Psych notes

Behavioral Perspective

Focuses on observable behaviors and the impact of external stimuli on behavior.

Cognitive Perspective

Emphasizes mental processes, such as memory and problem solving, as driving forces in behavior.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

Proposed by Freud, it suggests that childhood experiences and unconscious motives influence behavior.

Humanistic Perspective

Focuses on personal growth and self-actualization, highlighting the inherent goodness of people.

Evolutionary Perspective

Views behavior as a result of evolutionary processes and natural selection.

Sociocultural Perspective

Examines how culture and social contexts influence behavior and thought.

Biological Perspective

Studies how biological factors like genetics, hormones, and brain function affect behavior.

Operational Definition

A clear description of a variable in a study, allowing it to be measured.

Confounding Variable

An external factor that may affect the outcome of a study, obscuring the effects of the independent variable.

Representative Sample

A group that accurately reflects the characteristics of the larger population.

Quantitative Data

Numerical data that allows for statistical analysis and trend identification.

Qualitative Data

Non-numerical data that provides deeper insights through personal narratives.

Meta-Analysis

A method that combines results from multiple studies to draw overall conclusions.

Sensory Adaptation

The process by which sensitivity to a constant stimulus diminishes over time.

Absolute Threshold

The smallest level of stimulus that can be detected.

Difference Threshold

The minimum difference in stimulation that a person can detect 50% of the time.

Weber's Law

The principle stating that the just noticeable difference (JND) is a constant proportion of the original stimulus intensity.

Long-Term Potentiation

The enduring increase in synaptic strength following high-frequency stimulation of a chemical synapse.

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental discomfort experienced when holding two or more contradictory beliefs.

Drive Reduction Theory

Motivation arises from the desire to reduce physiological needs.

Self-Actualization

The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potential according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to over-emphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors in judging others' behavior.

Self-Serving Bias

The habit of attributing success to internal factors while blaming failure on external factors.

Reciprocal Determinism

The theory that behavior, personal factors, and environmental influences interact to shape personality.

Oxytocin

A hormone that plays a role in social bonding, sexual reproduction, and during and after childbirth.

Meta-Cognition

Awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.

Anterograde Amnesia

The inability to form new memories following an event.

Retrograde Amnesia

The inability to recall past memories prior to an event.

Type A Personality

Characterized by high levels of competitiveness, urgency, and aggression.

Type B Personality

Characterized by a relaxed and easy-going approach to life.

Longitudinal Study

Research that follows the same participants over a long period of time to observe changes.

Cross-Sectional Study

A study that analyzes data from a population at a specific point in time.

Eugenics

The socially constructed philosophy aimed at improving the genetic quality of a human population.

Classical Conditioning

A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired.

Operant Conditioning

A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without any obvious reinforcement and may not be immediately reflected in behavior.

Social Loafing

The phenomenon where individuals exert less effort when working in a group compared to when working alone.

Deindividuation

The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations.

Altruism

Selfless concern for the well-being of others without any expectation of reciprocation.

Cohort Effect

A difference in experience or behavior that is attributed to being part of a specific group defined by a shared characteristic.

Hierarchical Structure

The arrangement of concepts with general categories at the top and specific instances below.

Implicit Memory

Unconscious retention of information, typically involving learned skills or conditioned responses.

Explicit Memory

Conscious, intentional recollection of factual information, previous experiences, and concepts.

Multitasking

The ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously, which can affect cognitive performance.

Proactive Interference

When older memories interfere with the recall of newer information.

Retroactive Interference

When new information interferes with the retrieval of older memories.

Context-Dependent Memory

The improved recall of specific episodes or information when the context (setting) of the information matches the context present at retrieval.

Stress Response

The body's reaction to perceived threats or challenges, including physiological and psychological changes.

General Adaptation Syndrome

The three stages of the body's response to stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Biopsychosocial Model

An integrative approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors affecting health.

Coping Mechanisms

Strategies used to manage stress and emotional pain.

Stress-Related Illnesses

Health issues that can arise as a result of prolonged stress, such as cardiovascular disease and anxiety.

Dissociative Disorders

Mental disorders characterized by a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memory, surroundings, actions, and identity.