Psychology 1004 - Exam 1 (2025)

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Psychology

Overt action and reaction (objectively observable)

Behavior

We want to be able to predict ___. Also we might want to alter or train them

We want to be able to predict BEHAVIOR. Also we might want to alter or train them

Emotions, Thoughts, Plans, Desires, and Fears are all ___

Emotions, Thoughts, Plans, Desires, and Fears are all MENTAL PROCESSES

T/F: Nationwide, the number of psychology undergraduates is decreasing

False

Nationwide, the number of psychology undergraduates is increasing

T/F: Psychology is a "hub," connecting many fields. At VT, half of psychology majors have another major

True

T/F: Early jobs for BA and BS holders are varied and not often relevant to psychology, while early jobs for Master's recipients are more focused and relevant

True

"Rule of thirds" for those who get psychology degrees

• ⅓ work as ___

• ⅓ work as ___

• ⅓ work as ___

"Rule of thirds" for those who get psychology degrees

• ⅓ work as Clinicians/Counselors

• ⅓ work as Faculty in Universities

• ⅓ work as Other Areas

Important People:

Emphasized importance of observing and experiencing the world

Aristotle

Important People:

Much human behavior, and all animal behavior is reflexive—automatic, and subject to natural, external causes.

Descartes

Important People:

Humans also possess a mind, not controlled by natural laws (mind-body dualism)

Descartes

Important People:

1st psychology lab, in Germany

Wilhelm Wundt

Important People:

Emphasized structuralism and used introspection

Wilhelm Wundt

Important People:

American psychologist

William James

Important People:

Emphasized functionalism, behavior, and practical applications

William James

Study of the structure of immediate conscious experience

Structuralism

Self-examination of mental processes

Introspection

Study of how the mind works, and why we behave/think the way we do

Functionalism

Important People:

4th Century B.C.: ___

17th Century: ___

1832-1920: ___

1842-1910: ___

4th Century B.C.: Aristotle

17th Century: Descartes

1832-1920: Wilhelm Wundt

1842-1910: William James

Who were two important precursors of psychology

Aristotle, Descartes

Who were the two people known for "the beginning" of psychology

William Wundt, William James

T/F: Perspectives are facts

False

Perspectives aren't facts; they're lenses through which we interpret facts (what we observe)

T/F: Perspectives are pretty consistent, stable, hopefully supported by evidence

True

Perspectives inform our ___

Perspectives inform our Biases

An inclination of temperament or outlook especially; a sometimes unreasoned judgment (prejudice, bent, tendency)

Bias

6 Perspectives:

Focus on the unconscious; clinical problems due to unconscious conflicts

Psychodynamic

6 Perspectives:

Focus on the observable behavior. Behavior changes through learning

Behaviorist

6 Perspectives:

(Focus on self-concept) Realizing our full potential, and the challenges in doing so

Humanistic

6 Perspectives:

Unlike behaviorism, focusing on what is happening in the mind: thoughts, information processing, memory, etc.

Cognitive

6 Perspectives:

Influence of the nervous system (brain, etc.) on behavior

Neuroscience

6 Perspectives:

Influence of other People (e.g. peers, family, society) on behavior; often involves comparing and contrasting Cultures

Social-cultural

Freud is (a) ___

Skinner is (a) ___

Freud is Psychodynamic

Skinner is a Behaviorist

Example: "I'm afraid to commit to being in a relationship"

___ looks for unconscious conflict with an earlier relationship (like w/ parent or sibling)

PSYCHODYNAMIC looks for unconscious conflict with an earlier relationship (like w/ parent or sibling)

Example: "I'm afraid to commit to being in a relationship"

___ suggests the problem could be with the previous relationship going bad. Maybe help them make smaller commitments, get rewarded, then make bigger ones.

BEHAVIORIST suggests the problem could be with the previous relationship going bad. Maybe help them make smaller commitments, get rewarded, then make bigger

Example: "I'm afraid to commit to being in a relationship"

___ talks about how giving/trust is gratifying or how important a relationship is to the person

HUMANISTIC talks about how giving/trust is gratifying or how important a relationship is to the person

Example: "I'm afraid to commit to being in a relationship"

___ would focus on the thoughts and fears: also when/why these thought patterns and emotion patterns occur

COGNITIVE would focus on the thoughts and fears: also when/why these thought patterns and emotion patterns occur

Example: "I'm afraid to commit to being in a relationship"

___ would maybe look at the brain physiology of fear or stress, or hormones and neurotransmitters relating to sex, love, monogamy, etc.

NEUROSCIENCE would maybe look at the brain physiology of fear or stress, or hormones and neurotransmitters relating to sex, love, monogamy, etc.

Example: "I'm afraid to commit to being in a relationship"

___ would examine cultural norms regarding relationships, marriage, and when marriages happen

SOCIAL-CULTURAL would examine cultural norms regarding relationships, marriage, and when marriages happen

T/F: (According to Stuart Firestein) What we think science is, and what it really is and practice are the same

False

(According to Stuart Firestein) What we think science is, and what it really is and practice are two different things. He thinks of science as exploration that strives to ask more sophisticated questions (getting to higher-quality ignorance)

T/F: Because psychology is about US, the science can interact with our intuition. It can defy it, expand on it, make it more specific, and/or give fuller explanations for things that seem intuitive.

True

T/F: "Like" people attract

True

Scientific Method: ___

Scientific Method: O.H.D.A.C

Scientific Method:

1. Make an ___

2. Make a ___ (based on theory)

3. ___ a study (Identify important variables)

4. Collect and ___ data

5. Make ___

1. Make an OBSERVATION

2. Make a HYPOTHESIS (based on theory)

3. DESIGN a study (Identify important variables)

4. Collect and ANALYZE data

5. Make CONCLUSIONS

Scientific Method:

A tentative statement expressing a relationship between variables

Hypothesis

Scientific Method:

Collection of interrelated ideas and observations that explain and predict

Theory

T/F: A research study's hypothesis must be falsifiable...There must be a possibility for data collected to show the hypothesis was incorrect

True

The observation and recording of data

Empiricism

T/F: Science is not empirical

False

Science is empirical (Analyzing data requires statistics)

___ variable: what experimenter manipulates

___ variable: outcome that is measured

INDEPENDENT variable: what experimenter manipulates

DEPENDENT variable: outcome that is measured

Using the scientific method to gain knowledge about topics in psychology (to satisfy curiosity, learn more)

Basic Psychology

Using knowledge to solve and prevent human problems

Applied Psychology

System that gathers info, decides on a course of action, and responds

Nervous System

3 Neural Pathways:

Afferent (Ascending) pathways to brain

Sensory Neurons (A)

3 Neural Pathways:

Efferent (dEscending) pathways from brain

Motor Neurons (E)

3 Neural Pathways:

Link between sensory and motor neurons, found in the brain and spinal cord

Interneurons

These sensory, motor, and interneurons number about ___, masking up the nervous system

These sensory, motor, and interneurons number about 100 BILLION, masking up the nervous system

Know and Label Parts of Neuron:

• Soma (Cell Body)

• Dendrites

• Nucleus

• Myelin Sheath

• Axon (Inside Myelin Sheath)

• Myelin Sheath

• Nodes of Ranvier

• Synaptic Terminals

• Direction of Messages

Ok

Parts of a Neuron:

Carries out basic processes of the cell

Cell Body

Parts of a Neuron:

Receive message from nearby neurons

Dendrites

Parts of a Neuron:

Transmits electrical impulse (action potential) from cell body down length of neuron

Axon

Parts of a Neuron:

Made up of fats, insulates axon, making transmission faster & more efficient

Myelin Sheath

Parts of a Neuron:

Store neurotransmitters, then release them to active (or inhibit) other neurons

Synaptic Terminals (a.k.a. terminal buttons)

When a neuron activates, or "fires", it generates an electrical current that travels from the star of the axon (___) and travels to the terminals. This is called an ___

When a neuron activates, or "fires", it generates an ELECTRICAL current that travels from the star of the axon (AXON HILLOCK) and travels to the terminals. This is called an ACTION POTENTIAL

T/F: An Action Potential follows the "all-or-none law" (Either the neuron fires or it doesn't)

True

T/F: Action Potential is not always the same strength

False

Action Potential is Always the same strength

An Action Potential is caused by movement of ___ in and out of the axon

An Action Potential is caused by movement of CHARGED IONS in and out of the axon

An axon At Rest (Not Firing)...inside of the axon is ___ charged with respect to the outside

An axon At Rest (Not Firing)...inside of the axon is NEGATIVELY charged with respect to the outside

T/F: The membrane is impermeable, particular to Na+

True

An axon Firing...inside of the axon is ___ charged

An axon Firing...inside of the axon is POSITIVELY charged

An axon firing steps:

1. A change in membrane permeability allows + charged ___ ions to rush In (and charge across membrane reverses)

2. A change in permeability allows + charged ___ ions to rush Out

An axon firing steps:

1. A change in membrane permeability allows + charged SODIUM ions to rush in (and charge across membrane reverses)

2. A change in permeability allows + charged POTASSIUM ions to rush out

T/F: The electrical change continues down the axon, until the charge reaches the axon terminals/terminal buttons. The neurons exist in isolation

False, NO neuron exists in isolation. Many others are trying to excite or inhibit it

Once at the terminals, transmission becomes chemical—to fire the next neuron, neurotransmitters are released and travel across a small gap called a ___

Once at the terminals, transmission becomes chemical—to fire the next neuron, neurotransmitters are released and travel across a small gap called a SYNAPSE

Chemical transmission between neurons storage:

Release from ___

Binding to ___

Release from TERMINAL BUTTON

Binding to DENDRITE

Chemicals released by one neuron and binding to another can be either ___ (Encouraging firing) or ___ (Discouraging firing) on a neuron

Chemicals released by one neuron and binding to another can be either EXCITATORY (Encouraging firing) or INHIBITORY (Discouraging firing) on a neuron

Neurotransmitters:

___

• Sleep regulation, appetite, anxiety and depression

• Many current antidepressants increase its effects

Serotonin

Neurotransmitters:

___

• Emotions, pleasure, attention, movement

• Also involved in schizophrenia (too much), Parkinson's (too little), and drug abuse

Dopamine

Neurotransmitters:

___

• Emotional arousal/energy

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitters:

___

• Memory and learning (Alzheimer's is too little)

• Muscle activity (black widow venom affects it

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitters:

___

• Very common excitatory NT in brain

• Learning and memory

Glutamate

Neurotransmitters:

___

• Very common inhibitory NT in brain

• "Depressant", relaxant, effected enhanced by alcohol

GABA

Glutamate: Very common ___ NT in brain

GABA: Very common ___ NT in brain

Glutamate: Very common EXCITATORY NT in brain

GABA: Very common INHIBITORY NT in brain

Organization of Nervous System:

___ nervous system: Brain, Spinal Cord

___ nervous system: Somatic NS, Autonomic NS

CENTRAK nervous system: Brain, Spinal Cord

PERIPHERAL nervous system: Somatic NS, Autonomic NS

Peripheral Nervous System:

___

• Think of it as "voluntary" NS

• Sensory and motor neurons

Somatic nervous system

Peripheral Nervous System:

___

• Controls automatic processes, like breathing and body temp

• Two subdivisions: ___ and ___

Autonomic

• Sympathetic, Parasympathetic

Autonomic Nervous System:

___

• Activates fight-or-flight response

Sympathetic NS

Autonomic Nervous System:

___

• Active more often

• Controls normal operations and calms the body

Parasympathetic NS

Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic NS:

___

• Increase heart rate, breathing rate, blood glucose (energy)

• Inhibit digestion, salivation

• Relax bladder

• Dilate pupils

Sympathetic NS

Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic NS:

___

• Decrease heart rate, breathing rate

• Glucose to fat

• Stimulate digestion, salivation

• Contract bladder, pupils

Parasympathetic NS

Central Nervous System:

___

• Reflex responses

• Relay to/from brain

Spinal Cord

The Brain:

"___" structures (through spinal cord) carry out basic life processes...hindbrain, midbrain

"Lower" structures (through spinal cord) carry out basic life processes...hindbrain, midbrain

The Brain:

"___" structures carry out complex cognitive function...mostly forebrain

"Higher" structures carry out complex cognitive function...mostly forebrain

Know and Label Parts of Brain:

• Hindbrain and Midbrain

◦ Cerebellum

◦ Medulla, Pons, & Reticular Forkation

◦ Midbrain

• Forebrain (Subcortical)

◦ Thalamus

◦ Hypothalamus

◦ Limbic System

▪ Hippocampus

▪ Amygdala

Ok

Hindbrain and Midbrain:

___: Balance and coordinated movement

Cerebellum

Hindbrain and Midbrain:

___: HR and breathing, sleep and arousal, attention, coordinated movements

Medulla, Pons, & Reticular Formation

Hindbrain and Midbrain:

___: Helps vision and audition, for example, by fixing gaze even as your head moves; aids basic movements for sex and aggression

Midbrain

Forebrain - Subcortical:

___: Relay station

Thalamus

Forebrain - Subcortical:

___: Autonomic info; homeostasis

Hypothalamus

Forebrain - Subcortical:

___: Seprated into Hippocampus and Amygdala

Limbic System

Limbic System:

___: Vital for memory/learning

Hippocampus

Limbic System:

___: Emotion center (emotion & learning, emotion recognition)

Amygdala