Psych exam 2 vocab

neurons

cell of nervous system that receives and transmits information

dendrites

portion of neurons that receives stimulation

axons

takes messages from dendrites and passes it onto the body

afferent nerves

nerves that extends from brain to every part of body, reports to brain on what the body is feeling or doing

efferent nerves

nerves with super long axons that send impulses and instructions to the body

interneurons

neurons with little to no axons, regulate transmissions between neurons, brain is an interneuron

thalamus

regulates arousal, is found in middle of brain

hypothalamus

secretes hormones to entire body, connected to every other part of brain, located bottom center of brain

hormones

biological chemicals that effects parts of body some distance from where the hormone is produced

amygdala

links perceptions and thoughts with emotional meaning, located near base of the brain, has roles in both negative emotions (anger and fear, anxiety) and positive emotions (social attraction, sexual responsiveness), assesses threats and rewards, has a wide range of traits associated with it

hippocampus

a tube like part of the brain located near the amygdala that plays an important role in memory processes

cortex

the 6 outer layers of the brain

neocortex

outmost layer of the cortex, distinctly humanlike due to appearance,

frontal cortex

front part of cortex, divided into 2 frontal lobes, associated with planning and foresight, because they exist in the neocortex they are important for higher level cognitive function

Mind Body Problem

idea that all aspects of human nature originate from our bodys and brains (like animals)

cingulate

behavioral and emotional inhibition, helps with creating normal emotion by inhibiting some of amygdala’s function

brain damage study

oldest sources of brain studying, by tracking symptoms of specific brain injuries or causing lesions on brains of animals, specific brain diseases can be studyed

brain stimulation study

using electrodes to stimulate the brain uses 2 forms: trans cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tCDS). both stimulate the brain and can cause temp lesions

brain activity and imaging study

measures what the brain is doing while it is doing it through a wide variety of tests mainly testing if the brain is working and what parts of the brain are working

electroencephalography (EEG)

measuring the brain’s electrical activity by putting electrodes on the outside of the scalp

magnetoencephalography (MEG)

measuring the brain’s magnetic activity by putting magnets on the outside of the scalp

positron emission tomography (PET)

A technique for creating images of brain activity by injecting a radioactive tracer into the blood and then, using a scanner, finding where in the brain the blood is being metabolized.

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

A technique for imaging brain activity by using a powerful magnet to help detect blood flow in the brain.

somatic marker hypothesis

the bodily component (somatic) part of emotion is

necessary in decision making

corpus callosum

The thick bundle of nerve fibers connecting the right and left halves of the brain

neurotransmitters

The chemicals that allow one neuron to affect, or communicate with, another

synapse

The space between two neurons across which impulses are carried by neurotransmitters.

central nervous system

brain and spinal cord; norepinephrine and dopamine work exclusively within it; seritonin works within it

peripheral nervous system

The system of nerves running throughout the body, not including the brain and spinal cord; seritonin functions within it

endorphins

The body’s own pain-killing chemicals, which operate by blocking the transmission of pain messages to the brain; inhibit transmission of pain

dopamine

neurotransmitter that turns motivation into action. It plays a key role in mechanisms that allow the brain to control body movements, and it also is involved in systems associated with response to reward and tendencies to approach attractive objects and people

serotonin

A neurotransmitter within the brain that plays an important role in the regulation of emotion and motivation, helps with the inhibition of behavioral impulses; thus it helps with the broad personality category of stability

gonads

The glands, testes in men and ovaries in women, that (among other effects) produce the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen, respectively

neural context effect

important to look at more than one area of the brain to explore complex processes

adrenal cortex

The outer layer of the adrenal gland, atop the kidneys, that secretes several behaviorally important hormones.

epinephrine

A neurotransmitter in the brain and also a hormone that is released by the adrenal gland as part of the body’s response to stress; also called *adrenaline*

norepinephrine

An important neurotransmitter in the brain that is associated with responses to stress; also called *noradrenaline*

plasticity

combination of openess and extraversion, dopamine may be a root of it

oxytocin

A hormone that may have specific effects in women of emotional attachment and calming

testosterone

male sex hormone, an excess can cause agression, in females it is produced in the adrenal cortex

estrogen

female sex hormone

cortisol

A collective term for the glucocorticoid hormones, which are released into the bloodstream by the adrenal cortex as a response to physical or psychological stress. an over abundance of the hormone can cause anxiety, while low levels can cause impulsive thoughts or actions

oxytocin

plays an important role in mother-child bonding, romantic attachment, and sexual response It is of special relevance to females because the chemicals from which it is constructed and the neural receptors that respond to it are closely related to estrogen; it increases during pregnancy and child birth, can reduce fear

allele

A particular variant, or form, of a gene; most genes have two or more alleles

behavioral genetics

examines influence of genetics on broad patterns of behavior

heritability

how well differences in peoples genes account for differences in their traits; measured by comparing people who are different degrees of related (twins vs first cousins); average heritability coefficent is 0.4

molecular genetics

uses molecular bio to determine if differences in traits are correlated with differences in a particular gene

DRD4 gene

gene that is involved with the development of dopamine receptors, it is one of the genes related with sensation seeking, also related to ADHD

5-HTT gene

gene associated with seritonin transport, has a short and long form. Short form measures higher on neuroticism and a higher reaction to stress

Gene-Environment Interactions

environment is the first factor (ex height in malnourished children would be determined by lack of food rather than genetics), the environment same environment can also effect people with genetic differences differently

epigenetics

Non-genetic influences on a gene’s expression, such as stress, nutrition, and so forth, can show how early childhood experiences can impact a gene being expressed or not can help find how genes and environment interact

single-trait approach

The research strategy of focusing on one particular trait of interest and learning as much as possible about its behavioral correlates, developmental antecedents, and life consequences

many-trait approach

The research strategy of focusing on one particular trait of interest and learning as much as possible about its behavioral correlates, developmental antecedents, and life consequences.

essential-trait approach

the research strategy that attempts to narrow traits into the ones that really matter

typological approach

focuses on identifying types of people using a pattern of traits

California Q-Set

A set of 100 descriptive items (e.g., “is critical, skeptical, not easily impressed”) that comprehensively covers the personality domain

lexical hypothesis

The idea that, if people find something is important, they will develop a word for it, and therefore the major personality traits will have synonymous terms in many different languages

psychic determinism

The assumption that everything psychological has a cause that is, in principle, identifiable

id

In psychoanalytic theory, the repository of the drives, the emotions, and the primitive, unconscious part of the mind that wants everything *now*

ego

In psychoanalytic theory, the relatively rational part of the mind that balances the competing claims of the id, the superego, and reality

superego

In psychoanalytic theory, the part of the mind that consists of the conscience and the individual’s system of internalized rules of conduct, or morality

compromise formation

The ego compromising among the different structures of the mind and what the individual wants; the resulting compromise is what the person thinks and does

libido

drive towards creation,nurturing, and enhancement of life (can include but not neccesarily is sex) or the energy of the drive (also called psychic energy)

Thanatos

In psychoanalytic theory, another term for the drive toward death, destruction, and decay

doctrine of opposites

In psychoanalytic theory, the idea that everything implies or contains its opposite

oral stage

the stage of psychosexual development, from birth to about 18 months of age, during which the physical focus of the libido is located in the mouth, lips, and tongue; related to the id;if surpassed the child learns dependance and passivity if not surpassed the adult becomes dependent or overly independent

anal stage

In psychoanalytic theory, the stage of psychosexual development, from about 18 months to 3 or 4 years of age, in which the physical focus of the libido is located in the anus and associated eliminative organs; related to the ego; if surpassed the child learns obediance and self contol; if failed the adult becomes Obedient and obsessed with order, or anti-authority and chaotic

phallic stage

In psychoanalytic theory, the stage of psychosexual development from about 4 to 7 years of age in which the physical focus of the libido is the penis (for boys) and its absence (for girls); related to the superego; if passed the person learns about gender and sexuality; if failed the person will be over or under sexualized

identification

In psychoanalytic theory, taking on the values and worldview of another person (e.g., a parent)

genital stage

In psychoanalytic theory, the final stage of psychosexual development, in which the physical focus of the libido is on the genitals, with an emphasis on heterosexual relationships. The stage begins at about puberty, but is only fully attained when and if the individual achieves psychological maturity; when attained the id, ego, and superego are well balanced; when achieved a mature adult is attained but this rarely happens

mental health

According to Freud’s definition, the ability to both love and work

fixation

In psychoanalytic theory, leaving a disproportionate share of one’s libido behind at an earlier stage of development

regression

retreating to an earlier, more immature stage of psychosexual development, usually because of stress but sometimes in the service of play and creativity

secondary process thinking

In psychoanalytic theory, the term for rational and conscious processes of ordinary thought

primary process thinking

In psychoanalytic theory, the term for the strange and primitive style of unconscious thinking manifested by the id

condensation

In psychoanalytic theory, the method of primary process thinking in which several ideas are compressed into one

symbolization

the process of primary process thinking in which one thing stands for another

conscious mind

The part of the mind’s activities in which one is aware

preconscious

thoughts and ideas that exist just out of mind but can be recalled easily

unconscious

areas and processes of the mind in which a person is unaware

parapraxis

An unintentional utterance or action caused by a leakage from the unconscious parts of the mind; also called *Freudian slip*

defense mechanisms

the mechanisms of the ego that serve to protect an individual from experiencing anxiety produced by conflicts with the id, superego, or reality.

denial

the defense mechanism that allows the mind to deny that a current source of anxiety exists.

repression

the defense mechanism that banishes the past from current awareness

reaction formation

the defense mechanism that keeps an anxiety producing impulse at bay by producing its opposite

projection

the defense mechanism of attributing someone else a thought one fears of themselves

rationalization

the defense mechanism that produces a logical rational for an impulse that would otherwise cause anxiety

intellectualization

the defense mechanism where anxiety indusing thoughts are translated into anaylitical talk

displacement

the defense mechanism that redirects an impulse from a dangerous target to a safe one

sublimation

the defense mechanism that turns dangerous impulses to constructive means

transference

the tendency to bring ways of thinking, feeling, and behavior that developed toward one important person into later relationships with different persons

neo-Freudian psychology

A general term for the psychoanalytically oriented work of many theorists and researchers who are influenced by Freud’s theory

ego psychology

The modern school of psychoanalytic thought that believes the most important aspect of mental functioning is the way the ego mediates between, and formulates compromises among, the impulses of the id and the superego

organ inferiority

In Adler’s version of psychoanalysis, the idea that people are motivated to succeed in adulthood in order to compensate for whatever they felt, in childhood, was their weakest aspect

masculine protest

In Adler’s version of psychoanalysis, the idea that a particular urge in adulthood is an attempt to compensate for one’s powerlessness felt in childhood

collective unconscious

In Jung’s version of psychoanalysis, the proposition that all people share certain unconscious ideas because of the history of the human species

archetypes

In Jung’s version of psychoanalysis, the fundamental images of people that are contained in the collective unconscious, including (among others) “the earth mother,” “the hero,” “the devil,” and “the supreme being.”

persona

In Jung’s version of psychoanalysis, the social mask one wears in public dealings

anima

In Jung’s version of psychoanalysis, the idea of the typical female as held in the mind of a male

animus

In Jung’s version of psychoanalysis, the idea of the typical male as held in the mind of a female