Intro Psych 2e Openstaxs chapters 4, 6, 9, 14 key terms (PSU Pottschmidt Psych 100 Exam 2)

Consciousness

Awareness of internal and external experiences.

Sleep

A natural, recurring state of rest for the body and mind.

Biological Rhythms

Natural cycles that regulate physiological processes.

Circadian Rhythm

A 24-hour cycle that regulates biological processes like sleep.

Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

A cluster of neurons in the brain responsible for regulating circadian rhythms.

Melatonin

A hormone that promotes sleep by regulating circadian rhythms.

Sleep Regulation

The biological and environmental factors controlling sleep.

Sleep Debt

The cumulative shortfall between the sleep needed and the actual sleep received.

Sleep Rebound

The recovery of sleep lost due to sleep debt.

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) Sleep

A stage of sleep associated with vivid dreams and rapid eye movements.

Non-REM Sleep

A phase of sleep not associated with rapid eye movement.

Dreaming

A phenomenon occurring most often during REM sleep involving vivid experiences.

Evolutionary Adaptation

The biological changes that improve survival in response to environmental demands.

Cognitive Benefits

Positive effects on the mind, such as improved memory and decision-making.

Growth and Repair

Biological processes, especially during sleep, that help restore the body and brain.

Treatments for Disorders

Various therapies or methods to alleviate symptoms of sleep disorders.

Insomnia

Difficulty falling or staying asleep.

Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorder

Disruptions in sleep patterns caused by misalignments in the internal clock.

Parasomnia

Abnormal behaviors during sleep (e.g., sleepwalking).

Sleep Apnea

A disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

Reflex

An automatic, involuntary response to a stimulus.

Instinct

Innate behaviors that are typically triggered by specific stimuli.

Learning

The process of acquiring new knowledge or behaviors.

Associative Learning

Learning that occurs when two events are connected.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus.

Acquisition

The initial phase of learning where a response is established.

Extinction

The diminishing of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Stimulus Discrimination

The ability to distinguish between different stimuli.

Stimulus Generalization

Responding similarly to stimuli that are similar to the original conditioned stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

Learning where behavior is strengthened or weakened by consequences.

Law of Effect

A principle that responses followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to recur.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding a desirable stimulus to increase behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior.

Positive Punishment

Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior.

Negative Punishment

Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease behavior.

Shaping

Gradually reinforcing behavior that increasingly resembles the desired behavior.

Encoding

The process of converting information into a form that can be stored.

Automatic Processing

Encoding that occurs without conscious effort.

Effortful Processing

Encoding that requires conscious effort and attention.

Self-Reference Effect

The tendency to remember information better when it's personally relevant.

Storage

The retention of encoded information over time.

Sensory Memory

Brief retention of sensory information.

Short-Term Memory

A limited capacity memory system that holds information temporarily.

Working Memory

A part of short-term memory that actively processes information.

Rehearsal

Repetition of information to aid in memory retention.

Long-Term Memory

A relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of information.

Semantic Network

A model of memory that links concepts based on meaning.

Explicit Memory

Memories that can be consciously recalled, like facts.

Implicit Memory

Memories that are not consciously recalled, like skills.

Retrieval

The process of accessing stored information.

Recall

Retrieving information without cues.

Recognition

Identifying previously learned information from a set of options.

Normative Approach

A perspective that looks at typical developmental patterns across people.

Developmental Milestones

Key achievements in growth during childhood or other life stages.

Continuous vs. Discontinuous Development

Debate over whether development occurs gradually or in distinct stages.

Universal vs. Ecological Development

Whether development is the same across all cultures or influenced by specific environments.

Nature vs. Nurture

The debate over the influence of genetics vs. environment in development.

Stages of Prenatal Development

The stages through which a fetus develops (germinal, embryonic, fetal).

Teratogen

An agent or factor that causes malformation in an embryo.

Newborn Reflexes

Innate responses seen in newborns like sucking or grasping.

Temperament

A child's characteristic mood and emotional response.

Adolescence

The developmental stage between childhood and adulthood.

Puberty

The phase during which a child matures sexually and physically.

Emerging Adulthood

A developmental stage in late adolescence into the 20s marked by exploration and instability.

Stress

A response to a perceived threat or challenge.

Stressor

An event that causes stress.

Primary Appraisal

The initial assessment of whether a situation is threatening.

Secondary Appraisal

Assessing one's ability to cope with the stressor.

Eustress

Positive stress that motivates.

Distress

Negative stress that overwhelms.

Fight-or-Flight Response

The body's automatic reaction to perceived danger, preparing it for action.

Chronic Stress

Long-term stress that can lead to negative health effects.

Cortisol

A hormone released during stress, influencing several bodily functions.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing emotional responses to stress.

Problem-Focused Coping

Addressing the source of stress directly.