Year 11 Psychology FA4 Exam Revision Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering Year 11 Psychology topics including Brain Function, Neuroimaging, Research Methods, Diagnostic Systems, Normality, and Psychological Disorders.

Dualism

The philosophical view in the mind vs. body debate asserting that the mind and physical body are distinct and separate entities.

Monism

The philosophical position in the mind vs. body debate stating that the mind and body are part of the same unified entity, where mental states are products of brain activity.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain responsible for higher-order cognitive functions, reasoning, conscious thought, memory, and voluntary muscle movements.

Cerebellum

The brain structure situated at the base of the brain responsible for coordinating voluntary movement, balance, posture, and motor learning.

Brainstem

The region connecting the brain to the spinal cord that controls autonomic, life-sustaining functions such as heart rate, breathing, and sleep-wake cycles.

Central Nervous System

The division of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing sensory input and coordinating body activities.

Peripheral Nervous System

The network of nerves outside the central nervous system that transmits sensory signals to the CNS and motor commands from the CNS to the body.

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that carry incoming sensory signals from sensory receptors inward to the central nervous system.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that transmit outgoing signals from the central nervous system to muscles and glands to execute movements and responses.

Interneurons

Neurons located entirely within the central nervous system that act as conduits to process and relay information between sensory and motor neurons.

Synapse

The microscopic junction between neurons across which neural messages are transmitted via neurotransmitters or electrical impulses.

fMRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging; a neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting associated changes in blood flow and oxygenation.

PET

Positron Emission Tomography; a neuroimaging method that uses radioactive tracers to visualize metabolic and functional activity in brain tissue.

EEG

Electroencephalography; a technique that records the electrical activity of the brain using electrodes attached to the scalp.

Independent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is systematically manipulated or altered by the researcher to evaluate its effect.

Dependent Variable

The variable in an experiment that is measured to determine the impact or effect of changes in the independent variable.

Causation vs. Association

The distinction where association refers to a statistical connection between variables, while causation establishes that changes in one variable directly cause changes in another.

Correlational Research

A non-experimental research method that measures the mathematical association between two or more variables without direct experimental manipulation.

$R$ Value

The correlation coefficient, measuring the direction and strength of a linear relationship between two variables on a scale from $-1$ to $+1$.

$R^2$ Value

The coefficient of determination, indicating the proportion of variance in one variable that can be explained by its relationship with another variable.

Standard Deviation

A statistical measure of dispersion or spread indicating how much scores vary around the mean of a data set.

Confidence Intervals

A range of values, calculated from sample data, that is likely to contain the true population parameter with a specified degree of certainty.

$p$ Value

A probability metric used in hypothesis testing where a value of $p < 0.05$ indicates statistical significance, suggesting results are unlikely due to chance.

Selective Attention

The cognitive capability to focus on a specific stimulus or task while filtering out competing external or internal distractions.

Divided Attention

The cognitive ability to distribute attention across multiple tasks or sources of information simultaneously.

Cognitive Load

The total amount of mental demand and working memory capacity required to perform a task or process information.

DSM-5

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition); a categorical diagnostic classification standard developed by the American Psychiatric Association.

ICD-11

International Classification of Diseases (11th Revision); a global diagnostic tool produced by the World Health Organization for clinical, diagnostic, and epidemiological purposes.

Reliability of Diagnosis

The consistency of diagnostic outcomes, ensuring different clinicians using the same system arrive at identical diagnoses for the same symptoms.

Validity of Diagnosis

The accuracy of a diagnostic classification in correctly identifying real, distinct mental disorders and predicting clinical outcomes.

Predictive Validity

The extent to which a diagnosis can accurately forecast the future progression, course of illness, and treatment response of a patient.

Construct Validity

The degree to which diagnostic criteria accurately reflect and measure the theoretical framework of the mental disorder being diagnosed.

Cultural Bias in Diagnosis

A diagnostic limitation where psychological tools or criteria reflect Western norms, leading to misdiagnosis or misinterpretation of culturally varied symptoms.

Symptom Overlap

A diagnostic challenge where different mental disorders share common symptoms, making differential diagnosis difficult.

Rosenhan Experiment

A landmark study investigating psychiatric diagnosis where healthy pseudo-patients gained admission to psychiatric hospitals, highlighting issues with diagnostic validity and labeling.

Statistical Approach to Normality

Defining normality based on statistical frequency, where behaviors that occur rarely in a population are categorized as abnormal.

Functional Approach to Normality

Defining normality by an individual's ability to adapt and fulfill everyday functional roles, tasks, and personal responsibilities.

Historical Approach to Normality

Defining normality according to the period or era in history in which a behavior takes place.

Situational Approach to Normality

Defining normality based on the social setting, context, or situation in which the behavior is displayed.

Medical Approach to Normality

Defining psychological abnormality as a biological illness or disease state requiring clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Sociocultural Approach to Normality

Defining normality based on the accepted standards, values, and social norms of a specific society or culture.

Major Depressive Disorder

A psychological disorder marked by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, and low mood.

Schizophrenia

A severe psychological disorder characterized by disruptions in thought processes, perception, sensory experience (hallucinations), and beliefs (delusions).

The 4 P's Framework

A model used in mental health to conceptualize disorder development, consisting of Predisposing, Precipitating, Perpetuating, and Protective factors.

Predisposing Risk Factors

Factors that increase a person's vulnerability to developing a mental health condition, such as genetic factors or historical trauma.

Precipitating Risk Factors

Immediate triggers or events, such as acute stress or loss, that prompt the onset of a psychological disorder.

Perpetuating Risk Factors

Factors that prolong or maintain an existing psychological disorder and hinder recovery, such as unmanaged stress or social isolation.

Protective Factors

Positive conditions or assets, such as strong social networks and effective coping skills, that shield against mental health problems.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

ECT; a biological treatment for severe psychiatric disorders that delivers electrical currents to the brain under medical supervision to induce controlled seizures.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT; a psychological therapy aimed at identifying and changing negative or unhelpful thought patterns and maladaptive behaviors.

Psychodynamic Therapy

A psychological approach focusing on uncovering unconscious thoughts, underlying conflicts, and early childhood experiences to address psychological distress.

Social Interventions

Treatments focusing on environmental factors, such as community support groups, peer networks, and social rehabilitation programs.

Experimental Research Design

A study design where researchers manipulate an independent variable under controlled conditions to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Observational Research Design

A study design where researchers observe and systematically record behavior in a natural or controlled setting without variable manipulation.

Repeated Measures Design

An experimental research structure in which the same participants take part in every condition of the independent variable.

Independent Groups Design

An experimental research design where different participants are allocated to separate conditions or treatment levels.

Informed Consent

An ethical process in which participants are fully educated about the purpose, risks, and procedures of a study before voluntarily agreeing to participate.

Confidentiality

The ethical requirement to protect participant privacy by keeping all collected personal and research data confidential.

Withdrawal Rights

The ethical right of participants to pull out of a psychological study or withdraw their data at any time without negative consequences.

Deception in Research

The ethical practice of intentionally withholding complete research details when disclosure would alter participant behavior, requiring debriefing afterwards.

Continuum of Arousal

The spectrum of states of consciousness ranging from high alertness and active waking states to altered states, relaxation, and deep sleep.

Sympathetic Nervous System

A branch of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for action during stressful or emergency situations via the fight-or-flight response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

A branch of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body and conserves energy by promoting the rest-and-digest response after a stressor passes.