EBQ prep

Structuralism

A theoretical perspective in sociology and anthropology founded by Edward B. Titchener, which emphasizes the importance of underlying structures in cultural phenomena and human behavior.

Functionalism

A theoretical perspective in sociology founded by Emile Durkheim

Functionalism

emphasizes the functions of social institutions and their role in maintaining social order.

Psychoanalytic

Founded by Sigmund Freud.

Psychoanalytic

It explores how unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires influence behavior.

Psychodynamic

Founded by Sigmund Freud.

Psychodynamic

It focuses on how unconscious thoughts, childhood experiences, and inner conflicts shape behavior and personality.

Humanistic

Founded by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

Humanistic

It emphasizes personal growth, free will, and self-actualization, focusing on the individual's unique experiences and potential.

Evolutionary

Based on Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. It explains human behavior and mental processes as adaptations shaped by natural selection.

Biological

Rooted in the work of early scientists like Charles Darwin. Focuses on how genetics, brain structures, and physiological processes influence behavior.

Cognitive

Pioneered by Ulric Neisser.

Cognitive

This perspective focuses on how people process information, including memory, perception, problem-solving, and decision-making

Biopsychosocial

Introduced by George L. Engel.

Biopsychosocial

It explains health and illness as the result of interactions between biological, psychological, and social factors.

Sociocultural

Founded by Lev Vygotsky.

Sociocultural

It emphasizes how social interactions, culture, and environment shape human development and behavior.

Cross-sectional Study

Compares different subjects at one time.

Measures of Central Tendency

Mean, median, and mode as data summaries.

Measures of Variation

Standard deviation and range indicating data spread.

Classical Conditioning

Learning through association of stimuli.

Operant Conditioning

Behavior modification through reinforcement or punishment.

Effortful Processing

Active encoding requiring attention and effort.

Automatic Processing

Unconscious encoding of information.

Sensation

Bottom-up and top-down processing of stimuli.

Sensory adaptation

Decreased sensitivity to constant stimuli.

Gestalt principles

Set of rules describing how we perceive visual elements as organized patterns or wholes.

Sensory transduction

Conversion of sensory stimuli into neural signals.

Signal detection theory

Method to measure ability to differentiate stimuli.

Absolute threshold

Minimum stimulus intensity detectable by senses.

Difference threshold

Smallest detectable difference between two stimuli.

Weber's Law

Principle stating that the smallest change in a stimulus will be a constant ratio of the original stimulus.

Perception

Interpretation of sensory information through schemas.

Selective attention

Focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring others.

Inattentional blindness

Failure to notice unexpected stimuli in focus.

Monocular cues

Depth cues using one eye, like interposition.

Binocular cues

Depth perception using both eyes, like disparity.

Visual pathway

Pathway from eye to brain for visual processing.

Trichromatic Theory

Color vision theory based on three color receptors.

Auditory pathway

Pathway from ear to brain for sound processing.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Hearing loss due to inner ear damage.

Conduction hearing loss

Hearing loss due to outer/middle ear issues.

Somatosensation

Sense of touch and body position.

Gate-control theory

explains how the nervous system regulates pain signals before they reach the brain.

Teratogens

Substances that cause developmental abnormalities in the fetus.

Piaget's stages

Cognitive development stages

Formal operational (11+)

is the final stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, where individuals develop the ability to think abstractly, reason logically, and use scientific methods.

Concrete operational (7-11)

third stage of Piaget's cognitive development, where children gain a better understanding of mental operations, enabling them to think logically about concrete events.

Preoperational (2-7)

2nd stage in Piaget's theory where children begin to engage in symbolic play and learn to manipulate symbols, but do not yet understand concrete logic.

Sensorimotor stage (0-2)

is the first stage of Piaget's cognitive development theory, where infants learn through sensory experiences and manipulating objects in their environment.

Kohlberg's morality stages

Levels of moral reasoning

Postconventional (11+)

level of moral development where individuals make decisions based on universal ethical principles and social contract.

Conventional (7-11)

level of moral development where individuals conform to societal rules and expectations to gain approval.

Preconventional (0-6)

level of moral reasoning where decisions are based on immediate consequences and personal benefits.

Seyle's general adaptation syndrome

Three-stage response to stress: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Defense mechanisms

Psychological strategies to cope with anxiety.

Reciprocal determinism

Behavior influenced by personal and environmental factors.

Locus of Control

Belief about control over life events.

Self-esteem

One's overall sense of self-worth.

Self-efficacy

Belief in one's ability to succeed.

Self-serving bias

when people take credit for their successes but blame outside factors for their failures.

Big Five personality traits

Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism.

Openness

a personality trait characterized by imagination, creativity, and a willingness to try new things.

Projective tests

Assess personality through ambiguous stimuli.

Rorschach inkblot test

Uses inkblots to reveal personality structure.

prospective memory

The ability to remember to perform actions in the future, such as remembering to take medication at a certain time.

conformity

Changing one’s behavior/beliefs to align with group norms/expectations

fixed mindset

The belief that intelligence and abilities cannot change overtime.

Growth mindset

The belief that intelligence and abilities can develop through effort, learning, and persistence.

Conscientiousness

A personality trait characterized by being diligent, organized, and responsible in one's actions.

Self-Efficacy

The belief in one's ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task.

Reinforcement

Any desirable consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior repeating.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior recurring.

Social learning/Modeling

Proposes that people can learn new behaviors by observing others and imitating their actions.

hippocampus

a brain region crucial for memory formation and spatial navigation.

problem-focused coping

A strategy used to directly address and manage stressors by actively finding solutions and taking steps to resolve the problem.

Emotion-focused coping

a strategy for managing stress by addressing emotional responses rather than directly tackling the stressor itself

Eustress

A positive form of stress that can motivate and enhance performance, often viewed as beneficial.

General adaptation syndrome- Resistance

is the stage where the body adapts to stressors, attempting to return to homeostasis, while still under pressure.

General adaptation syndrome-Exhaustion

The final stage of the general adaptation syndrome, where the body's resources are depleted, leading to decreased function and increased risk of illness.

Distress

A negative form of stress that can lead to anxiety, decrease performance, and negatively impact health.

Psychodynamic Therapy

Focuses on unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences, rooted in Freud’s psychoanalytic theory.

Humanistic Therapy

Emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization, often using client-centered therapy developed by Carl Rogers.

client-centered therapy

A therapeutic approach that prioritizes the client's perspective and emotional experience, fostering an environment of acceptance and empathy to promote personal growth.

Behavioral Therapy

Uses learning principles to modify behavior, including techniques like systematic desensitization and token economies.

Cognitive Therapy

Aims to change negative thought patterns, pioneered by Aaron Beck.

Biomedical Therapy

Involves medication and medical procedures, such as antidepressants or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Repression

Pushing distressing thoughts out of conscious awareness.

Denial

Refusing to accept reality or facts.

Displacement

Redirecting emotions toward a less threatening target.

Projection

Attributing one's own unacceptable feelings to others.

Reaction Formation

Expressing the opposite of one's true feelings.

Rationalization

Justifying behaviors with logical but false explanations.

Intellectualization

Focusing on facts and logic to avoid emotional distress.

Sublimation

Channeling negative impulses into socially acceptable activities.

Regression

Reverting to an earlier stage of development in response to stress.

self-actualization

The realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potential, often considered as the ultimate goal in personal development.

cognitive dissonance

A mental discomfort experienced when holding two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes.

Acitvation synthesis

theory that dreams are the result of the brain trying to make sense of random neural activity during sleep.

Arousal theory

The theory that suggests that motivation is related to the optimal level of arousal, where individuals seek to maintain an ideal level of stimulation.