Studied by 10 people
Hindsight Bias
the tendency to believe that you saw it coming after learning the outcome
Theory
explanation using and integrated set of principles
Hypothesis
a testable prediction
Operational definition
a statement of the exact procedures used in a study
Replication
Repeating the essence of a research study
Case study
a descriptive technique where one individual or group is studied
naturalistic observation
observing and recording behavior in a natural situation
survey
a descriptive way of obtaining self-reported behavior
Random sample
a sample that represents the population fairly
correlation coefficient
the number showing how strong or weak a relationship is
illusory correlation
seeing a relationship where there is none
regression towards the mean
the tendency for scores to fall toward the average
experiment
research method where an investigator manipulates one or more factors
experimental group
the group exposed to the treatment or one version the the independent variable
control group
the group which is used to compare and evaluate; they aren’t given the treatment
range
difference between the highest and lowest numbers
standard deviation
a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean
dependent variable
the outcome that is measured; may change when the ind. variable is manipulated
confounding variable
a factor that may influence or sway the study’s outcome
independent variable
within an experiment, the factor that is manipulated; variable whose effect is being studied
statistical significance
Developmental psychology
Focuses on the physical, cognitive, and social change throughout one’s life
Cognition
all mental activities
maturation
biological growth process that enable changes in behavior
schema
a concept of framework which organizes information
habituation
decrease in responsiveness with repeated stimulation
teratogens
harmful substances like chemicals
Fetus
developing human from 9 weeks to birth
Embryo
developing human from two weeks after fertilization
Zygote
the fertilized egg; inters rapid two week cell division
Sensorimotor stage
first stage in Piaget’s theory from birth to two years of age; key milestones include stranger anxiety and object permanence
Object permanence
being are that things continue to exist when not perceived
Preoperational stage
Piaget’s second stage from two to six; key milestones include pretend play and egocentrism
Theory of mind
when one can now predict the feelings of others
Concrete operational
Piaget’s third stage from seven to eleven; key milestones include conservation and mathematical transformations
Formal operational
Piaget’s final stage from twelve years and on; key milestones include abstract thinking and
Scaffold
Within Vygotsky’s theory, a framework that offers children support as the rise to higher levels of thinking
attachment
an emotional tie with another person
accommodation
adapting our current schemas to incorporate new information
assimilation
interpreting our new experiences in terms of existing schemas
basic trust
according to Erikson, a sense that the world is predictable and trustworthy
Self-concept
all our thoughts and feeling about ourselves
adolescence
the transition from childhood to adulthood from puberty to independence
identity
our sense of self
social identity
the “we” aspect of our self concept
emerging adulthood
a period from around eighteen to mid-twenties where one is no longer an adolescent but has not fully reached independence
Cross-sectional study
research that compares different ages at the same period of time
longitudinal study
research that follows and retests the same people over time
neurocognitive disorder
acquired disorders marked by cognitive defects
Social clock
culturally preferred timing of social events
Eustress
good stress; inludes leaving for collage, marriage, etc…
Distress
bad stress; includes illness, financial problems, etc…
Two types of stress
Eustress and distress
sources of stress
major life changes, daily hassles, social or cultural, and conflict
General Adaptation syndrome (GAS)
describes the process your body goes through when you are exposed to any kind of stress both positive and negative
The cycle of GAS
Alarm > Resistance > exhaustion
Tend and befriend
in times of stress women give support and bond
B-lymphocites
releases antibodies that fight bacterial infections
T-lymphocytes
attack cancerous cells and other foreigners
Type A:
Hard-driving, competitive, impatient, super motivated, and verbally aggressive
Type B:
easy going, not as time conscious, easy temper, not excessively competitive, and can calmly wait
problem-focused coping
managing or changing a threat by directly dealing with the problem
Emotion-focused coping
relieving or regulating the emotional impact of the problem by crying, going to therapy, etc…
internal locus of control
we feel that we are in charge of ourselves and our circumstances
external locus of control
we picture that a force outside of ourselves controls our fate
Explanatory style
The way that you routinely explain your life circumstances to yourself whether its optimistic and pessimistic
Activities that reduce stress
Aerobic exercise, relaxation, meditation, and religion/faith factor
Psychodynamic
explores the unconscious
humanistic
making humans better
Psychoanalytic perspective
Sigmund Freud’s theory that proposes childhood sexuality and unconscious motivations influence personality
Psychoanalysis
Techniques used to expose and interpret unconscious tensions
Free association
a method of exploring the unconscious within psychoanalysis
contemporary viewpoint
information processing of which we are unaware
Id
strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives; “I want IT now”
Ego
mediates among the demands of the demands of the id, ego, and reality
Superego
provides standards for judgment aka the conscience
Defense mechanisms
the ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality
Repression
mechanism that banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness
Regression
when one faces with anxiety tends to retreat to a more infantile stage
Reaction Formation
mechanism where ego switches unacceptable impulses into their opposite or expressing feelings opposite of how you are feeling
Projection
mechanism where people disguise their own impulses by attributing them to others; justifying ones own behavior
Rationalization
mechanism that offers self-justifying explanations in place of the real reasons (cognitive dissonance)
Displacement
mechanism that shifts impulses toward a more acceptable or less threatening object or person
Denial
when one is unable to face reality or admit the truth
sublimation
taking unacceptable impulses and turning them into behavior that is more acceptable
Projective tests
a personality test like the Rorschach or TAT that provides unclear stimuli to trigger projection of one’s inner dynamics
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
a projective tests where people express their inner feeling through the stories they create about unclear photos or scenes
Rorchach Inkblot test
projective test that seeks to identify peoples inner feelings base on their interpretation of ink blots
Alfred Adler
studied the importance of childhood social tensions and talked about the inferiority complex
Karen Horney
sought to balance Freud’s masculine bias
Carl Jung
emphasized the collective unconscious
Humanistic perspective
focuses on the potential for healthy growth
Abraham Maslow
created the hierarchy of needs and studied those who he believed were self-actualized
Carl Rogers
person-centered perspective; focused on growth and self fulfillment
Gordon Allport
first to express his believe on fundamental traits or peoples characteristics
personality inventory
a survey to asses feelings and behaviors
MMPI
used to be set up in order to identify emotional disorders
OCEAN
Acronym for the big five
Ocean
Openness: imaginative, likes to explore, and independent minded
oCean
Conscientiousness: being responsible, dependable, careful, hardworking, and organized
Note 
Flashcard (65)