AP Psychology Unit 1A Vocab: Biological Bases of Behavior

Modules: 1.1 , 1.2 , 1.3a , 1.3b , 1.4a , 1.4b , 1.4c

Structuralism

An early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structural elements of the human mind.

Functionalism

A school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function—how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish.

Experimental Psychology

The study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method.

Behaviorism

The view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

Humanistic Psychology

Historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual’s potential for personal growth.

Cognitive Neuroscience

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language).

Psychology

The science of behavior and mental processes.

Nature-Nurture Issue

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development and psychological traits and behaviors. Today’s science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.

Natural Selection

The principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on the succeeding generations.

Levels of Analysis

The differing complementary views, from Biological to psychological to social-cultural, for analyizing any given phenomenon.

Biopsychosocial Approach

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

Biological Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies the links between biological (including neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes.

Evolutionary Psychology

The study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection.

Psychodynamic Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies how unconsious drives and conflicts influence behavior, and used that information to treat people with psychological disorders.

Behavioral Psychology

The scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning.

Cognitive Psychology

The scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Social-Cultural Psychology

The study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking.

Psychometrics

The scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits.

Basic Research

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

Developmental Psychology

The scientific study of physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.

Educational Psychology

The study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning.

Personality Psychology

The study of an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Social Psychology

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Applied Research

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology

The application of psychology logical concepts and methods to optimzing human behavior in workplaces.

Human Factors Psychology

The study of how people and machines interact and the design of safe and easily used machines and environments.

Counseling Psychology

A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being.

Clinical Psychology

A branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders.

Psychiatry

A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who often provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.

Criticial Thinking

Thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, discerns hidden values, evaulates evidence, and assesses conclusions.

Theory

An explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

Hypothesis

A testable predictions, often implied by a theory.

Operational Definition

A statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables.

Replication

Repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding extends to other participants and circumstances.

Case Study

An observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

Survey

A technique for ascertaining a self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by questioning a representative, random sample of the group.

Population

All the cases in a group being studied, from which samples may be drawn.

Random Sample

A sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

Naturalistic Observation

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.

Correlation

A measure of the extent to which two factors vary together, and thus of how well either factor predicts the other.

Correlation Coefficient

A statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1).

Scatterplot

A graphed cluster of dots, each of which represents the values of two variables.

Illusory Correlation

A perception of a relationship where none exists.

Experiment

A research method in which an investigator manipulates one or more factors to observe the effect on some behavior or mental process.

Random Assignment

Assiging participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups.

Double-Blind Procedure

An experiment in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo.

Placebo

Experimental results caused by expectations alone.

Experimental Group

The group that is exposed to the treatment.

Control Group

The group that is NOT exposed to the treatment.

Independent Variable

The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Confounding Variable

A factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Mean

The arithmetric average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores.

Median

The middle score in a distribution.

Range

The difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution.

Standard Deviation

A computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score.

Normal Curve

A symmetrical, bell-shaped curve that describes the distribution of many types of data.

Statistical Significance

A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occured by chance.

Culture

The enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, and traditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Informed Consent

An ethical principle that research participants be told enough to enable them to choose whether they wich to participate.

Debriefing

The postexperimental explanation of a study, including its purpose and any deceptions, to its participants.

Neuron

A nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

Sensory Neurons

Neurons that carry incoming information from the sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.

Motor Neurons

Neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands.

Interneurons

Neurons within the brain and spinal cord that communicate internally and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

Dendrite

The bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

Axon

The extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

Threshold

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

Synapse

The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or the cell body of the recieving neuron.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons.

Reuptake

A neurotransmitter’s reaborption by the sending neuron.

Endorphins

“morphine within” —natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.

Nervous System

The body’s speedy electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

Nerves

Bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

Somatic Nervous System

The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (ex. the heart).

Autonomic Nervous System

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (ex. the heart).

Sympathetic Nervous System

The division of the automatic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

The divison of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving energy.

Reflex

A simple, automatic response to a sensory stimulus, such as the knee-jerk response.

Lesion

Tissue destruction; a brain lesions is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of the brain tissue.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.

CT (computed tomography) Scan

A series of x-ray photos taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body. Also called CAT scan.

PET (positron emission tomography) Scan

A visual display of the brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue. These scans show brain anatomy.

fMRI (Functional MRI)

A technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. These scans show brain function.

Brainstem

The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; responsible for automatic survival functions.

Medulla (Oblongata)

The base of the brainstem; controls heartbeat and breathing.

Reticular Formation

A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.

Thalamus

The brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brain stem; directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.

Cerebellum

The “little brain” at the rear of the brain stem; processes sensory input and coordinates movement output and balance.

Limbic System

Doughnut-shaped neural system (including hippocampus, amygdala, and hypothalamus) located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives.

Amygdala

Two Lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion.

Hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities (ex. eating, drinking, body temp), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and linked to emotion.

Cerebral Cortex

The intricate fabric of the interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body’s ultimate control and information-processing center.

Glial Cells (Glia)

Cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.

Frontal Lobes

Portion of the cerebral cortext lying behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements.

Parietal Lobes

Portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; recieves sensory input for touch and body position.

Occipital Lobes

Portion of the cerebral cortext lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.