GRE Psychology

Classical conditioning; Associations between stimuli and learned behaviors

Ivan Pavlov

Natural trigger (Food, Candy)

Unconditioned stimulus

Natural response to stimuli (Salvation)

Unconditioned response

Neutral stimulus now triggers a response (Bell)

Conditioned stimulus

Learned response to the conditioned stimulus (bell = salvation)

Conditioned response

Initial learning of the association

Acquisition

Reduction of the conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented alone

Extinction

Random reappearance of a conditioned response after extinction

Spontaneous recovery

Big picture concepts first, then analyze details

Relational learners

Step by step problem solving before seeing relationships

Analytical learners

How dose applying learning styles help learning?

Enhances study strategies

Minimum stimulus intensity dectected 50% of the time

Absolute threshold

Focuses on the biological underpinnings of thought processes

Cognitive neuroscience

Memory formation

Hippocampus

Decision making and reasoning

Prefrontal cortex

Emotional Processing

Amygdala

Difficulty falling or staying asleep

Insomnia

Uncontrollable REM sleep attacks

Narcolepsy

Airway blockage while sleeping

Sleep apnea

Emotions arise from bodily reactions

James-Lange Theory

Emotions and bodily sensations happen together

Cannon-Bard Theory

Emotions are based on bodily sensation and cognitive labeling

Schachter Singer Two Factor Theory

Fear processing center

Amygdala

Triggered by the sympathetic nervous system

Fight or Flight Response

Irrational fears of specific stimuli, treated using exposure therapy

Phobia

Initial shock responce

Alarm

Body adapts to stressor

Resistance

Depleted resources lead to burnout

Exhaustion

Stress hormone released by adrenal glands

Cortisol

Theorized how thinking evolves over childhood

Jean Piaget

Object permanence develops

Sensorimotor (0-2)

Egocentric thinking, no conservation

Preoperational (2-7)

Logical reasoning develops

Concrete operational (7-11)

Abstract thinking emerges

Formal operational (12+)

Psychoanalytic approach to development; inspired by Freud

Erickson’s Theory

Learning to trust caregivers

Trust vs Mistrust (Infancy)

Developing a sense of self

Identity vs role confusion

Contributing to society

Generativity vs stagnation

who must uphold student confidentiality, fairness and inclusivity?

Teachers

Educators must report suspected child abuse or neglect aka?

Mandated reporter

What is linked to higher academic success?

Parental involvement

what impacts educational access, stress and nutrition?

Lower SES

Founder of structuralism and first psychology lab

Wilhelm Wundt

Developed Functionalism, which focuses on behaviors purpose

William James

Studied operant conditioning aka behaviorism daddy

B.F. Skinner

Establishes causation for a claim

Experimental Research

Establishes a relationship between two things but is not a causation

Correlational research

In depth analysis of a single individual

Case study

Manipulated factor in an experiment

Independent Variable

Measured factor in an experiment

Dependent variable

Uncontrolled factors that skew results

Confound

Developed a theory for the development of moral reasoning

Kohlberg’s stages of moral reasoning

Morality based on punishment/reward

Preconventional

Social norms and rules guide behavior

Conventional

Morality based on ethical principles

Postconventional

Used to diagnose psychological disorders

DSM-5

Global classification of diseases and mental disorders

ICD-10

Example of a descriptive scientific question

How many college students experience test anxiety?

Example of a correlational scientific question

Dose social media use correlated with depression

Example of a experimental scientific question

Dose caffeine improve memory call