PSY100 Midterm Study Guide

These flashcards cover the major concepts and terminology from the PSY100 midterm study guide, providing definitions for key psychological perspectives and methods.

Structuralism

Analyzing the structure of conscious experience into basic elements, such as sensations and feelings.

Functionalism

Focuses on the function of consciousness and why we think and act, influenced by Darwinian principles.

Behaviorism

A perspective that examines observable behavior only, ignoring mental states, and is shaped by conditioning.

Psychoanalysis

A theory that explores unconscious motives and conflicts, likening the mind to an iceberg.

Humanistic Psychology

Emphasizes personal growth, free will, and self-actualization, reacting against behaviorism and psychoanalysis.

Cognitive Psychology

Studies mental processes such as memory, perception, and thinking, often likened to a computer.

Biopsychology/Neuroscience

Examines biological basis of behavior, focusing on genes, neurotransmitters, and brain structures.

Evolutionary Psychology

Analyzes adaptive value of behaviors, influenced by Darwin's theory of natural selection.

Sociocultural Psychology

Studies the influence of society and culture on cognition and behavior.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is manipulated in an experiment to observe its effect.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable that is measured or observed in an experiment.

Control Group

A group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment and is used as a baseline for comparison.

Reliability

The consistency of results in measurements or experiments.

Validity

The accuracy of a measure in assessing what it is intended to measure.

Neuron

The basic unit of the nervous system responsible for transmitting impulses.

Action Potential

A rapid change in electrical potential across a neuron's membrane when it fires.

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Comprises the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and control.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Connects the CNS to the body and consists of somatic and autonomic subdivisions.

Frontal Lobe

Brain area responsible for planning, judgment, and motor control.

Cornea

The transparent front part of the eye that bends light to assist in vision.

Sensation

The process of detecting sensory input.

Perception

The interpretation of sensory input.

Attachment Theory

A framework for understanding the bonds between children and their caregivers.

Theory of Mind

The ability to understand that others have beliefs and intentions that differ from one's own.

Cognitive Development Stages (Piaget)

The stages through which children progress in learning, which include sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational stages.

Gestalt Principles

Rules that describe how we organize visual elements into groups or unified wholes.

Placebo Effect

The improvement experienced by participants who believe they are receiving treatment, even when they are not.