psychology 1100 Chapters 1-3

What is psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

What method do psychologists rely on to study the mind and behavior?

The scientific method.

What does developmental psychology study?

How people grow and change from conception through death.

What type of psychology focuses on higher mental processes such as thinking, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, judging, decision-making, and language?

Cognitive psychology.

Which branch of psychology focuses on consistency in people's behavior over time and the traits that make people different from one another?

Personality psychology.

What does clinical neuropsychology focus on?

The origin of psychological disorders in biological factors.

Who is associated with the formal beginning of psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt.

At the beginning of the 20th century, who were the older scientists losing their grip on psychology, and who were the younger up-and-coming scientists?

Structuralists- older. Functionalist-younger

What does the behavioral perspective of psychology focus on?

Observable, external behavior that can be objectively measured.

What perspective does psychology begin and end with?

Psychodynamic.

What was B. F. Skinner known for contributing to psychology?

He was a pioneer in the behavioral perspective.

What is the main emphasis of the humanistic perspective?

Free will

What idea contrasts with the belief that behavior is primarily caused by choices made freely by an individual?

Determinism

What is the approach used by psychologists to systematically acquire knowledge about behavior and other phenomena?

The scientific method

What is the first step in the scientific method?

Identifying questions of intreast

What is the correct order of the steps in the scientific method?

Identify problem → formulate explanation → carry out research → communicate findings.

During which step of the scientific method is a hypothesis developed?

Formulating an explanation

During which step of the scientific method are data collected and analyzed?

Carrying out research designed to support or refute the explanation.

What are broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest called?

Theories

What explains why people are less likely to help when there are more bystanders?

Diffusion of responsibility.

What is a hypothesis?

A prediction stated in a way that allows it to be tested.

What is research?

A systematic inquiry aimed at the discovery of new knowledge.

What type of research examines existing data such as census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings?

Archival research

What are statistically meaningful results that allow researchers to feel confident that they have confirmed their hypotheses?

A significant outcome

What are factors that distort the way the independent variable affects the dependent variable called?

Experimental bias

If participants know what is being studied and their behavior changes because of this knowledge, what type of expectations are involved?

Participant expectations

If researchers unconsciously influence participants based on what they expect to happen, what type of expectations are involved?

Experimenter bias

What is a placebo

A "fake" drug, often a sugar pill to see if improvements are psychological/ A false experimental treatment.

What is an independent variable?

factor in an experiment that a scientist purposely changes

What is a dependent variable?

the variable that is measured

What procedure is used to overcome experimenter expectations?

A double blind procedure

What is the name for the problem in social sciences where many attempts to replicate studies fail to support the original findings?

Replication crisis

What type of psychologists specialize in how biological structures and functions of the body affect behavior?

Behavioral Neuroscientists

What are the basic elements of the nervous system called?

Neurons

Approximately how many neurons throughout the body are involved in controlling behavior?

1 trillion

What cells physically hold neurons in place?

Gilal cells

What is an axon?

A long, slim, tube-like structure extending from a neuron.

Dendrite is to ________ as axon is to ________.

Receiving, Sending

If you compare your forearm, palm, knuckles, and fingers to a neuron, which part represents the axon?

The forearm

What is the state called when a neuron has a negative electrical charge of about -70 millivolts?

Resting state

What specialized neurons fire when a person performs an action and also when they observe someone else performing the same action?

Mirror neurons.

What is the space between two neurons where the axon of one neuron communicates with the dendrites of another using chemical messages?

Synapse

What is the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by a terminal button called?

Reuptake

Which division of the autonomic nervous system prepares the body for action during stressful situations?

Sympathetic division

Which division is responsible for the "fight-or-flight" response?

Sympathetic division

Which division of the autonomic nervous system calms the body after an emergency has ended?

Parasympathetic division

Which division directs the body to store energy for use in emergencies?

Parasympatheitc divison

Difference between PsyD and a PhD

A PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) focuses on practical clinical treatment and direct client care, while a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology) emphasizes scientific research, data analysis, and academia