Psychology: Key Concepts, Theories, and Research Methods

What is Psychology?

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Who is considered the founder of psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt.

What is the difference between Structuralism and Functionalism?

Structuralism looks at parts of the mind; Functionalism looks at what the mind does and why.

What is introspection?

Looking at and reporting your own thoughts and feelings.

What is the Psychoanalytic Theory?

Behavior is influenced by unconscious thoughts and childhood.

What is the Unconscious?

Thoughts and feelings you aren't aware of.

Who was the founder of Psychoanalytic Theory?

Sigmund Freud.

What is Behaviorism?

Studies behavior you can see, and how it is learned.

Who is the founder of Behaviorism?

John B. Watson.

Who thought that free will is an illusion?

Freud.

What is Humanism?

Focuses on free will and becoming your best self.

Who are the two primary researchers associated with Humanism?

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

How do clinical psychologists differ from psychiatrists?

Psychiatrists can prescribe meds.

What is Behavior?

Actions you can see.

What is Cognition?

Thinking and remembering.

What is Critical Thinking?

Thinking carefully and logically.

Why is research important?

It helps us to understand behavior and the mind using facts rather than guesses.

What are the goals of research?

To describe, explain, predict, and control behavior.

What is a Theory?

A broad explanation of a behavior.

What is a Hypothesis?

A specific, and measurable prediction.

What are the steps of scientific investigation?

Identify a question → form a hypothesis → design the study → collect data → analyze results → report findings.

What is an Operational Definition?

Exact description of how something is measured.

What are Participants/Subjects?

People or animals in the study.

What are Data Collection Techniques?

Ways to gather info (tests, surveys).

What is a Journal?

Studies are reported here.

What are Research Methods?

Different ways psychologists study behavior (experiments, surveys, observations, case studies).

What is an Experiment?

A study that tests cause-and-effect by changing one variable.

What are the Independent and Dependent Variables?

IV: What the researcher changes; DV: What is measured.

What is the Control Group versus the Experimental Group?

Control does not get treatment; experimental does.

What are Extraneous variables?

Other factors that might affect results.

What is Random Assignment?

Participants randomly placed into groups.

What are the benefits of experimental research?

Shows cause and effect.

What are the limitations of experimental research?

Can be artificial or not realistic.

What is Correlational Research?

Studies the relationship between variables.

What is the difference between a Correlation and a Correlation Coefficient?

Correlation: A relationship between variables; Correlation coefficient: A number showing the relationship.

How is a Correlation Coefficient interpreted?

Direction: Positive and negative; Strength: Weak or strong.

What is the Third Variable Problem?

Another factor might explain the relationship.

What is Naturalistic Observation?

Watching behavior in a natural setting.

What are the benefits of Naturalistic Observation?

Realistic behavior.

What is a Case Study?

An in-depth study of one person or a small group.

What are Surveys?

Questionnaires or interviews that collect self-reported data.

What is a Sample?

A smaller group within the population.

What is a Population?

Everyone you want to study.

What is Sampling Bias?

When the sample isn't representative.

What is the Placebo Effect?

People improve because they expect to.

What is Social Desirability Bias?

People answer in a way that looks good.

What is Experimenter Bias?

Researcher expectations influence results.

What is a Double-Blind Study?

Neither the participants nor researchers know who gets the treatment.

What are the ethical principles in psychological research with human subjects?

Informed consent, no harm, confidentiality, right to withdraw, and debriefing.

What are Neurons?

Nerve cells that send and receive messages in the body.

What is the purpose of the Soma?

Keeps the neuron alive.

What do Dendrites do?

Receive messages.

What does the Axon do?

Sends messages.

What is the function of the Myelin Sheath?

Speeds up messages.

What is a Synapse?

Gap between neurons.

What are Terminal Buttons?

Release chemicals.

What are Neurotransmitters?

Chemical messengers.

What are Glia?

Support and protect neurons.

What is the Synaptic Cleft?

Space between neurons.

What is the function of Dopamine?

Pleasure, movement, motivation.

What is the function of Norepinephrine?

Alertness, stress response.

What is the function of Serotonin?

Mood, sleep, appetite.

What is the function of Endorphins?

Pain relief, pleasure.

What are the divisions of the Nervous System?

Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).

What does the Central Nervous System do?

This is the control center.

What does the Peripheral Nervous System do?

Connects CNS to the body.

What does the Somatic Nervous System control?

Voluntary movement.

What does the Autonomic Nervous System control?

Automatic actions.

What is the Fight or Flight Response?

The body's automatic response to danger.

What is a CT scan?

Shows brain structure.

What does a PET scan show?

Brain activity using chemicals.

What does an MRI show?

Detailed brain images.

What does an fMRI show?

Brain activity in real time.

What are the functions of the Hindbrain?

Basic life functions.

What does the Medulla control?

Breathing and heart rate.

What does the Pons control?

Sleep and movement.

What does the Cerebellum control?

Balance and coordination.

What does the Midbrain control?

Movement and alertness.

What does the Reticular Formation control?

Arousal and attention.

What does the Forebrain control?

Complex thinking and emotion.

What is the Thalamus?

Sensory relay station.

What does the Hypothalamus regulate?

Hunger, thirst, hormones.

What is the function of the Hippocampus?

Memory.

What does the Amygdala control?

Emotion, especially fear.

What does the Corpus Callosum do?

Connects brain hemispheres.

What does fMRI show?

Brain activity in real time.

What is the function of the medulla?

Breathing and heart rate.

What does the pons regulate?

Sleep and movement.

What is the function of the cerebellum?

Balance and coordination.

What is the role of the reticular formation?

Arousal and attention.

What does the forebrain manage?

Complex thinking and emotion.

What is the corpus callosum?

Connects brain hemispheres.

What are the functions of the frontal lobe?

Thinking, decision-making, movement.

What does the parietal lobe handle?

Touch and body awareness.

What is the function of the temporal lobe?

Hearing and memory.

What does the occipital lobe control?

Vision.

What is Broca's Area responsible for?

Speech production.

What does Wernicke's Area manage?

Language understanding.

From where do the left and right hemispheres receive information?

Each side receives info from the opposite side of the body.

What are chromosomes?

Structures that carry genes.