Psyc 101 Dual Enrollment Final Exam Topics List

Flashcards for Psyc 101 Dual Enrollment Final Exam Topics

Goals of psychology

The aims or purposes of psychological study and practice.

Describe,explain,predict,change/influency

Empirical method

An approach to understanding the world through systematic observation and experimentation.

Major approaches in psychology

Different theoretical frameworks within psychology used to explain behavior and mental processes.

Cognitive,biological,sociocultural,behavioral,humanistic,psychodynamic,evolutionary,

Types of psychologists/careers

Social, devolpmental,cognitive,experimental,forensic,sports,educational,industrial,school(students, education( learning styles)

Scientific method

Systematic approach to acquiring knowledge through observation, hypothesis testing, and experimentation.

Theory

A set of principles on which the practice of science is based.

Hypothesis

A testable prediction about the relationship between variables.

Variable

A factor or element that can change or vary.

Replication

The process of repeating a research study to verify its findings.

Descriptive designs

Research methods used to observe and describe behavior without manipulating variables.

Correlational designs

Research method examining relationships between variables without manipulating them.

Correlation coefficients

A number indicating the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables.

Experimental designs

A research method in which variables are manipulated to determine cause-and-effect relationships.

Key components of experiments

Essential elements of an experiment that allow researchers to draw conclusions about causality.

Correlation vs causation

The difference between identifying a relationship versus determining a cause.

Independent variable

The variable that is manipulated by the researcher.

Dependent variable

The variable that is measured to see if it is affected by the independent variable.

Experimental group

The group exposed to the independent variable.

Control group

The group that does not receive the experimental treatment.

Placebo effect

A phenomenon in which a fake treatment can improve a patient's condition simply because the patient expects that it will be helpful.

Mean

The average value of a dataset.

Classical conditioning

A type of learning in which a stimulus acquires the capacity to evoke a response that was originally evoked by another stimulus.

UCS

Unconditioned Stimulus.

UCR

Unconditioned Response.

NS

Neutral Stimulus.

CS

Conditioned Stimulus.

CR

Conditioned Response.

Operant conditioning

A type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher.

Reinforcement

A process that strengthens the likelihood of a behavior by adding or removing a stimulus.

Punishment

an event that decreases the behavior that it follows.

Observational learning

Learning through observing others.

Nature and nurture

The influence of genetic inheritance (nature) and environmental factors (nurture) on development.

Prenatal development

The period of development from conception to birth

Germinal(0-2 weeks)

Embryonic(3-8 weeks)

Fetal(9- birth)

Teratogens

Agents that can reach the embryo or fetus during prenatal development and cause harm.

Events of puberty

The period of sexual maturation, during which a person becomes capable of reproducing.

Attachment

The emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver.

Parenting styles

Different approaches to raising children, such as authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved parenting.

Cognition throughout adulthood

The changes in cognitive abilities and processes that occur throughout adulthood.

Psychoanalytic approach to personality

A personality theory emphasizing unconscious processes and early childhood experiences.

Social cognitive approach

A personality theory focusing on how cognitive and social factors influence behavior.

Humanistic theories

A personality theory focusing on individual potential for growth.

The Five-factor model of personality

A model describing personality with five broad dimensions.

Attribution theory

How people explain the causes of behavior, both their own and others'.

Fundamental attribution error/self-serving bias

The tendency to overestimate dispositional factors (e.g., personality) and underestimate situational factors when explaining others' behavior.

Cognitive dissonance

The discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors.

Conformity

Adjusting our behavior or thinking to coincide with a group standard.

Obedience

Compliance with an authority figure's demands.

Groupthink

The practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility.

Bystander nonintervention/bystander effect

The phenomenon in which the presence of others inhibits helping in an emergency.

Social loafing

The tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling their efforts toward attaining a common goal than when individually accountable.

Altruism

Unselfish concern for the welfare of others.

Aggression

Any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy.

Stereotypes

A generalized belief about a group of people.

Prejudice

A negative attitude toward a group and its members.

Discrimination

Unjustifiable negative behavior toward a group and its members.

Definition of abnormal behavior

Behavior that is statistically unusual, maladaptive, and/or personally distressing.

Causes of abnormal behavior

Factors contributing to the development of abnormal behavior.

DSM-5

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used for classifying and diagnosing psychological disorders.

Anxiety disorders

Psychological disorders characterized by excessive fear and anxiety.

Mood disorders

Psychological disorders characterized by disturbances in mood, such as depression and bipolar disorder.

Schizophrenia

A severe psychological disorder characterized by disturbances in thought, perception, emotion, and behavior.

Demographic differences in rates of disorders and treatment

Variations in the prevalence and treatment of disorders across different demographic groups.

Biological therapies

Treatments for psychological disorders that focus on changing the brain's functioning.

Psychological therapies

Therapies that involve psychological techniques to help individuals overcome their difficulties.

Research on therapy effectiveness

Research examining the effectiveness of different therapy approaches.