AP PSYCH Units 1-2 Final Exam

Expirementation

Investigator manipulates one or more factors (I.V) to observe effect of mental processes (D.V)

-Infer cause + effect

I.V

Factor being manipulated

D.V

Outcome factor: Variable that can change based on response to I.V

Confounding Variable

Another factor besides I.V that can affect results of the expirement

Expiremental Group

Exposed to one version of I.V

Contorl Group

Not exposed to variable

Random Assignment

Randomly assigned to EG or CG

Placebo Effect

Given a “fake” treatment & still having a reaction

Double-Blind Procedure

Both the participants + investigators are blind about whether the participants got the placebo or treatment

Validity

Experiment does what its supposed to

Naturalistic Obv

Record behavior in natural setting with any interfering

Survey

Look at many cases in less depth; representative random sample

Correlational Studies

Correlation is the measure of the extent to which 2 variables change together (DO NOT INFER CAUSE & EFFECT); detect naturally occoruing relationships

Correlation Coefficient

Relationship between 2 variables; Positive: 2 sets of variables rise/fall together Negative: 1 variable goes down, other goes up

Scatter Plots

Cluster of dots that reveal patterns of correlation between 2 variables

Illusory Causation

Perception of a relationship, where none exists

Case Studies

Examines one individual or group in depth trying to reveal things that are universal about a population

Operational Def

Should allow for the original theory to be replicated with new participants or materials

Mean

Mathematical average scores (7+3=10/2=5)

Mode

Most occuring score

Median

Middle scores in a group of data

Standard Deviation

How much scores vary around the mean score

BioPsychoSocial

Biological, Psychological & Social-Cultural systems can impact someone’s behavior or mental processes

Behavioral Psych

How we learn observable responses

Biological Psych

How the body and brain enable emotions & memories & sensory experiences

Cognitive Psych

how we encode, process, store & retrieve info

Evolutionary psych

How natural selection of traits promotes survival of genes

Humanistic Psych

How we achieve personal growth & self-fulfillment

Psychodynamic

How behavior springs from unconscious thoughts & childhood experiences and how to use this to treat psychological perspectives

Social-Cultural

How situations & culture affect our behavior and thinking

Neurons

Building blocks for our bodys info system (N.S)

Soma

Contains genetic info, maintains neuron structure + provides energy

Dendrites

Receive & process signals from axons of other neurons

Axon

Joins the body at axon hillock

Myelin Sheath

Insulates some axons & speeds up their impulses

Nervous System

CNS & PNS

CNS

Brain & Spinal Cord

PNS

Sensory & motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body + transit info

Made up of Somatic & Autonomic Nervous Systems

Somatic N.S

Controls skeletal muscles; voluntary

Autonomic N.S

Controls glands & muscles of internal organs; involuntary

Made up of Sympathetic & Parasympathetic N.S

Sympathetic N.S

Arouses body in stressful situations

Parasympathetic N.S

Calms body & conserves energy

Sensory Neurons

Allow us to perceive & respond to various stimuli from our env & within our bodies (afferent neuron)

Motor Neurons

Play a role in movement; voluntary & involuntary (efferent neuron)

Interneurons

Pass signals from sensory neurons + other interneurons to motor neurons + other interneurons

Reflex Arc

Pathway that allows for the reflex action to occur quickly, without the need for conscious thoughts/decision making

Brainstem “hindbrain”

Where nerves from each opposite side of the brain connect with the body’s opposite side; controls heartbeat & breathing

-includes medulla

Consists of: Thalamus + Cerebellum

Thalamus

Brains sensory control center BESIDES for smell

-sensory info passes through here

Cerebellum

Processes sensory input, coordinates movement & balance & enables nonverbal learning & memory

Limbic System “Mid Brain”

Associated with emotion & drives

Consists of: Amygdala, Hippocampus, Hypothalamus

Amygdala

Linked to emotion; agression & fear

Hypothalamus

Monitors state of body to keep it regulated; linked to emotion & reward

-Controlled by pituitary gland; to release hormones

Hippocampus

Processes conscious memories

Cerebrum “Forebrain”

Made up of : Cerebral Cortex, 4 Lobes

Cerebral Cortex

Ultimate control & information processing center

Frontal Lobe

involved in speaking, muscle movement, making plans & judgements

Parietal Lobe

Involved in recieveing sensory input for touch & body position

Occipital Lobe

Recieving info from vision fields

Temporal Lobe

Receiving auditory info from opposite ear; hearing

Hypnosis

Extreme self focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli

-Subject responds to another persons (Hypnotists) suggestions that certain perceptions, feelings and behaviors will spontaneously occur

Posthypnotatic Suggestion

A suggestion made during a hypnosis session, to be carried out after session is over

Depressants

Calm neural activity & slow body functions

ex: Larger doses of alcohol can cause slow reactions & slurred speech

Stimulants

Excite neural functions & speed up body functions

ex: Caffeine causes alertness & wakefulness, high doses can cause anxiety

Hallucinogens

Distort perception & evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input

ex: Marijuana amplifies sensitivity to colors, sounds, tastes & smells