psych final

introspection

self report of feelings based on stimuli presented to the individual

behaviorism

study of observable behavior without reference to mental processes

psychology

study of behavior and mental processes

hindsight bias

overconfidence in ability to anticipate a result after an event

overconfidence

makes an individual feel better about choices

regression toward the mean

tendency for an extreme to fall back toward the average

double blind procedure

neither participant or experimenter know who has placebo

random assignment

choosing who of the sample receives which treatment; avoids unwanted influence of other factors

neuroplasticity

ability of the brain to reorganize after damage to one region; builds new pathways based on experience

neuron

brain cell that sends and receives information

glial cells

brain cells that support the neurons

axon

arm and ending of the neuron that sends information

dendrite

receives information, close to the cell body

synapse

connection between dendrite and axon

action potential

the change in electrical charge of a neuron to send information

central nervous system (CNS)

the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous systme

sensory and motor neurons; somatic (voluntary) and autonomic (automatic)

sympathetic nervous system

fight or flight

parasympathetic nervous system

rest and digest

reflexes

only involve spinal cord; brain has to make up the signal

PET scan

colors that show brain activity

MRI

shows physical structures

EEG

measures electrical activity

medulla

base of brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing

pons

above medulla; coordinates movement; relays messages between lower and higher brain centers

thalamus

influences multitasking and directs sensory messages to cortex

reticular formation

controls arousal, sensitive in introverts

cerebellum

voluntary movement and life-sustaining functions

limbic system

emotions, memory, drives, controls pituitary

amygdala

fear and emotions

hypothalamus

sleep cycle, hunger and arousal

hippocampus

explicit memories

frontal lobe

personality and motor cortex

parietal lobe

sensory cortex

occipital lobe

vision

temporal lobe

hearing

right hemisphere

drawing

left hemisphere

speech

visual field

crosses over; right hemisphere interprets left visual field (drawing/pointing) and the left hemisphere processed the right visual field (speech)

corpus callosum

connects two brain hemispheres, severing as a treatment for epilepsy

consciousness

awareness of the self and the environment

cognitive neuroscience

brain activity and thinking/memory combined

selective attention

focusing on a particular stimulus

inattentional blindness

failure to see visual objects when paying attention to something else

change blindness

result of inattentional blindness, not noticing a change in the environment

dual processing

both implicit and explicit tracks process info simultaneously

blindsight

response to visual stimuli without conscious awareness

sleep

periodic, natural loss of consciousness

circadian rhythym

internal biological clock to naturally wake and sleep

REM sleep

sleep stage with vivid dreams, memory consolidation

beta waves

awake

alpha waves

awake but relaxed, going toward sleep

delta waves

big peaks, during N3 sleep

length of a sleep cycle

90 minutes

sleep deprivation

losing at least 1 hour of sleep for at least three days

dreaming

storing of memories, processing the day’s information, strengthens neural connections, repair damaged neurons, secretion of growth hormone

suprachiasmic nucleus

decreases melatonin in response to light sensitive proteins to help wake up

insomnia

problems staying/falling asleep

narcolepsy

uncontrollable sleep attacks, can also be accompanied with paralysis (cataplexy)

sleep apnea

stoppage of breathing during sleep, increased snoring

substance use disorder

continued use/ craving of a substance despite disruption to daily living

psychoactive drugs/ hallucinogens

alter perception and mood; THC, LSD and shrooms

depressant

calm neural activity, slow reflexes and decrease pain; alcohol, opiates, barbituites, heroin

stimulant

increase neural activity and reflex sensitivity, can cause impulsive behavior; nicotine, cocaine, ecstasy, meth

temperament

personality traits that are more likely to be inherited

evolutionary psychology

study of evolution and behavior using natural selection

female dating preferences

loyal behavior, social power, ensure offspring survival

male dating preferences

promiscuity increases likelihood of genetic material being passed on, and prefer physical signs of fertility

enriched environment

increased neural connections, more complex brain cells

parental influence on behavior

education, career, cooperation, self discipline, charity, religion, authority

peer influence

learning skills, popularity, music and hobbies, clothing, habits

individualism

values independence and personal ideas, strengths, and goals

collectivism

values interdependence and promote group goals and duties

sex

biologically influenced characteristics but which people define girl/boy

gender

social/cultural behavior and characteristics that are associated with male/female

intersex

male/female characteristics are both present

androgen

hormone that drives sex development and stimulates sex organ development during puberty; testosterone in men and estrogens in women

gender role

expected behaviors for males/females; dependent on culture

gender identity

personal sense of traditional male and female ideas

teratogen

agent that can harm prenatal development

habituation

becoming desensitized to certain stimuli over time

physical infancy development

rapid growth of frontal lobe and neural connections, development of gross motor skills

schema

organizational structure used to interpret an experience; mental molds

assimilation

interpreting an experience in terms of an existing schema/current understanding

accomodation

adapting schemas to new information

sensorimotor stage

birth to 2 years old; stranger anxiety and beginning stages of memory and language; object permanence marks beginning the next stage

pre-operational stage

can use language but cannot logic yet; egocentric; beginning of next stage by developing early theory of mind/ perspective taking

concrete operational

think logically about concrete events, conservation and simple math

formal operational

think abstractly and can reason without having the actual experience

stranger anxiety

fear of strangers, especially in absence of mother of

secure attachment

upset when caregiver leaves but allows soothing from stranger

resistant insecure attachment

abnormally upset/inconsolable when caregiver leaves’ angry when they return

apathetic attachment

does not care when caregiver leaves

basic trust (erikson)

result of secure attachment, form adult relationships

psychosocial model

basic trust, autonomy, initiative, competence, identity,

moral development

preconventional morality: self interest and avoiing punishment, conventional morality: follow rules for social order, postconventional morality: ethics

authoritarian parenting

strict rules and expect full obedience; results in poor self regulation

permissive parenting

few rules and limits, results in bossy children

negligent parenting

uninvolved and careless; results in children with disorders

authoritative parenting

set rules but allow discussion and exceptions; results in healthy children with good social skills