Intro to Psychology (PSY1010)

SLCC (Utah)

Structuralism

one of the earliest schools of psychology, focused on understanding the conscious experience through introspection (looking inward and describing ones feelings) to provide scientific evidence to understand the mind.

Introspection

A method of self-observation in which participants report their thoughts and feelings

Wilhelm Wundt

a German scientist who was the 1st person to ve referred to as a psychologist. Famous book: Principles of Physiological Psychology published in 1873.

William James (functionalism)

1st American psychologist who espoused a different perspective on how psychology should operate (see functionalism).

Functionalism

a school of psychology that focused on how mental and behavioral processes function - how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish and fit into their environment.

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

founder of psychoanalysis, a theory about the workings of the unconscious mind

psychoanalytic theory

focuses on the role of a person's unconscious, as well as early childhood experiences

id

the unconscious portion of personality that contains basic impulses and urges such as for sex or aggression

ego

the rational and reasonable part of the personality

Superego (Freud)

a person's conscience, which develops early in life; learned from parents, teachers, and others

Gestalt

an organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of its parts.

Behaviorism

the approach of observing and controlling behavior

Humanism

a perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans

Abraham Maslow(1908-1970)

Humanistic psychologist who developed the hierarchy of needs in motivating behavior

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

(level 1) Physiological Needs, (level 2) Safety and Security, (level 3) Relationships, Love and Affection, (level 4) Self Esteem, (level 5) Self Actualization

Biopsychology

study of psychology from a physiological perspective

cognitive psychology

Focuses on the study of thoughts and how these relate to and influence our experiences and behaviors, including the study of language.

developmental psychology

The developmental domain would include a study on learning and conditioning, as it looks at these occurrences throughout the lifespan

developmental psychology(2)

Focuses on changes between various stages throughout the lifespan

Clinical psychology

Focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior

Personality psychology

Encompasses long-standing traits that comprise personality, along with patterns that facilitate behavior

Forensic Psychology

branch of psychology that relates to the law.

Biopsychosocial model.

This model suggests that health and illness are determined by psychological, biological, and social factors.

I/O (industrial-organizational) psychology

Psychology involves working as a consultant for businesses looking to improve employee motivation and performance

5 main Psychological Domains

biological, cognitive, developmental and lifespan, social and personality, mental and physical

Adjunct psychology professor

At least a master's degree in psychology is required. many at junk professors teach as a secondary profession. Or are working on gaining additional teaching experience

Theory

a set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena.

informed consent

an ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wish to participate

Archival research

method of research using past records or data sets to answer various research questions, or to search for interesting patterns or relationships

correlation coefficient

The strength and direction of the relationship between two variables is expressed by this.

case study

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

Experimenter Bias

a phenomenon that occurs when a researcher's expectations or preferences about the outcome of a study influence the results obtained

falsifiable

able to be disproven by experimental results

experiment

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process

survey

the collection of data by having people answer a series of carefully worded questions that focus on specific issues.

double-blind study

An experiment in which neither the participant nor the researcher knows whether the participant has received the treatment or the placebo

confounding variable

a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment

Methods of Data Collection

the procedures a researcher follows to gather relevant data

random sample/selection

method for choosing participants for your study - minimizes bias, everyone has a chance to take part

statistically significant

an observed effect so large that it would rarely occur by chance. highly unlikely.

Distribution

A distribution of scores varies from low to high and includes all data points. The pattern of variation in data

cross-sectional study

A study in which a representative cross section of the population is tested or surveyed at one specific time.

experiment

Researchers create a controlled environment in which they can carefully manipulate at least one variable to test its effect on another. The key here is that the researchers can cause a change in one variable

Longitudinal study

Researchers recruit a sample of Participants and track them for an extended period Of time

case study

an observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles

operational study

Carefully worded statement of the exact procedures used in a reasearch study

single-blind study

Experiment in which the participants in an experiment are unaware of who is in the experimental or control groups

Genes

A unit of hereditary that is passed down from a parent which determines traits and physical characteristics

Chromosomes

long strands of genetic information.

Agonists

binds to receptors and increases the effects of neurotransmitters

Antagonists

binds to receptors and decreases the effects of neurotransmitters

action potential

the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

selectively inhibits serotonin reuptake from synaptic gap and results in potentiation of serotonergic neurotransmissions. Examples: Luvox, Paxilo, Prozac, Zoloft

action potential

a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that typically travels down an axon to the axon terminal buttons

ion channels

inhibit and permit the flow of ions into and out of the cell

Excitatory post-synaptic potential (EPSP's)

a depolarizing current that causes the membrane potential to become more positive and closer to the threshold of excitation

Somatic system (PNS)

voluntary (meaning you can control them at will) in nature (they collect info and return instruction to skin, muscle and joints). The semitic system relays sensory and motor information to the c n s

Hypothalmas

The hypothalmas links , the nervous system and the endocrine system and directs the release of hormones to the pituitary gland

parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy. rest and digest

Positron emission tomography

The brain imaging method that relies on an injected solution that is used by active brain structures

Lateralization

specialization of function in one hemisphere of the cerebral cortex or the other

Broca's area

speech production

limbic system

neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives. Which is also responsible for processing memory , which is why the two are so closely related smell

Longitudinal fissure

separates the two hemispheres

fMRI

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans.

Hippocampus

a neural center located in the limbic system; helps process explicit memories for storage

Medulla

the base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

reticular formation

The particular formation is responsible for regulating sleep slash wakecycles arousal alertness and motor activity

somatosensory cortex

registers and processes body touch and movement sensations and pain

Phineas Gage

railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury that dramatically changed his personality and behavior; case played a role in the development of the understanding of the localization of brain function. revealed There is a relationship between the frontal lobes limbic system and impulse control

amygdala

A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression. and tying emotional meaning to memories

Lateralization

The concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions

polygenic

Polygenic means that multiple genes affect a specific trait

Epigenetics

The study of how the same genotype may lead to different phenotypes is known as

Thalamus

the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla, eyesight, hearing

SCN

Within the hypothalmas and plays an important role in the sleep-wake cycle. Responsible for controlling circadian rhythms

Psychological dependence

dependence based primarily on emotional needs

fixed mindset

the idea that we have a set amount of an ability that cannot change

growth mindset

the idea that our abilities are malleable qualities that we can cultivate and grow

Chronotypes of circadian rhythm

Chronot types are our own personal biological clock

pineal gland

Helps regulate your circadian rhythm by producing melatonin in the brains endocrine system

Circadian rhythm

A biological clock that dictates Fluctuations In heart rate, Blood pressure, blood sugar, and body temperature over roughly twenty four hours

Rotating shift work

a major sleep disruption which refers to a work schedule that changes from early to late on a daily or weekly basis

Hypothalamus

Regulates many motives , including thirst , hunger and sex drive , and plays a critical role in regulating homeostasis

Evolutionary theories about sleep

Evolutionary theory of sleep suggests that periods of activity and inactivity evolved as a means of conserving energy. The belief that sleep is essential to restore resources that are expended during the day

sleep apnea

a sleep disorder characterized by temporary cessations of breathing during sleep and repeated momentary awakenings. no breathing for at least 10 seconds.

deep sleep

Stage 4 slow-wave sleep; the deepest form of normal sleep. delta waves of 0.5 - 2hz

delta waves

occur during deep sleep

Continual activation theory of dreaming

Both conscious and unconscious systems of the working memory have to be continually activated to maintain proper brain functions. The function of sleep is to process and code and transfer data from short term memory to long memory

REM

Rapid eye movement is a deeper stage of sleep where you have eye movements

pituitary gland

Secrets growth hormone during sleep aids in maturation

Threat simulation theory

Suggests that dreaming should be seen as an ancient biological defense mechanism

Parasomnia

A sleep disorder characterized by abnormal movements or behaviors during sleep

Deep sleep

Low frequency high amplitude waves that are delta

Obstructive sleep apnea

Airway gets blocked while sleeping. Happens when something partly or completely blocks your upper airway

The Pons

Part of the brain stem that conducts signals from the brain to the cerebellum and regulates the sleep/wake cycle

REM

Allows you to process thoughts emotions and stress

Expectation-fulfillment theory

dreaming discharges emotional arousals that haven't been expressed during the day

Sleep deprivation

a sufficient lack of restorative sleep over a cumulative period so as to cause physical or psychiatric symptoms and affect routine performance or tasks

night terrors

Episodes of screaming intense fear and flailing , while still asleep , though they are not remembered by the individual