PYSCH EXAM 1

psychology

scientific study of behavior and mental processes

goals of psychology

Describe, predict, explain, control, change

Structuralism: Master of

Edward B. Titchener

Functionalism: Master of

William James

Psychoanalyses: Master of

Sigmund Freud

Behaviorism: Master of

Ivan Pavlov

Humanistic: Master of

Carl Rogers

Robert V. Guthrie

Highlighted important contributions and significant obstacles faced by early Black American psychologists

Pauline Scarborough

Championed inclusion of women in story of U.S. psychology: documented (with Laurel Furumoto) lives of first 25 female psychologists in the United States

Stanley Hall

Established the first psychological lab in the United States at John Hopkins; founded the American Psychological Association (APA)

Mary Calkins

Denied earned Ph.D. in psychology from
Harvard
Researched dreams, memory, and
personality
First female-elected president of the
American Psychological Association

Margaret Washburn

Was the first American woman to earn an
official Ph.D. in psychology in the United
States
Pursued scientific study of mental
processes of different animal species (The
Animal Mind, 1908)

Francis Sumner

Was the first Black American to receive a
Ph.D. in psychology, awarded by Clark
University in 1920

Mamie Clark & Kenneth Clark

Collaborated on research on negative
effects of racial discrimination; M.P.
Clark’s leadership in this research
overlooked
Were instrumental in U.S. Supreme
Court 1954 landmark decision to end
school segregation
Founded Northside Center for
Childhood Development in Harlem, NYC

specialty areas in psychology

Clinical or counseling psychologists are trained in the diagnosis, treatment, causes, and
prevention of psychological disorders; Ph.D. or Psy.D. degrees not typical for most of the
world (M.S.).

scientific method: Step 1

Formulate a Testable Hypothesis

scientific method: Step 2

Design the Study and Collect the Data

scientific method: Step 3

Analyze the Data and Draw Conclusions

scientific method: Step 4

Report the Findings

correlation studies

examines how strongly two variables are related to, or associated with, each other

experimental research

Method of investigation used to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships by purposely manipulating one factor thought to produce change in another factor.

Independent variables

factor that is purposely manipulated to produce change in an
experiment (predictor variable)

Dependent variable

factor that is observed and measured for change in an
experiment (outcome variable)

neuroscience

scientific study of the nervous system, especially the brain

neuron

highly specialized cell that communicates information in electrical and chemical form; a nerve cell

3 types of neurons

Sensory, Motor, Interneuron

the 3 parts of a neuron

Dendrite, cell body, axon

glial cells

Provide structural and functional support for
neurons throughout the nervous system—different kinds and specialized functions

3 type of glial cells

Oligodendrocytes (form myelin sheath), Microglia (do brain’s “clean-up” work), Astrocytes (are the most common glial cells;
structural support;)

Action potential: stage 1

Resting potential

Action potential: stage 2

Stimulus Threshold

Action potential: stage 3

Depolarization

Action potential: stage 4

Repolarization

Action potential: stage 5

Refractory Period and then back to stage 1

Neurotransmitter: Acetylcholine

Learning, memory
Muscle contractions

Neurotransmitter: Dopamine

Movement
Attention
Reward and reinforcement

Neurotransmitter: Serotonin

Emotional states
Sleep
Sensory perception

Neurotransmitter: Norepinephrine

Physical arousal
Learning, memory
Regulation of sleep

Neurotransmitter: Glutamate

Primary excitatory messages
Movement and conscious thought
Learning and memory

Neurotransmitter: GABA

Primary inhibitory messages
Sleep and memory

Neurotransmitter: Endorphins

Pain perception
Positive emotions

Somatic nervous system

communicates sensory information to CNS and motor messages from CNS to muscles

Autonomic nervous system

regulates involuntary functions regulated by the sympathetic (energy expended) and parasympathetic (energy conserved) nervous systems

Hypothalamus

controls the pituitary gland; links nervous system and endocrine system

Pituitary gland

regulates activities of several other glands; produces growth hormone, prolactin, and oxytocin

Adrenal gland

produce epinephrine(adrenaline) and norepinephrine; involved in stress and fight-or-flight response.

Functional Plasticity

brain’s ability to shift functions from damaged to undamaged brain areas

Structural plasticity

brain’s ability to change its physical structure in response to learning, active practice, or environmental influences

Forebrain

Includes largest and most complex brain region, which contains centers for complex behaviors and mental processes

Midbrain

important relay station that contains centers involved in the processing of auditory and visual sensory information; sights and sounds

Hindbrain

connects the spinal cord with the rest of the brain; Medulla, Pons, Cerebellum

the major brain structures that make up the limbic system and their function

Hippocampus, Thalamus (Processes sensory information (except smell)), Hypothalamus (Helps pituitary gland and regulates both autonomic nervous divisions), Amygdala (Involved in variety of emotional responses)

Occipital lobe

area at back of each cerebral hemisphere that is primary receiving area for visual information

Parietal lobe

area on each hemisphere of cerebral cortex, located above temporal lobe, that processes body’s sensations

Temporal lobe

area on each hemisphere of cerebral cortex, near the temples, that is primary receiving area for auditory information

Frontal lobe

largest lobe of each cerebral hemisphere; processes voluntary muscle movements

Aphasia

partial or complete inability to articulate ideas or understand spoken or written language because of brain injury or damage

Broca’s aphasia & area

Broca provided evidence for cortical localization when treating a patient who comprehended but could not
produce language(lower left frontal lobe damage)

Wernicke’s aphasia & area

Wernicke discovered that damage in another area in the left hemisphere affected spoken and written communication. (Left temporal lobe damage)

sensation

process of detecting a physical stimulus, such as light, sound, heat, or pressure

perception

process of integrating, organizing, and interpreting sensations

sensory adaptation

gradual decline in sensitivity to a constant stimulus

the path of light in the eye

Retina>Rods>Cones>Fovea>Blind spot

the trichromatic theory of color

proposed sensation of color results because cones are especially sensitive to red light (long wavelengths), green light (medium wavelengths), or blue light (short wavelengths)

Opponent-process theory of color vision

proposed color vision is the product of opposing pairs of color receptors (red–green, blue–yellow, and black–white) when one member of a pair is stimulated, the other is inhibited

Hearing sense stimuli

Audition, Soundwaves

the path of sound in the ear

outer ear, amplified in the middle ear, and transduced, or
transformed into neural messages, in the inner ear

consciousness

Personal awareness of mental activities, internal sensations, and the external environment

characteristics of attention

– Limited capacity and focus on information most relevant to goals
– Selective; cocktail party effect
– “Blind”
• Misdirection
• Inattentional blindness
• Change blindness

environmental cue and biological cues associated with your circadian rhythm

Bright light, especially sunlight, helps
regulate the sleep–wake cycle and other
circadian rhythms.
– Decreasing lights detected by
hypothalamus and increase in melatonin
(pineal gland) is triggered.
– Bright light suppresses melatonin
production.

REM (rapid eye movement) sleep

Sleep during which rapid eye movements (REM) and dreaming usually occur and voluntary muscle activity is suppressed

NREM (non-rapid-eye-movement) sleep

– Quiet, sleep; typically dreamless sleep in which rapid eye movements are absent
– Sleep divided into three stages

Beta brain waves

brain-wave pattern associated with alert wakefulness

Alpha brain waves

brain-wave pattern associated with relaxed wakefulness and drowsiness

Stages of sleep: Stage 1 NREM Sleep

Mixture of alpha and theta brain waves

Stages of sleep: Stage 2 NREM Sleep

Sleep spindles, K complexes, theta brain waves, and beginnings of delta waves

Stages of sleep: Stage 3 NREM Sleep

Delta brain waves

Activation–Synthesis Model

– Sleep brain activity produces a dream story (synthesis).
– Dreaming is due to automatic activation of brainstem circuits.
– Circuits arouse more sophisticated brain areas that generate
and impose meaning on sensory signals.

Sigmund Freud

– Sexual and aggressive thoughts, feelings, and
wishes repressed and surface in dream imagery
– Components of dreams
• Manifest content
• Latent content
– Not substantiated by psychological research

Neurocognitive model of dreaming

– Emphasizes continuity of waking and dreaming is
emphasized
– Posits dreams reflect interests, personality, and
individual worries
– Notes dreams mirror waking concerns, and do so
in a way that is remarkably similar to normal
thought processes

Insomnia

– Involves regular inability to fall asleep, to stay asleep,
or to feel adequately rested by sleep
– Produces daytime sleepiness, fatigue, impaired social
or occupational performance, or mood disturbances

Obstructive sleep apnea

– Person repeatedly stops breathing during sleep, resulting in daytime grogginess, poor concentration,
memory and learning problems, irritability
– Treatment may include lifestyle changes, CPAP

Narcolepsy

– Excessive daytime sleepiness and brief lapses into sleep throughout the day (sleep attacks)
• Sudden loss of voluntary muscle control; triggered by strong emotions or laughter; lasts several seconds to several
minutes

Parasomnia

– Undesired arousal or actions during sleep or sleep
transitions
– Lack of conscious awareness; amnesia

drug tolerance

physiological phenomenon where the body's response to a drug diminishes over time, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.

physical dependence

Has numerous adverse health problems, injuries, accidents, violence

– Drug tolerance
– Withdrawal symptoms
– Drug rebound effect