Psych 101

Psychology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Structuralism

conscious experience can be broken down into its underlying components or elements.

Functionalism

emphasized use of stream of consciousness

Nativism

the human mind is created with pre-existing structure and information (NATURE).

Empiricism

-the human mind is shaped by the environment (NURTURE).

What does tabula rasa mean

blank state

Behaviorism

emphasizes the role of environment forces in shaping behavior.

What are the 4 main goals of psychology?

describe ; predict ; explain ; control

Introspection

a method used to examine one's own conscious activities.

Humanistic Psychology

an approach suggesting that human nature is by large positive, and the human direction is toward growth.

Biopsychosocial Perspective

explains behavior through the interaction of biological, psychological and social factors.

biological influences

traits, genetic predisposition, brain mechanisms

Phineas Gage

rod through skull which destroyed frontal lobe, changed his personality

Pseudo-Psychology

an approach to explaining and predicting behavior and events that appears to be psychology, but has no empirical or objective evidence to support it.

Critical Thinking

the process of weighing various pieces of evidence, synthesizing them, and evaluating and determining the contributions of each.

Experiment

a controlled procedure that involved careful examination through the use of scientific observation and/or manipulation of variables (measurable characteristic).

Scientific Method

the process scientists use to conduct research, which include continuing cycle of exploration, critical thinking, and systematic observation.

independent variable

cause or manipulated by experimenter

dependent variable

outcome/ effect, measured by experimenter

Theory

synthesizes observations in order to explain phenomena and guide predictions to be tested through research

experimental research

considered the most powerful tool for determining cause and effect relationships steps

experimental group

group subjected to independent variable

Replicate

to repeat an experiment generally with a new sample and/or other changes to the procedures, the goal of which is to provide further support for the findings of the first study.

Variables

measurable characteristics that can vary over time or across people.

Population

all members of an identified group about which a research is interested.

Sample

a subset of a population chosen for inclusion in an experiment.

Random Sample

a subset of the population chosen through a procedure that ensures all members of the population have an equally likely chance of being selected to participate in the study.

Representative Sample

a subgroup of a population selected so that its members have characteristics that closely reflect those of the population of interest.

Informed Consent

acknowledgement of study participant that they understand what their participation

Debriefing

sharing information with participants after their involvement in a study has ended, including the purpose of the study and deception used in it.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

a committee that reviews research proposals to protect the rights and welfare of all participants.

Descriptive Research

research methods that describe and explore behaviors, although the findings can't definitively state cause-and-effect relationships.

Naturalistic Observation

a type of descriptive research that studies participants in their natural environment through systematic observation

Observer Bias

errors introduced into the recording of observations due to the researcher's value system, expectation or attitude.

Case Study

a type of descriptive research that closely examines one individual or small group.

Survey Method

a type of descriptive research that uses questionnaires of interviews to gather data.

Correlational Method

a type of descriptive research examining the relationships among variables.

Correlation

an association or relationship between two or more variables. Correlation does NOT mean causation need to keep rd variables in mind

Third Variable

an unaccounted for characteristics of participants or environment that explains changes in direction of the relationship between two variables.

Biological Psychology

the branch of psychology on how the brain and other biological systems influence human behavior.

directionality problem

negative correlation between increased rate of schizophrenia and decreased social class

Neuroscience

the study of the brain and nervous system.

Axon

skinny tubelike structure of a neuron that extends from the cell body, and which sends messages to other neurons.

Neurons

the building blocks of the nervous system that transmit electrical and chemical signals in the body. Specialized for taking in info and sending it to other cells

Cell Body

the region of the neuron that includes a nucleus containing DNA, protein-producing mechanisms, and other structure that nourish the cell.

Dendrites

tiny, branchlike fibers extending from the cell body that receive messages from other neurons and send info in the direction of the cell body.

Myelin Sheath

fatty substance that insulates the axon and speed the transmission of neural messages.

Synapse

the tiny gap between terminal bud of one axon and a neighboring dendrite of the next neuron junction between neurons where communication occurs.

Glial Cells

cells that support, nourish, and protect neurons; produce myelin that covers axons. facilitate neural transmission

Nodes of Ranvier

gaps in the myelin sheath ion channels (door in/ out)

Resting Potential

the electrical potential of a cell at rest; the state of a cell when it isn't activated.

neural communication

electrical charge (action potential) travels from dendrite -> cell body-> axon -> terminal buttons electrical-> chemical

Action Potential

the spike in electrical energy that passes through the axon of a neuron, the purpose of which is to convey info.

All-or-None

a neuron either fires or doesn't fire; action potential are always the same strength.

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers neurons use to communicate at the synapse.

Receptor Sites

the location where neurotransmitters attach on the receiving side of the synaptic gap.

Reuptake

process by which neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending terminal bud.

Central Nervous System

a major component of the human nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System

the part of the nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body.

Spinal Cord

the bundle of neurons that allows communication between the brain and the peripheral nervous system, connecting with the body's muscles, glands, and organs.

Sensory Neurons

neurons specialized for receiving information about the environment from the sensory systems and transmitting this info to the brain for further processing.

Motor Neurons

neurons specialized for transmitting info from the central nervous system to other parts of the body, such as muscles and glands.

Interneurons

a type of neuron that resides exclusively in the brain and spinal cord; acts as bridge connecting sensory and motor neurons.

Reflex Arc

an automatic response to a sensory stimulus; a simple pathway of communication from sensory neurons through interneurons in the spinal cord back out through motor neurons.

control group

similar to experimental group except for the independent variable manipulation - untreated

Nerves

bundles of neurons that carry info to and from the CNS; provide communication between the CNS and the muscles, glands, and sensory receptors.

Somatic Nervous System

the branch of the peripheral nervous system that includes sensory nerves and motor nerves; gathers info from sensory receptors and control the skeletal muscles responsible for voluntary movement

Autonomic Nervous System

the branch of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary processes within the body, such as contractions in the digestive tract and activity of glands.

Sympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that mobilized the flight-or-fight response to stressful situations.

Endocrine System

the communication system that uses glands to convey messages by releasing hormones into the bloodstream.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

the division of the autonomic nervous system that orchestrates the rest-and-digest response to bring the body back to a non crisis mode. - reverses actions of sympathetic nervous system

Hormones

chemical messengers released into the bloodstream that influence mood, cognition, appetite, and many other processes and behaviors.

Pituitary Gland

the pea-sized gland located in the center of the brain just under the hypothalamus; secretes hormones that dictate the release of hormones by other glands; known as master gland.

Thyroid Gland

gland of the endocrine system that regulates the rate of metabolism by secreting thyroxin.

Adrenal Gland

part of the endocrine system involved in responses to stress as well as the regulation of salt balance.

Cerebrum

the largest part of the brain, includes virtually all parts of the brain except primitive brainstructures; has two distinct hemispheres.

Corpus Callosum

the thick band of nerve fibers connecting the right and left cerebral hemispheres;

Lateralization

the idea that each cerebral hemisphere processes certain types of information and excels in certain activities.

Split-Brain Operation

-a rare procedure used to disconnect the right and left hemispheres by cutting the corpus callosum.

left hemisphere

language, speech, verbal memory, more analytical (process info bit by bit/ step by step), right hemisphere

Broca's Area

an area of the cortex that is critical for speech production.

Wernicke's Area

a region of the cortex that plays a pivotal role in language comprehension.

Neuroplasticity

the brain's ability to heal, grow new connections, and reorganize in order to adapt to the environment.

Neurogenesis

the generation of new neurons in the brain.

Stem Cells

cells responsible for producing new neurons.

Phrenology

an early approach to explaining the functions of the brain by trying to link the physical structure of the skull with a variety of characteristics.

Cerebral Cortex

the wrinkled outermost layer of the cerebrum, responsible for higher mental functions, such as decision making, planning, and processing visual information.

Parietal Lobes

the area of the cortex that receives and processes sensory information such as touch, pressure, temperature, and spatial orientation.

Frontal Lobes

the area of the cortex that organized information among the other lobes of the brain and is responsible for higher-level cognitive functions and behavior.

contralateral control

left side of brain controls right side of body and vice versa

proportionality principle

• more brain space dedicated to more complex movements

Occipital Lobes

the area of the cortex in the back of the head that processes visual information.

Temporal Lobes

the area of the cortex that processes auditory stimuli and language.

Association Areas

regions of the cortex that integrate information from all over the brain, allowing us to learn, think in abstract terms, and carry out other intellectual tasks.

Motor Cortex

a band of tissue toward the rear of the frontal lobes that works with other brain regions to plan and execute voluntary movement.

Somatosensory Cortex

a band of tissue running parallel to the motor cortex that receives and integrates sensory information from all over the body.

Limbic System

• structures hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

Amygdala

a pair of almond-shaped structures in the limbic system that processes basic emotions, such as fear and aggression as well as associated memories.

Hippocampus

a pair of seahorse-shaped structures located in the limbic system; primarily responsible for creating new memories.

Thalamus

-limbic system processes and relays all sensory information to the appropriate areas of the cortex.