Psychology Flashcards 1

Vocabulary flashcards for Psychology review.

Evolutionary Perspective

Mental processes exist because they serve an evolutionary purpose, aiding in survival and reproduction.

Psychodynamic Perspective

Emphasizes behavior is determined by past experiences in the unconscious mind and childhood experiences.

Cognitive Perspective

Focuses on internal processes of the mind influencing behavior.

Biological Perspective

The influence of genetics and brain chemistry (physical & biological processes).

Sociocultural Perspective

Focuses on society and culture in terms of our behavior and shaping cognition.

Behavioral Perspective

Focus on observable behaviors, people/animals are controlled by their environment, positive/negative consequences.

Humanistic Perspective

Human capacity for choice and growth, motivation for people to fulfill their potential.

Biopsychosocial Perspective

Combining approach, Links between genetics and environment.

Psychology

Science of behavior and mental processes.

Empirical Evidence

Information acquired by observation or experimentation.

Scientific Method

Systematic procedure of gathering data and testing hypotheses.

Confirmation Bias

Favoring information that confirms your beliefs.

Hindsight Bias

Believing events were predictable after they happened.

Overconfidence

Overestimating the accuracy of knowledge and judgments.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction, often derived from a theory.

Falsifiable

Capable of being proven wrong.

Peer Review

Evaluation of work by others in the same field.

Replication

Repeating a study to test its findings

Reliability

Consistency of measurement.

Validity

Accuracy of a test in measuring what it is supposed to measure.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the US.

Quantitative Data

Data that can be quantified and verified, and is susceptible to statistical manipulation.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive data which can be observed but not measured.

Likert Scales

Scale used to represent people's attitudes to a topic.

Structured Interviews

Interviews following a set sequence of questions.

Survey Technique

Research method involving asking questions to gather data.

Wording Effect

Changes in responses caused by word choices in questions.

Social Desirability Bias

A tendency to give socially approved answers.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing subjects in their natural environment.

Case Study

Study of a single subject or group in detail.

Correlational Research

Research determining the relationship between variables.

Third Variable Problem

A confounding variable that influences both variables of interest.

Correlation Coefficient

Numerical measure of the type and degree of the relationship between two variables.

Positive Correlation

When variables increase or decrease together.

Negative Correlation

One variable increases as the other decreases.

Experimental Method

Method involving manipulation and controlled testing of variables.

Independent Variable

Variable that is manipulated in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

Variable that is measured to see the effect of the independent variable.

Confounding Variable

Variable that might influence the experiment's outcome unexpectedly.

Operational Definitions

Clear, precise descriptions of variables.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested.

Control Group

The group in an experiment that does not receive the variable being tested.

Random Assignment

Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance.

Placebo Effect

Improvement resulting from the mere expectation of improvement.

Experimenter Bias

When researchers' expectations influence the outcome of a study.

Single-Blind Study

Where participants do not know which group they are in.

Double-Blind Study

Neither participants nor researchers know who is in the experimental or control group.

Sample

A portion of the population chosen for a study.

Representative Sample

A sample that accurately reflects the characteristics of the population as a whole.

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

Sample Bias

Errors that occur in the sample selection leading to non-representative samples.

Generalizability

The extent to which findings can be applied to the larger population.

Statistics

Branch of mathematics dealing with data collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation.

Descriptive Statistics

Statistics that summarize data from a sample.

Inferential Statistics

Statistics that infer the properties of a population.

Measure of Central Tendency

A number that describes the center of a data set (mean, median, mode).

Mean

Average of a data set.

Median

Middle value in a data set.

Mode

Most frequently occurring value in a data set.

Range

Difference between the highest and lowest values in a data set.

Normal Curve

A symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data.

Regression to the Mean

Tendency for extreme scores to fall back toward the average.

Positive Skew

When a distribution includes more low scores.

Negative Skew

When a distribution includes more high scores.

Standard Deviation

A measure of the amount of variation or dispersion in a set of values.

Percentile Rank

The percentage of scores in its frequency distribution that are equal to or lower than it.

Bimodal Distribution

A distribution with two different modes which may appear as distinct peaks.

Statistical Significance

The likelihood that a result or relationship is caused by something other than mere chance.

Effect Sizes

A quantitative measure of the magnitude of the experimental effect.

Meta Analysis

A procedure for statistically combining the results of many different research studies.

Institutional Review Boards (IRB)

Groups that review research to ensure that ethical standards are met.

Informed Consent

Agreement to participate in psychology research, after being informed of the risks and benefits.

Informed Assent

Agreement by a minor or adult not able to give legal consent to participate in research.

Confidentiality

Keeping private information confidential.

Deception

Misleading participants about the true purpose of a study.

Debriefing

Explaining the purposes and methods of a completed procedure to a participant.

Evolutionary Perspective

Focuses on how natural selection has shaped behaviors.

Natural Selection

Process where traits enhancing survival are passed on more frequently.

Nature

Influence of genetics on behavior.

Nurture

Influence of environment on behavior.

Twin Studies

Research assessing genetic and environmental influences using twins.

Heredity

Passing traits from parents to offspring.

Genetic Predisposition

Increased likelihood of developing a particular disease based on genetics.

Eugenics

Science of improving a population by controlled breeding.

Cerebral Cortex

The brain's outer layer responsible for thinking and processing information.

Association Areas

Regions of the cerebral cortex that integrate simpler functions into more complex ones.

Lobes of the Brain

Different regions responsible for specific functions.

Frontal Lobes

Involved in speaking, muscle movements, and making plans.

Prefrontal Cortex

Part of the frontal lobes involved in decision making and cognitive behavior.

Executive Functioning

Higher order thinking processes that include planning, organizing, inhibition, and decision-making.

Motor Cortex

Area at the rear of the frontal lobes responsible for voluntary movements.

Parietal Lobes

Located in the upper back area of the skull, responsible for processing sensory information.

Somatosensory Cortex

Area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.

Occipital Lobes

The part of the brain involved in visual processing.

Temporal Lobes

Lower part of the cerebral cortex that plays roles in hearing, understanding language, and memory.

Corpus Callosum

The large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres.

Brainstem

The oldest part of the brain, responsible for automatic survival functions.

Medulla

The base of the brainstem that controls heartbeat and breathing.

Reticular Activating System

Network of neurons in the brainstem essential for arousal and attention.

Cerebellum

Part of the brain that coordinates movement and balance.