genetic information; the 23rd pair determines biological sex (XX for female, XY for male).

Hormones

Chemical substances that regulate body functions and influence the development of sex organs and characteristics.

Amygdala

A brain region involved in emotion regulation and has differences between males and females.

Gender Role

The behaviors expected of people based on their identity as men and women.

Social Learning Theory

The theory that we learn gender role behavior through imitation and rewards and punishments.

Gender Schema

Cognitive frameworks for understanding concepts of male and female; guide our observations.

Puberty

The stage of sexual maturation when individuals develop primary and secondary sexual characteristics.

Menarche

The first menstrual period, marking the onset of female puberty.

Spermarch

The first ejaculation in males, marking the onset of male puberty.

Paraphilias

Sexual arousal from fantasies or behaviors involving nonhuman objects or nonconsenting persons.

Biopsychosocial Model

An approach that considers biological, psychological, and social-cultural influences on behavior.

Classical Conditioning

Learning process that involves associating an unconditioned stimulus with a conditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

Learning process that involves associating a behavior with its consequences.

Reinforcer

Any stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Primary Reinforcer

Naturally reinforcing, such as food or affection.

Conditioned Reinforcer

Stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through learned association with primary reinforcers.

Observational Learning

Learning that occurs by watching others and imitating their behavior.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons that fire both when performing an action and when observing the same action performed by another.

Prosocial Behavior

Actions that benefit others and comply with social and moral expectations.

Antisocial Behavior

Actions that are harmful to individuals and society.

Depth Perception

The ability to perceive objects in three dimensions and judge their distance.

Monocular Cues

Depth cues available to either eye alone, such as interposition and perspective.

Pain Circuit

A network of signals that travel to the spinal cord and brain, interpreting sensations as pain.