Psych final 2

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Independent variable

The variable manipulated by the researcher in an experiment.

Control group

The placebo group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment.

Correlational research limitation

It cannot determine cause and effect.

Drive-Reduction Theory

The theory stating that people are motivated to reduce biological needs and maintain homeostasis.

Intrinsic motivation

Studying because you enjoy learning.

James-Lange Theory

The theory that emotions occur after physiological reactions.

Two-Factor Theory

The theory that emotion results from physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation.

Memory

The process of encoding, storing, and retrieving information.

Short-term memory

The memory stage with a duration of about 20–30 seconds.

Episodic memory

The type of long-term memory that stores personal experiences.

Distributed practice

Studying material over several days instead of cramming.

Consciousness

Awareness of ourselves and our environment.

REM sleep

The stage of sleep most associated with vivid dreaming.

Psychoactive drug

A substance that alters consciousness, mood, or behavior.

Dendrites

The part of the neuron that receives incoming messages.

Action potential

The electrical signal that travels down an axon.

Sympathetic nervous system

The nervous system responsible for 'fight-or-flight' responses.

Hypothalamus

The brain structure that regulates hunger, thirst, and body temperature.

Occipital lobe

The lobe primarily responsible for vision.

Agonist

A substance that mimics neurotransmitters.

Serotonin

The neurotransmitter that SSRIs increase levels of.

Sensation

Detection of environmental stimuli.

Top-down processing

Using previous knowledge to interpret information.

Developmental psychology

The study of changes across the lifespan.

Sensorimotor Stage

The stage where object permanence develops according to Piaget's theory.

Attachment

What Ainsworth's Strange Situation measures.

Unconditioned stimulus

The naturally occurring stimulus in classical conditioning.

Unconditioned stimulus

In Pavlov's experiment, food was this type of stimulus.

Operant conditioning

A type of learning that focuses on the consequences of behavior.

Positive reinforcement

Giving a student candy for good behavior.

Negative punishment

Removing a phone because of bad grades.

Observational learning

Learning by watching others.

Social psychology

The study of how people influence one another.

Fundamental attribution error

Attributing someone's behavior to personality rather than circumstances.

Self-serving bias

Explaining success by abilities but failures by bad luck.

Normative social influence

Conformity due to wanting acceptance.

Obedience to authority

What Milgram's study primarily investigated.

Social roles

What Zimbardo's prison study demonstrated the power of.

Diffusion of responsibility

The tendency to be less likely to help when others are present.

Stereotype

A generalized belief about a group.

Heuristic

A mental shortcut used to solve problems quickly.

Personality

Enduring patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Id

According to Freud, the personality structure associated with the pleasure principle.

Ego

The personality structure that operates according to the reality principle.

Unconditional positive regard

What Carl Rogers emphasized in his therapeutic approach.

Self-actualization

The highest human need according to Maslow.

Self-efficacy

Bandura's concept of belief in one's ability to succeed.

Cognitive therapy

Therapy focusing on changing maladaptive thoughts.

4 Ds of abnormal behavior

Dysfunction, distress, danger, and development.

DSM-5

A manual primarily used for diagnosing mental disorders.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Excessive uncontrollable worry characteristic of this disorder.

Bipolar disorder

The disorder that involves alternating periods of depression and mania.

Schizophrenia

A disorder characterized by hallucinations and delusions.

Diathesis-stress model

The model that states that disorders result from predisposition combined with stress.