MIDTERM UNIT 0-2

Psychodynamic/Psychoanalytic

A historical perspective used by Freud to explain how the unconscious affects behavior.

Behaviorism

The view that psychology should be an objective science studying behavior without reference to mental processes.

Humanistic psychology

A perspective that emphasizes the growth potential of healthy people and personal growth.

Cognitive

The perspective focusing on brain functioning including perception, thinking, memory, and language.

Biological (Neuroscience)

A perspective on how brain chemistry, genes, and hormones impact behavior.

Social-cultural

A perspective focusing on the impacts of culture, family, friends, and society.

Evolutionary

A perspective focusing on the impacts of our ancestors on behavior.

Confidentiality

Personal information about subjects that should never be shared.

Informed Consent

Subjects must give written consent to participate in an experiment.

Case study

An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth to reveal universal principles.

Survey

A technique for ascertaining self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a group.

Population

All cases in a group being studied from which samples may be drawn.

Random sample

A sample that fairly represents a population, giving each member an equal chance of inclusion.

Representative sample

A subset of the population carefully chosen to represent its diversity.

Naturalistic observation

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without manipulation.

Experiment

A research method where an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe effects on behavior.

Operational definition

Specifies the operations that an experimenter uses to control or measure variables.

Random assignment

Assigning participants to groups by chance to minimize preexisting differences.

Double-blind procedure

An experimental procedure where both participants and staff are unaware of the treatment received.

Placebo

A pseudo treatment with no drug used in studies.

Placebo effect

Experimental results caused by expectations alone; effects from administering a placebo.

Experimental group

In an experiment, the group exposed to the treatment.

Control group

In an experiment, the group not exposed to the treatment, serving as a comparison.

Independent variable (IV)

The experimental factor that is manipulated.

Dependent variable (DV)

The experimental factor being measured.

Confounding variable

A factor other than the IV that might produce an effect in an experiment.

Median

The measure of central tendency that is the middle score in a distribution.

Standard deviation

A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean.

Normal curve (normal distribution)

A symmetrical, bell-shaped curve describing the distribution of data.

Statistical significance

A statistical statement of how likely it is that a result occurred by chance.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together.

Correlation coefficient

A statistical index of the relationship between two things, ranging from -1 to +1.

Scatterplot

A graphed cluster of dots representing the values of two variables.

Twin Biology

Studies the effects of heredity and environment by examining identical and fraternal twins.

Separated Twins Similarities

Similarities in personality, intelligence, interests, abilities, etc., found in separated twins.

Nature vs Nurture

The debate about whether traits are fixed by genetics or influenced by the environment.

Neuron

Nerve cell; the main way the body communicates.

Dendrites

Branching extensions from the cell body that receive messages from other neurons.

Axon

The long single extension of a neuron that transmits impulses.

Terminals of axon (terminal buttons)

Branching ends of axons that transmit neurotransmitters.

Action potential

A neural impulse; electrical charge traveling down an axon.

Threshold

The point at which a neuron fires an action potential.

All-or-None Response

The principle that a neuron fires fully or not at all.

Neurotransmitters

Chemicals released from a neuron that influence the firing of another neuron.

Reuptake

The process of reabsorbing neurotransmitters into the sending neuron.

Agonist

A chemical that mimics or excites a neurotransmitter.

Antagonist

A chemical that inhibits the action of a neurotransmitter.

Endorphins

Neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers.

Acetylcholine

A neurotransmitter involved in muscle action, memory, and learning.

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter that influences movement, learning, and emotion.

Serotonin

A neurotransmitter that affects mood, hunger, and sleep.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the body.

Somatic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that controls the body's skeletal muscles.

Autonomic Nervous System

Part of the PNS that controls glands and other muscles automatically.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Part of the ANS that arouses the body in stressful situations.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Part of the ANS that calms the body and conserves energy.

Endocrine System

The body's chemical communication system carried out by hormones.

Hormones

Chemicals that affect the brain and other tissues, secreted by glands.

fMRI

Produces images of brain structure and function while performing tasks.

Medulla

Base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

Thalamus

The brain's sensory switchboard, directing messages to sensory areas.

Cerebellum

The 'little brain' that coordinates voluntary movements and balance.

Limbic System

Brain structures linked to emotions like fear and aggression.

Amygdala

Neural clusters linked to emotions of fear and anger.

Hippocampus

A limbic system structure responsible for forming new memories.

Hypothalamus

Regulates maintenance activities like eating and drinking.

Frontal Lobe

Involved in reasoning, planning, and movement.

Temporal Lobe

Concerned with auditory stimuli and memory.

Occipital Lobe

Located at the back of the brain; involved in vision.

Parietal Lobe

Concerned with perception of stimuli related to touch and pain.

Aphasia

An impairment of language due to brain damage.

Broca’s Area

Controls the physical activity of speaking.

Wernicke’s Area

Controls language comprehension.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to modify itself after an injury.

Psychoactive drugs

Chemicals that change thoughts, feelings, and usually require larger doses over time.

Depressants

Drugs that slow and calm neural activity.

Alcohol

Short-term effects include impaired judgment and memory.

Stimulant drugs

Excite neural activity and speed up body functions.

Caffeine and nicotine

Stimulants that increase heart and breathing rates.

Cocaine

A stimulant that induces euphoria but results in a crash.

Hallucinogens

Psychedelic drugs that distort perceptions.

LSD

A powerful hallucinogenic drug.

Consciousness

Our subjective awareness of ourselves and our environment.

Parallel processing

Processing multiple aspects of a stimulus at once.

Sleep

Periodic, natural loss of consciousness.

Circadian rhythm

The biological clock; regular body rhythms on a 24-hour cycle.

NREM sleep

Non-rapid eye movement sleep; all sleep stages except REM.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep; stage of vivid dreaming.

REM rebound

The tendency for REM sleep to increase after deprivation.

Insomnia

Recurring issues with falling or staying asleep.

Narcolepsy

Sudden sleep attacks directly into REM sleep.

Dream

A sequence of images and thoughts occurring during sleeping.

Activation-synthesis theory

The brain's attempt to make sense of random neural activity.

Sensation

The process of sensory receptors receiving and representing stimuli.

Bottom-up processing

Information processing starting from sensory receptors to the brain.

Top-down processing

Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes.

Transduction

Conversion of one form of energy into another in sensation.

Absolute threshold

Minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.

Signal detection theory

Theory predicting how and when we detect a faint stimulus among background noise.