Intro to Psychology: Crash Course Psychology

What is psychology?

Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes.

Who conducted the world's first psychological exams?

Chinese rulers conducted the world's first psychological exams.

Who was one of the first to describe mental illness?

Persian doctor Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Rhazes, also known as Rhazes, was one of the first to describe mental illness.

What are some of the big questions that psychology seeks to answer?

Some of the big questions that psychology seeks to answer include how humans can do horrible things, the nature of free will, the causes and treatment of mental illness, and the nature of consciousness.

What is the legacy of Sigmund Freud in the field of psychology?

Sigmund Freud's theories helped build our views on childhood, personality, dreams, and sexuality, and his work fueled a legacy of both support and opposition.

How diverse is the field of psychology?

Psychology is one of the most wildly diverse sciences in terms of the questions it proposes, the methods it applies, and the different schools of thought and disciplines it contains.

What were some of the “schools of thought “ in psychology ?

Behaviorism, structuralism, ,psychoanalysis and functionalism.

How can humans commit genocide or torture other humans?

We dont even know if it 100% horrible.

What is the idea of Structuralism from schools of thought?

The idea is simple, by understanding the idea of of the under lying structure of the consciousness, we can gain a better understanding of human behavior and mental processes.

What is Behaviorism from schools of thought?

Behaviorism is a theory that focuses on observable behavior, rather than internal thoughts or feelings, and emphasizes the environmental factors that shape behavior.

What is psychoanalysis from schools of thought?

Psychoanalysis is a theory of psychology developed by Sigmund Freud that focuses on the unconscious mind and the role that childhood experiences play in shaping behavior and mental health. It is also a form of therapy aimed at uncovering and resolving unconscious conflicts and repressed emotions.

What is functionalism from schools of thought?

Functionalism is a psychological theory that focuses on the practical functions and purposes of the mind and behavior, rather than the internal structures and processes.

What is Hindsight Bias or i-knew-it-all phenomenon?

So hindsight bias, is something we see as more predictable because some thing we knew about the it after the event has occurred. Thus i knew it all. Like , your favorite team winning a game, the bias that its fav team make your overestimate your ability to predict. There is no reason to believe that the team is more likely to win.

What is an example of Hindsight Bias ?

Imagine a person who is watching a football game and predicting which team will win. After the game, if the team they predicted to win actually wins, they may say "I knew it all along, they were the better team," even if they were uncertain of the outcome before the game.

Explain how intuition can lead to false assumptions

Its that feeling of knowing something is true or likely even when there is no reason to believe so. Like getting a streak when flipping a coin 5 times and giving mean to that when there is no reason to find meaning in something that is truly random.

What is the natural tendency of humans towards overconfidence?

We tend to be overconfident in our beliefs and judgement

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What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis in science?

A theory explains and organizes lots of different observations, while a hypothesis is a testable prediction

What is the problem with case studies in psychological research

They cannot be replicated so they run the risk of over generalizing.

What is naturalistic observation

Researchers simply watch behavior in a natural environment

What is a potential issue with surveys in psychological research

Subtle word choices can influence results

What is a potential issue with surver sampling

Sampling bias can occur if the sample is not randomly selected

What is one way to make sense of behavior in psychological research

The link between the behavior or trait to another. or How they colerate

Why is it important to remember that correlations cannot prove cause and effect relationships

Correlation is not causation . Correlation only predict the possibility.

What is the purpose of experiments in investigating cause and effect behaviors.

To isolate different effects by manipulation an independent variable and keeping all other variable constants.

What is the purpose of having a controlled group

So that there is a group of people who are not experimented with and helping is making meaningful comparisons

What is a double blind procedure in an experiment

It is when both the subjects and the researchers are not informed about the experiment so that there is minimum chance of bias .

What are Neurons

They are the building blocks of the nervous system

What are functions of dentrites

They receive signals from other neuron and passes it the cell body. They also activate the action potential of the neuron.

What is the function of the axon

It is to sent electrical impulses

What is the function of neurotransmitters?

Their job is to carry chemical signals (“messages”) from one neuron (nerve cell) to the next target cell. The next target cell can be another nerve cell, a muscle cell or a gland.

What are the three basics that most of the endocrine system's functions boil down to?

Attraction, appetite, and aggression.

How do the nervous system and endocrine system differ in terms of speed?

The nervous system operates much faster than the endocrine system.

What neurological disorder does Oliver Sacks have?

Prosopagnosia or face blindness

What is the different between sensation and perception

Sensation is the result of sensory inputs and perception is cognitive function where the brain processes the inputs. Sensation is the process of receiving and relaying outside stimuli, while perception is the way our brains organize and interpret that information.

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What is Absolute Threshold of Sensation

It is the minimum amount of sensory input needed to register as stimulus 50% of the time.

Why is detecting a weak sensory signal not solely about the strength of the stimulus

Other factors like alertness and environment plays a role

What is sensory adaptation

It is the process by which our senses adapt to a monotonous input or constant input to help in sensing changes in the environment. Like adapting to low light environment .

What is the difference threshold

The difference threshold is the point at which one can perceive a difference between two stimuli.

What does Webbers Law state

Weber's Law states that we perceive differences on a logarithmic scale, where the percentage change matters more than the amount of change.

How do our eyes register different colors?

Our eyes register different colors based on the wavelength and frequency of light waves.

What determines the intensity or brightness of a color?

Amplitude of the wave.

What are the receptor cells that begin sensing visual information?

Rods detect gray scale and are used in peripheral vision, while cones detect fine detail and color.

What is the Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory?

It suggests that the retina houses three specific color receptor cones that register red, green, and blue, and their combined power allows the eye to register any color.

What is the opponent-process theory?

It suggests that we see color through processes that work against each other, with some receptor cells being stimulated by red but inhibited by green, and vice versa.

Where is the visual cortex located?

Occipital lobe

What is the term used to describe the brain’s ability to process and analyze multiple aspects of a situation at once

Parallel Processing

What does the term “Homonculus“ refer to

It is a model in which part of our body are scaled relative to their sense function. Hands are the biggest in the model

How does the process of hearing work

Physical vibrations travel to the inner ear, causing cochlear hair cells to bend and triggering nerve cells that convert the energy into electrical impulses.

What are taste buds and how do they work

Taste buds contain taste receptor cells that read food molecules and send signals to the brain.

What is the fifth type of taste

Umami, which is described as a savory, meaty taste.

What is synesthesia

Synesthesia is a neurological condition where two or more senses get mixed together, causing involuntary sensory experiences.

What are the theories of synesthesia

Theories include the development of new neural connections overriding normal boundaries, all babies being born with synesthesia until their brains mature .

How do we smell and sense it.

They send information to the brain's olfactory bulb, then to the primary smell cortex and parts of the limbic system responsible for emotion and memory.

What is the importance of touch in early development?

Touch is important in early development as it contributes to weight gain in premature babies and can affect emotional, behavioral, and social development in children.

What are the four distinct skin sensations that make up our sense of touch?

Pressure, Pain, Warmth and Coldness

What was Gall’s belief about personality and skull morphology

He believe that the shape of the skull can interpret our behavior and personality.

What was Gall’s correct proposition about the brain

That different part of the brain was responsible for different functions

What happened to Phineas after the rod accident

Phineas Gage become a more angry and short tempered person. His friends said he was not him anymore

What is the function of the Brain Stem

Brian Stem is responsible for the all life supporting automated functions. Like breathing or heartbeat. It is also referred to as the old brain.

What is the role of amygdala

It is responsible for the triggering emotions like fear and aggression and memory consolidation.

What does the hypothalamus regulate

It regulates the bodily functions like temperature, circadian rhythms, hunger and endocrine system.

What is the function of hippocampus

It functions are related to memory . Long term and short term.

What are the main functions of the cerebrum

It functions include thinking speaking and perception

What are the different lobes of the cerebral cortex

The frontal lobe, parietal, occipital lobe, temporal lobe

What is the function of the frontal loves

Thinking, judging, speaking planning

What is the function of the parietal lobe

Touch and body position

What is the function of the occipital lobe

sight

What is the function of the temporal lobes

Process sound and speech comprehension.

What is the role of perception in experiencing the world

It helps us to make sense of what we see and experience.

How does our perceptual set influence us

Our Perceptural set, includes our expectations and cultural norms and can heavily influence our perception. Thing the Face Vase . If the question is doing see the two faces, see the face first before the vase first. Bunny or Duck can change if the person is a duck farmer .

What are some factors that can influence our perception

Context coming back to the illusions. Suggestions

What is Form Perception and Figure-Ground relationship

It is the ways used by our brains to perceive things. By Organizing and simplifying scenes in Figure (object )and Ground.(Background)

What are some rules of grouping when in perception

Rule of Proximity, Rule of Continuity and Rule of Closure.

How do we perceive depth using binocular cues

Retinal disparity between our eye 2.5 inch apart can help with depth and Convergence help with how far or close things are. Greater convergence for objects coming closer .Eyes converging

What are some monocular cues .

Relative size and distance, linear perceptive, texture gradient and interposition.

Some of the monocular cues can be experienced by both eyes then why are they still considered monocular cues

It is because even those they can be experienced by both eyes. They can also be observed with one eye only.

What does motion perceptions tell about speed and direction

Generally thing shrinking are perceived as moving back and things enlarging are seen as coming forward.

Large objects are perceived as slower while smaller objects are perceived as faster moving even though they have the same speed.

What is perceptual constancy

Perceptual constancy or consistency is our brains ability to perceive things consistently even when there is change relative inputs like size, shape location.. It allows us to understand the world and our place in it, despite the changes in appearance. the Like a Cat wearing a suit is still perceived as cat or glowing person is still perceived as a person.

What is consiousness

It is the awareness of ourselves and the environment

What is the field of cognitive neuroscience

The study of how our brain activity is linked to our mental process.

What is the difference between Structural imaging and functional imaging.

Structural imaging shows different layer of the brain like CT. Show just anatomy

Functional imaging shows how different regions of brain react like fMRI. Shows activity

How does our selective attention work

It works by allowing us to focus our consciousness on one particular stimulus or a group of stimuli, while tuning out the rest.

What is inattentional blindness

It is psychological phenomenon showing how we miss things that are not in focus. Failure to notice certain things due to focused attention.

What is change blindness

It is the psychological phenomenon showing us how we are blind to changes in the environment while focused on one thing. Think Moonwalking Bear.

Why is it important be aware of our consciousness.

Being aware of our own consciousness helps us understand our thoughts, emotions, and behavior, and allows us to make more informed decisions.

What are the four stages of sleep

Alpha waves transition into Non Rapid Eye Moment Sleep 1, then NREM-2 then NREM -3 and finally REM sleep . These cycle evey 90 mins

How does sleep deprivation affect a person’s health

It effects both physiologically like weight gain, diabetes and psychologically like depression and slow neutral activity

What are some common sleep disorders

Sleep Apnea, Insomnia , Narcolepsy , Night terrors, sleep talking and sleep walking (All three during NREM 3), Nightmare (occuring during REM sleep).

What is the information processing theory related to dreaming

According to the information processing theory, dreaming helps us process and consolidate the day’s events and memories.

What is a cause for narcolepsy

Deficiency in the neurotransmitters called hypocretin

Can hypnosis make a person act against their will

No, hypnosis cannot make a person act against their will. They still maintain control over their behavior.

What are the two theories of hypnosis

Social influence theories say that people act being hypnotized . And the disassociation theory say people are asked think about other things to split their consciousness

Who are highly hypnotizable

About 20% of humans are consider highly hypnotizable and are susceptible to being suggestable.

How does neuroadaptation occur in relation to drugs

Neuroadaptation is the process by which brain adapts to effects of substance leading to a decrease in its effectiveness.

What are the 3 general categories for psychoactive drugs

Depressants , Stimulants and Hullucingens

How does depressants work

Depressants slow down body functions, suppress neural activity, and can impair judgement and memory.

What are the other causes of hallucinogens except drugs.

Seizures, brain injuries, diseases, sensory deprivation, fever, stress, extreme grief or depression.

What is the main contribution of Ivan Pavlov’s experiments to the field of psychology

HIs development in the behaviorist school , which focus on observable behaviors rather than mental process.

What is the process of conditioning in Pavlov’s Famous experiment

Classical conditioning where by association, a neural stimulus can be linked to form a conditioned response.

What kind of process of condition did B.F. Skinner come up with

Operant conditioning where a behavior is learnt by the process of positive and negative reinforcements. He used his Skinner Box to demo it which had a lever for a rat to pull for reward.