Gen Psych Cumulative Final Dewitt Cedarville

Wilhelm Wundt

Wilhelm Wundt

founded the first psychology lab in Germany
prior to psychology, he was a physiologist and philosopher

Ivan Pavlov

pioneered the study of learning from Russia
he was a physiologist

Sigmund Freud

personality theorist from Austria

Jean Piaget

influential observer of children's behaviors
from Switzerland
was a biologist

Psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

Nature-Nurture issue

the controversy over the relative contributions of biology and experience

Nature

genes and heredity

Nurture

experiences and environment

Neuroscience

how the body and brain work to create emotions, memories, and sensory experiences

Psychodynamic

how behaviors springs from unconscious drives

Behavioral

how observable responses are acquired and changed

Cognitive

how we encode, process, store, and retrieve information

Social-Cultural

how behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures

The Scientific Attitude

curiosity, open-minded skepticism, humility

curiosity

desire to learn and know

Open-minded skepticism

carefully questioning what is in front of you

humility

rejecting your own ideas (the rat is always right)

critical thinking

examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

introspection

looking inward and noting your immediate sensations and feelings

descriptive research

observing and describing behavior

case study

examine one or more individuals in great depth hoping to reveal things true of us all

survey

self reported attitudes and behaviors of a population by questioning a random sample

naturalistic observation

observing and recording behavior in natural environments

correlational research

measuring two variables or the statistical relationship between two variables

positive correlation

direct relationship

negative correlation

inverse relationship

experimental research

manipulates one or more factors referred to as the independent variable to observe the effects of some behavioral or mental process, dependent variable

Is it ethical to experiment on animals?

7% of psychology studies involve animals
95% = rats, mice, rabbits, and birds

is it ethical to experiment on people?

Ethical Principles (APA)
obtain informed consent
protect from harm/discomfort
confidentiality
fully explain the research afterwards

SQ3R

a study method involving critical thinking and emphasizes retrieving information, incorporating five steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review

Phrenology

ill-fated theory stating bumps on the skull revealed mental abilities and character traits, localization of function of areas of the brain

biological psychology

studies links between biology and behavior

neurons

basic building blocks of the nervous system

neuron

consists of cell body and branching fibers, also contains the nucleus

dendrites

receive information for sensory receptors

axon

sends information, single fiber with terminal branches, sends information to neurons, muscles, and glands

myelin sheath

fatty layer of cells encasing axon
functions: insulates and increases speed
degeneration of myelin sheath results in multiple sclerosis

action potential

brief electrical charge that travels down the axon

Synapse

the gap/junction between two neurons

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers released from axon terminal

sensory neurons

send sensory information from tissue and sensory organs INWARD to brain and spinal cord, afferent (admit)

Interneurons

work IN spinal cord and brain and intervene between sensory and motor neurons

motor neurons

send instructions OUTWARD from brain and spinal cord to body tissue/muscles, efferent (exit)

Plasticity

the ability for the brain to develop new neutral pathways in the brain

agonist

a molecule that excites or increases a neurotransmitters action

Antagonist

a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's actions

experimental group

people who receive the treatment to find answers to research questions

control group

people who do not receive the treatment to find answers to research questions

independent variable

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

dependent variable

a variable (often denoted by y ) whose value depends on that of another.

Placebo

a harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for the psychological benefit to the patient than for any physiological effect

random sample

method of selecting from a population in which each person has an equal probability of being selected

blind procedure

The subjects are unaware of whether or not they are in the control or experimental group

double-blind procedure

an experimental procedure 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 effect

reduces pain, depression, and anxiety just from thinking you are receiving treatment

study tips

distribute your study time, learn to think critically, process class information actively, overlearn, personalize material, flash cards, mnemonic devics

motivation

need or desire that energizes behavior

instinct

complex behavior that is unlearned with a fixed pattern

drive

aroused state coming from an underlying need

drive reduction theory

when a physiological need increases, so does our psychological drive to reduce it

Homeostasis

balanced, constant internal state

incentive

positive/negative stimulus that motivates behavior

arousal theory

focuses on finding the right level of stimulation

sensation seekers

motivated by a drive to master emotion and actions (risk takers)

grit

passion and perseverance in the pursuit of long-term goals

Yerkes-Dodson Law

performance increases with arousal only to a point, beyond which performance decreases

self-transcendence

sense of meaning

self-actualization

achieving one's full potential

esteem

feeling of accomplishment

love/belonging

intimate relationships, friends

safety

security

physiological

food, water, rest

spiritual

salvation, sanctification

belonging

a central human motivation to form close, enduring relationships

affiliation need

the need to build relationships and to feel part of a group (need to belong)

ostracism

deliberate social exclusion of individuals or groups

When someone experiences ostracism...

it evokes increased activity in the brain area that activate when one experiences physical pain

Physiologically, we experience social pain with the same...

emotional unpleasantness that marks physical pain

Various circumstances dissolve social ties

unfaithfulness, no communication, misdeed

Social Effects of Social Networking

supportive connections, provides information, distractions, interfere with sleep, interfere with exercise, FOMO, interfere with face-to-face relationships, tendency to compare self with others, promotes narcissism, lower grades

Maintaining Focus and Balance

monitor your time, monitor your feelings, hide distracting friends, when studying discipline yourself, fast from social media, refocus by taking a walk or praying

achievement motivation

a desire for significant accomplishment, attaining a high standard

intristic motivation

behavior performed for mere satisfaction (internally driven)

extrinsic motivation

behavior performed for rewards or to avoid punishment (external consequences)

high need for achieving

persistent
eager
motivated
self-disciplined

low need for achieving

passive, lazy, unmotivated, undisciplined

glucose

blood sugar that provides energy for the body

insulin

hormone secreted by pancreas that influences appetite

basal metabolic rate

the body's resting rate of energy expenditure

hypothalamus

structure in the brain monitoring internal bodily state

set point

point at which your "weight thermostat" is set -- stable weight

hunger

Lower glucose levels and higher insulin levels

Situational influences on eating

arousing appetite, friends and food, serving size is significant, selections stimulate, nudging nutrition

obesity

BMI of 30 or more

anorexia

person is significantly underweight yet feels fat, starving oneself to dangerously low levels

Bulimia

repeated binge/purge episodes by overeating followed by vomiting or use of laxatives

4 issues with eating disorders

perfectionistic - set high standards
intensely concerned with how others perceive them
not viewing self as God views them
control issue - not yielding full control to God

emotions involve a mixture of

physiology
expression
conscious experience

Sympathetic division

arousing
Fight or Flight or Freeze
Women - tend/befriend

parasympathetic division

calming
rest/digest