Psychology Unit 1

Vocab

Natural Obervation

To study human or animals behavioral in its natural context in their environments.

Advantage

natural behavior

Disadvantage

subject may change behavior, observer bias

Person v. Situation

Person: Is behavior caused by internal factors (thoughts, emotions, motives, attitudes, values, genes, personality)

Situation: Is behavior caused by external factors (insecurities, environment, other people)

B. F. Skinner

Stressed rewards and punishments, *"It is better to reward desirable behavior than to punish undesirable behavior." "It is quicker administrative punishment." "Our society is based on punishment." "We should learn how to used punishments."

Positive Psych

Study human tolerance, happiness, virtues, philanthropy, wisdom

Diversity v. University

Diversity: Is each person different and like no other person

Unversitality (Similarity): Are all humans alike

PETA

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Hypothesis

"If then" method. A possible explanation of events that will be tested

Jean Proget

Individualistic Culture v. Collectivist Culture

Individualistic: values independence and achievement

Collectivist: Value fitting in with other people

Forensic Psychologists

1. Help police officers to deal with stress

2. Train police officers to deal with crisis situations

Plato

The mind and body are 2 extent elements. The mind lives before birth and after death

Treatment: death by stones

J.M. Cattell

Professor at University of Penn. 1888\= first American to earn the title of Professor of Psych, student of Wundt's

John B. Watson

American, disagreed with Freud, "We should be only concerned with what we can see and measure." *conscious level and the environment

Educational Psychologist

Sigmund Freud

Physician in Vienna, Austria. Late 1886: came up with 2 parts to the Human Mind: 1. Consciousness level- thoughts you are aware of 2. The unconscious level (subconscious)- thoughts you are NOT aware of (hidden wishes, desires, thoughts)

Culture

The values and attitudes, behaviors and beliefs that are passed from one generation to another

Clinical Psych

Counsel and treat people with emotional disturbances: 1. Stress 2. Depression 3. Anxiety

Social Psych

Study of behavior of individuals as members of a group

*How social influences affect individuals

Human Diversity

Study cultural, gender, ethnic, racial differences in thinking and behavior

Edward Tichner

British Professor, Cornell Univ. Studied how molecules and atoms affect behavior. He divided the human consciousness into 3 elements: 1. What we see 2. Feelings 3. Images (these are you memory), student of Wundt's

Margaret Floy Washburn

(1871-1939) Imagery and thought process

-1921: APA President

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Average Human brain has how many cells?

100 billion cells

Two major parts of the Nervous System

1. Central Nervous System: Brain and Spinal Cord

2. Peripheral Nervous System: Autonomic division, Somatic Division, Sympathetic, Parasympathetic

How many layers can the brain be divided into?

3: Central Core, Limbic System, Cerebral Cortex\`

How does information flow within a neuron?

A dendrites role is to pick up incoming messages from other neurons and transmit them to the cell body. The axon is to carry outgoing messages to neighboring neurons or to a muscle or gland. Neurons that collect messages from sense organs and carry those messages to the spinal cord or the brain called sensory (or afferent) neurons. Neurons that carry messages from the spinal cord or brain to the muscles or glands are called motor neurons. Neurons that carry messages from one neuron to another are called interneurons.

What is the "all or none law" for neurons?

Every firing of a particular neuron produces an impulse of the same strength.

What percent of the body's neurons does the Central Nervous System contain?

90%

Tract

also known as nerve, group of axons bundled together

Plasticity

the adaptability of an organism to changes in its environment or differences between its various habitats

Synaptic vesicles

Tiny sacs in a terminal button that releases chemicals into the synapse

Absolute refactory

Fractiousness is the fundamental property of any object of auto wave nature not to respond on stimuli, if the object stays in the specific refactor state

Afferent neurons

Neurons that carry messages from sense organs to the spinal cord or brain

Glial cells

(glia) Cells that insulate and support neurons by holding them together, provide nourishment and retrieve waste products, prevent harmful substances from passing into the brain, and form the myelin sheath

Hypothalamus

Forebrain region that governs motivation and emotional responses

Endorphin

any of a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system and having a number of physiological functions. They are peptides that activate the body's opiate receptions, causing an analgesic effect

Neuron

Individual cells that are the smallest unit of the nervous system

Nerve

Group of axons bundled together

Neurotransmitter

Chemicals released by the synaptic vesicles that travel across the synaptic space and affect adjacent neurons

Terminal button

Structure at the end of an axon terminal branch

Semi-permeable

(of a material or membrane) allowing certain substances to pass through it but not others, especially allowing the passage of a solvent but not of certain solutes

Motor neurons

Neurons that carry messages from the spinal cord or brain to muscles and glands

Cerebellum

Structure in the hindbrain that controls certain reflexes and coordinates the body's movements

Frontal Lobe

Part of the cerebral cortex that is responsible for voluntary movement; it is also important for attention, goat directed behavior, and appropriate emotional experiences.

Neurogensis

The growth of new neurons

Axon

Single long fiber extending from the cell body; it carries outgoing messages

Synaptic knob

Structure at the end of an axon terminal branch

Synaptic cleft

Tiny gap between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrites or cell body of the next neuron

Sensory neurons

Neurons that carry messages from sense organs to the spinal cord or brain

Association neurons

A nerve cell that is within the central nervous system and that links sensory and motor neurons

Cerebral Cortex

The outer surface of the two cerebral hemispheres that regulates most complex behavior

Reticular formation

Network of neurons in the hindbrain, the mid brain, and part of the forebrain, whose primary function is to alert and arouse the higher parts of the brain.

HIndbrain

Area containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum

Dendrite

Short fibers that branch out from the cell body and pick up incoming messages

Neural impulse

the firing of a nerve cell

Myelin Sheath

white fatty covering found on some axons

Myelinated axons

Are found in all parts of the body, known as "white matter"

Thalamus

Forebrain region that relays and translates incoming messages from the sense receptors except those for smell

Dopamine

A neurotransmitter, one of those chemicals that is responsible for transmitting signals in between the nerve cells of the brain

Peripheral nervous system

Division of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body

Cell Body

Also called the soma, is the spherical part of the neuron that contains the nucleus. Connects to the dendrites, which brings information to the neuron, and the axon, which sends information to other neurons

Synapse

Area composed of the axon terminal of one neuron, the synaptic space, and the dendrite or cell body of the next neuron

Ions

Electrically charged particles found both inside and outside of the neuron

Pons

Structure in the midbrain that regulates sleep and wake cycles

Interneurons

Neurons that carry messages from one neuron to another

Midbrain

Region between the hindbrain and forebrain; it is important to hearing and sight, and it is one of several places in the brain where pain is registered

Serotonin

A chemical nerve cells produce. Sends signals between nerve cells. Found mostly in the digestive system, also in blood platelets and throughout the central nervous system. Made from the essential amino acid tryptophan

Medulla

Structure in the hindbrain that controls essential life support functions including breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure

Homosexuality

Attracted to the same sex

Hetrosexuality

Attracted to the opposite sex

Bisexuality

Attracted to both sexes

Nature v. Nuture

Nature: Product of innate in born tendencies, hereditary

Nurture: Are we a product of up bring and experiences (environment)

Case Study Method

Detailed objective description of background focus that influence the organism/subject

Advantage: gather lots of info, quick, cheap

Disadvantage: observer bias

Functionalism

How the human mind functions and helping us adopt to surroundings

Mental processes

Performance of cognitive activity (thinking, memory, remembering)

Ethnicity

People who share common cultural heritage:

- language

- religion

-ancestory

Ka

Consciousness

The belief from the Ancient Egyptians that a little person lived inside of you that controls your behavior.

Treatment: Custodial Care

Carol Gilligan

3 Points to consider: 1. Early studies in Psych were done by men. 2. Gender studies are based on the differences in the sexes *how are we alike. 3. Female psychologists will study different topics than male psychologists

Theory

A systematic set of assumptions used to explain a phenomenon