Elementary Psych Exam 2

Bottom-Up processing

sensory receptors to integration of sensory information in

the brain

Top-down processing

Information-processing guided by higher-level mental

processes

sensory receptors

Sensory receptors are specialized cells (neuronal or non-neuronal) which detect and respond to specific stimuli from the external environment and/or within the body, converting them into electrical signals for interpretation by the nervous system.

transduction

Receiving light energy and changing it into a

neural process that allows us to see

absolute thresholds

Minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus

difference threshold

Difference between two stimuli required to

perceive the change

weber’s law

the law states that the change in a stimulus that will be just noticeable is a constant ratio of the original stimulus

sensory adaptation

reduced sensitivity in response to

constant stimulation

perceptual set

a mental predisposition or readiness to perceive stimuli in a particular way based on previous experiences, expectations, beliefs, and context.

expectations in top-down processing

happens bc Drawn from our expectations and experiences

wavelength

The distance between any

two consecutive peaks of a wave hue/color

amplitude

The height of the peak of a wave (intensity of color)

rods

supports nighttime

vision

cones

responsible for high-

resolution color vision

fovea

point of central focus

photopigments

transduce light into neural impulses

optic nerve

Carries the neural impulses to the brain

blind spot

This is where the optic nerve leaves the eye

opponent-process theory

The theory that opponent retinal processes

enables color vision

trichromatic theory

The retina contains three colors Red, blue, and green

pathway to occipital cortex

s

feature detector

Nerve cells of the brain that respond to certain

features of stimulus

what pathway

Ventral stream

where pathway

Dorsal stream

depth cues monocular

depth cue available to each eye

separately

depth cues binocular

depth cue that depends on both eyes

proximity

grouping nearby objects

similarity

grouping objects that have the same shape or color

continuity

grouping objects to form a smooth continuous shapes

connectedness

grouping objects that are linked by lines

closure

filling in gaps between objects to form a complete shape

simplicity

grouping objects to form the most familiar symmetrical shape possible

perceptual constancy

an object or its properties (e.g., size, shape, color) appear unchanged despite variations in the stimulus itself or in the external conditions of observation, such as object orientation or level of illumination.

frequency hearing

pitch

amplitude hearing

loudness

outer ear

b

middle ear

u

inner ear

f

frequency theory

the brain uses the frequency of auditory sensory

neuron firing to indicate pitch

sound localization

c

conductive hearing loss

Damage to the eardrum, inability to conduct vibrations to cochlea

sensorineural hearing loss

Nerve deafness, Damage to the cochlea hair receptor cells or the

auditory nerve

touch 4 skin senses

pressure temperature pain vibration

pain biological influences

t

taste adaptive aspect

k

papillae

Papillae are small, raised structures present on the dorsal surface of the tongue. They are covered by a mucous membrane and serve various roles, including housing taste buds and providing texture to the tongue.

taste buds

tsensory organs located on the tongue that allow us to perceive different tastes, including sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami

sensory receptors

y

primitive sense

goes directly to brain areas

epithelium

a type of tissue that covers the outer surfaces of the body, lines internal cavities and organs, and forms glands. It serves various functions including protection, absorption, secretion, and sensation.

sensory receptors

d

olfactory bulb

structure just above the nasal cavity where

information is communicated to the primary olfactory cortex

kinesthesia

System for sensing the

position and movement of individual

body parts

vestibular

Sense of body

movement and position that enables a

sense of balance

embodied cognition

cognitive processes are significantly influenced by bodily experiences and interactions with the environment. This perspective challenges traditional views that see the brain as the sole processor of information, emphasizing that our thoughts and actions are shaped by our physical state and surroundings

id

unconscious energy

ego

mostly conscious makes peace between ego and super ego

superego

internalized ideas

psychoanalytic

attributes thoughts and actions to

unconscious motives and conflicts

sexual drives

y

aggressive drives

f

repression

Retreating to an earlier psychosexual stage,

where some psychic energy remains fixated

rationalization

Offering self-justifying explanations in place of

the real, more threatening unconscious

reasons for one’s actions

reaction formation

Switching unacceptable impulses into their

opposites

denial

Refusing to believe or even perceive painful

realities

rorschach test

projective psychological assessment that uses inkblots to probe the unconscious mind

thematic apperception test

a projective test that involves having people explain what is happening in ambiguous scenes

modern unconscious test

the part of the psyche that is not available to introspection. Although these processes exist beneath the surface of conscious awareness, they are thought to exert an effect on conscious thought processes and behavior.

humanistic

Emphasize positive aspects of human nature, Ways people strive for self-determination and self-realization

self-actualizing tendency

Human motive toward realizing our

inner potential

FLOW

ask

acceptance

to recognizing and acknowledging a situation as it truly exists, even when it cannot be changed

unconditional positive regard

accepting and valuing someone without judgment or conditions.

genuineness

authenticity and sincerity, where a person's actions and communications align with their true feelings and values, fostering trust and deeper connections

empathy

recognize, understand, and share another person’s thoughts and feelings, including through perspective-taking (seeing the world from their point of view) rather than only your own

self-concept

organized system of beliefs, attitudes, and opinions a person holds about themselves, answering "Who am I?" and shaping behavior and mental processes

traits-stable theory

personality traits are relatively stable over time and consistent across different situations. This means that individuals tend to exhibit consistent patterns of behavior, thought, and emotion throughout their lives.

predictive theory

the brain constantly generates and updates mental models to predict sensory input, then compares those predictions to actual input to minimize "prediction errors."

mmpi to assess

standardized psychometric test used to assess adult personality and psychopathology It helps clinicians develop treatment plans, assist with diagnosis, answer legal questions, and screen job candidates

OCEAN (big five factors)

i

person-situation controversy

whether the person or the situation is more influential in determining a person's behavior.

reciprocal determinism (person-environment interaction)

Instead of behavior being caused only by the environment or only by the person, the environment shapes behavior and behavior also helps shape the environment.

assessing behavior in actual situations

n

self-efficacy

explains how belief in one's capabilities influences behavior, resilience, and achievement across education, health, and performance.

narcissism

inflated sense of self-importance along with a persistent need for admiration and a lack of empathy. It can range from normal traits to narcissistic personality disorder, which involves grandiosity, excessive attention-seeking, and impaired functioning that starts by early adulthood

self-serving bias

the tendency of individuals to attribute their successes to their own abilities while blaming external factors for their failures. This cognitive bias helps maintain and enhance self-esteem by skewing self-perception in a favorable direction

individualism

a social and cultural framework that emphasizes the importance of the individual over the group, prioritizing personal goals, autonomy, and self-reliance. This concept contrasts with collectivism, which focuses on group goals and community well-being

collectivism

cultural and social orientation where individuals prioritize group goals, interdependence, and loyalty over personal autonomy, with group harmony and shared identity taking precedence

retina

back of the eye,

contains 2 kinds of

photoreceptor cells: rods and cones

pitch frequency

different pitches arise from stimulation at different

places along the basilar membrane

projection

Disguising one’s own threatening impulses by

attributing them to others

displacement

Shifting sexual or aggressive impulses toward

a more acceptable or less threatening object

or person