Psychology: Final Exam Study Guide

Psychology

the scientific study of thought and behavior; "psyche" meaning mind in Greek

Critical Thinking

a process by which one analyzes, evaluates, and forms ideas; kritikos (ancient Greek word) means "to question, to make sense of, and to be able to analyze or to be skilled at judging"

What are core traits of critical thinking?

sound analysis, evaluation, and the formation of ideas based on evidence at hand

What do critical thinkers do?

analyze, evaluate, make inferences, interpret, explain, and self-regulate

Metacognitive Thinking

the ability first to think and then reflect on one's own thinking

Assumptions

a starting point for our thinking and reasoning that often is taken fro granted

Scientific Method

the procedures by which scientists conduct research

What are the basic processes of the scientific method?

observation, prediction, testing, interpretation, communication, and replication (OPTICR)

Case Study

a study design in which a psychologist, often a therapist, observes one person over a long period of time

Naturalistic Observation

a study in which the researcher unobtrusively observes and records behavior in the real world

Correlational Designs

studies that measures two or more variables and their relationship to one another; not designed to show causation

Experiment

a research designed that includes independent and dependent variables and random experiments of participants to control and experimental groups or conditions

Independent Variable

a property that is manipulated by the experimenter under controlled conditions to determine whether it causes the predicted outcome of an experiment

Dependent Variable

in an experiment, the outcome or response to the experimental manipulation

Single-blind Studies

studies in which participants don't know the experimental condition (group) to which they have been assigned

Double-blind Studies

studies in which neither the participants nor the researchers administering the treatment know who has been assigned to the experimental or control group

Longitudinal Design

research that includes observations of the same people over time, ranging from months to decades

Twin-adoption Studies

research into hereditary influences on times, both; identical and fraternal, who were raised apart (adopted) and who were raised together

Meta-analysis

a research technique for combining all research on one question and drawing a conclusion

Brainstem

the midbrain, medulla, and the pons together refers to this section of the brain

Cerebrum

each of the larges halves of the brain; covered with convolutions, or folds

Hindbrain

the oldest brain region; structures regulate breathing, heart rate, arousal, and other basic functions of survival

What are the three main parts of the hindbrain?

medulla, pons, and cerebellum

Medulla

a hindbrain structure that extends directly from the spinal cord; breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure

Cerebellum

a hindbrain structure involved in body movement, balance, coordination, fine-tuning motor skills, and cognitive activities such as learning and language; "little brain"

What can the cerebellum be linked to?

the cognitive activities such as learning and language, and abnormalities in the cerebellum may be linked to cognitive as well as motor abnormalities

What are some cause of damages to hindbrain?

Damage to certain regions from stroke or trauma can cause pathological laughter and crying, which indicates that the cerebellum plays a role in the regulation of mood and emotion

Reflexes

inborn and involuntary behaviors--such as coughing, swallowing, sneezing, or vomiting--are elicited by very specific stimuli

Pons

a hindbrain structure that serve as a bridge between lower brain regions, higher midbrain, and forebrain activity

Midbrain

controls the eye muscles, process auditory and visual formation, and initiate voluntary movement of the body

What is a disease cause by problems in the Midbrain?

Parkinson's Disease--due complications with midbrain functioning, the loss of neurons that use dopamine there. So, people will shake uncontrollably

Reticular Formation

a network of nerve fibers that run up through both the hindbrain and the midbrain; it's crucial to waking up and falling asleep (first word of phrase means "netlike")