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Psychology

The scientific discipline concerned with behavior and mental processes influenced by physical state, mental state, and external environment.

Empiricism

The philosophical belief that knowledge comes through experience.

Determinism

The belief that all events are governed by lawful, cause-and-effect relationships.

Confirmation bias

The tendency to seek information confirming one's beliefs and ignore contradictory evidence.

Zeitgeist

The general set of beliefs of a culture at a specific time in history.

Materialism

The belief that humans are composed solely of physical matter.

Psychoanalysis

Theory by Sigmund Freud emphasizing unconscious causes of psychological problems.

Classical Conditioning

Associates an involuntary response with a stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

Associates a voluntary behavior with consequences.

Behaviorism

Study of behavior with minimal reference to mental events.

Pillars of Modern Psychology

Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, Social and Personality, Mental and Physical Health.

Theory

An organized system explaining phenomena and their relationships.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about observable processes.

Validity

Accuracy in the measurement process, including content and criterion validity.

Operational Definition

Specifies how to observe and measure a variable in a hypothesis.

Case Studies

Detailed descriptions of individuals being studied or treated.

Observational Studies

Systematic measurement and recording of behavior.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing behavior in natural environments.

Laboratory Observation

Controlled observation in a lab setting.

Psychological Tests

Tools like projective tests, personality tests, and achievement tests.

Surveys

Questionnaires or interviews to gather opinions or attitudes.

Correlational Research

Measuring the association between two variables.

Experimental Research

Involves experimental and control groups to determine causation.

Descriptive Statistics

Techniques to organize, summarize, and interpret data.

Standard Deviation

Measure of variability around the mean in a distribution.

Inferential Statistics

Used to assess differences or relationships in data rigorously.

Natural Selection

Evolutionary process where adaptive traits lead to survival and reproduction.

Sociobiology

Field emphasizing evolutionary explanations of social behavior.

Heritability

Estimate of the proportion of variance in a trait due to genetic differences.

Nervous System

Gathers and processes information, produces responses, and coordinates cell functions.

Cell Body/Soma

Part of the neuron that houses the nucleus and stores the DNA.

Axon

Transports electrochemical information from the cell body to the end of the neuron.

Axon Hillock/Nodes of Ranvier

Area where action potential is initiated and propagated along the axon.

Myelin Sheath

Insulating layer around axons that speeds up transmission of electrical impulses.

Glial cells

Support cells for neurons, including Microglia, Oligodendrocytes, and Astrocytes.

Sensory Neuron

Gathers information from inside and outside the body.

Interneuron

Receives information from sensory neurons and makes decisions.

Motor Neuron

Responds to stimulation from sensory neurons.

Excitatory neurotransmitters

Increase the likelihood of an action potential.

Inhibitory neurotransmitters

Decrease the likelihood of an action potential.

Lesion Method

Removal or disabling of brain structures in non-human animals for research purposes.

Reticular Activating System (RAS)

Screens incoming information and maintains alertness.

Cerebellum

Contributes to balance, muscle coordination, cognitive, and emotional learning.

Amygdala

Evaluates sensory information and influences approach or withdrawal decisions.

Hippocampus

Key brain structure for forming new memories.

Cerebral Cortex

Thin layers covering the cerebrum responsible for higher mental functions.

Broca's Area

Brain region for speech production.

Wernicke's Area

Brain region for language comprehension.

Split Brain Patients

Condition where the two brain hemispheres are disconnected.

Culture

Shared rules, values, and communication systems governing a community's behavior.

Cultural Neuroscience

Study of how neural and cultural forces shape behavior and cognition.