psych exam 1

P.1: How is psychology a science and why is the rat always right?

Psychology is the study of behavior and mental processes.

Empiricism: Scientific method and experiments. Self correcting/humility

Represents the data “trust the data”

P.2 What are the 3 key elements of the scientific attitude and how do they support scientific inquiry?

Curiosity, skepticism and humility

P.3 How’s does critical thinking feed a scientific attitude, smarter thinking for everyday life?

Examines assumptions, appraises sources and discern bias, evaluate evidence and assess conditions

P.4 William Wundt

1st laboratory and uncovered unconscious experience

P.4 William James

Functionalism, consciousness as a flow not disconnected parts

P.4 Rosalie Rayner

Behaviorism

P.4 Mary Whiton Calkins

Memory and 1st female to earn PhD

P.5 Behaviorism

(1920-1960) Watson and Skinner: Observe behavior due to environment

P.5 Psychoanalytical

(1900) Freud: unconscious mind directs ALL behavior

P.5 Humanistic

(1920-1960): Potential growth, love, and acceptance

P.6 Cognitive neuroscience

Perceive, process, and remember

P.6 Evolutionary

Natural selection applied to behavior and human universals (SIMILARITIES)

P.6 Behavioral genetics

DIFFERENCES, nature vs nurture

P.6 Cross cultural and gender psych

Impact of culture on functioning, biological sex vs gender

P.7 What are psych’s 3 main levels of analysis and related perspectives?

Biological, social-cultural, psychological (BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL approach)

P.9 How can psychological principles help you learn, remember, and thrive?

Testing effect: repeated self testing

SQ3R: Survey, question, read, retrieve, review

1.1 How can everyday thinking lead to the wrong conclusion?

Common sense and intuition may be useful for individuals, but error prone and not self correcting.

1.1 Hindsight Bias

“I knew it all along” phenomenon

1.2 How do theories advance psychological science?

Scientific method. Theory, hypothesis, and research form a feedback loop

1.3 Scientific Method: Descriptions

Advantages: Large amounts of data, introspective, representative, and random

Disadvantages: No control, misrepresentation, perception (wording)

1.3 Scientific Method: Sampling

Generalize to population, sample should be large (n=100), low variability, representative and randomly sampled (increases likelihood that the sample average is population average)

1.4 Correlation coefficient

A statistical measure of the linear relationship between 2 variables (R)ranging from -1.0 to +1.0

1.4 Negative correlation

Directions vary (high to low, low to high)

1.4 Positive correlation

Same directions (high to high, low to low)

1.6 Why do correlations enable predictions but not cause and effect explanations?

There’s no experimental control, and there could be 3 explanations for any r (A.B)

1.7 What are the characteristics of experimentation that make it possible to isolate cause and effect?

The only way to establish cause and effect is with experimental control. Independent variable and dependent variable

1.9 How can simplified laboratory conditions illuminate everyday life?

Intentional simplified laboratory environment, allows psychologists to recreate forces under controlled conditions, test theories. Psychological sciences focuses on general principles

1.10 Animal ethical guidelines

Is it right to place the well being of humans above animals? What safeguards should protect the wellbeing of animals? Must have human care, healthful conditions, and treatment to minimize discomfort

1.10 Human ethical guidelines

Informed consent, no more harm than in daily life, confidentiality, debriefing

1.11 Central tendency

Mean, mode, range, median (get rid of outliers)

1.11 Standard deviation

How much scores cary around the mean, average or the distance form the scores to the mean

1.12 How do we know if an observed difference can be generalized by other populations?

Best with samples, representation, low variability, large sample

1.12 Statistical significance

How likely are differences due to change? <5% IS statistical significant

2.1 Why are psychologist concerned with human biology?

Biopsychosocial organisms- cells to organs, to systems, systems regulate all aspects of functioning

2.2 Plasticity

Specialized behavior produces unique brain signatures (muscle memory). Flexibility inversely related to age but always present

2.3 Cell body

Round, nucleus, DNA, controls protein synthesis, no direct role in neural communication

2.3 Dendrites

Information collectors, receive input from neighboring neurons, if enough inputs the cell generates an output (axon)

2.3 Axon

Cell output structure (myelin sheath), one per cell, 2 distinct parts

2.4 Electrical signals

Action potential, brief electrical charge sent down axon. Changes charge from negative to positive (depolarization). Excitatory- inhibitory> threshold= AP, initiates chemical signal

2.5 Acetylcholine

Muscle, learning, behaviors

2.5 Serotonin

Depression, hunger, sleep, arousal,

2.5 Dopamine

Schizophrenia, leaning, attention, movements, positive emotions

2.5 Endorphins

Pain and pleasure

2.5 Agonists

INCREASE neurotransmitters reaction

2.5 Antagonists

DECREASE neurotransmitters reaction

2.6 Peripheral nervous system

Somatic and autonomic

2.6 Somatic nervous sytem

Skeletal muscles and voluntary movements

2.6 Autonomic nervous system

Sympathetic (activates) and parasympathetic (restores)

2.6 Types of neurons

Sensory (input) , motor (output), Interneuron (carry)

2.8 How do neuroscientists study the brains connection to behavior and mind?

Lesion damage studies (observe deficits) (Phineas Gage)

EEG, CAT scan, PET, f/MRI

2.9 Medulla

Heartbeat

2.9 Reticular formation

Control arousal and sensory filter

2.9 Thalamus

Receive sensory info and directs to brain areas

2.9 Cerebellum

Little brain attached to rear of brainstem coordinates voluntary movements and balance

2.10 Limbic system

Doughnut shaped system at border of brainstem and higher brain areas

2.10 Amygdala

Negative emotions

2.10 Hippocampus

New memory and consolidation

2.10 Hypothalamus

Maintenance activities, linked to emotions, governs endocrine system via pituitary gland

2.11 Cerebral cortex

Newest to evolve, control info processing center

2.11 Frontal lobe

Speaking, muscle movements, plans and judgement

2.11 Parietal lobe

Sensory cortex

2.11 Temporal lobe

Audition (sound)

2.11 Occipital lobe

Vision

2.13 To what extent can a damaged brain reorganize itself?

Limitations: damaged CNS neurons do not regenerate,

Response to damage: easier when younger (plasticity), sensory and motor neurons can make new connections

2.13 Neurogenesis

Make new neurons and connections

3.1 Consciousness

The awareness of ourselves and environments (continuum: high to low)

3.1 Consciousness physiologically induced

Hallucinations, orgasm, food/oxygen, starvation

3.1 Consciousness psychologically induced

Sensory deprivation, hypnosis, meditation

3.2 Dual processing

Process info at 2 levels, conscious (sequential and slow), and unconscious (parallel and rapid/ you feel the result and don’t know why). 80-90% of functioning is unconscious

3.4 What is sleep?

Periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness

3.4 Owls

later peak

3.4 Larks

Earlier peak

3.6 NREM-1

(10min) breathing and HR slows, muscle tension reduces (twitches), “falling,” sensory images, irregular brain waves

3.6 NREM-2

(20 min) Sleep spindles (burst of brain waves), light sleep, sleep talking begins

3.6 NREM-3

(15 min) slow delta waves, deep sleep, bed wetting, sleep walking, night terrors, still processing info

3.6.REM

(10min- 20% of sleep) Ascend through stages 3&2, dreams, eye movements, genital arousal, paralysis, deep sleep, paradoxical sleep (beta waves/same as awake)

3.7 How do biology and environment interact on our sleep patterns?

Not everyone needs the same amount of sleep, culture, age, light

3.8 Sleep functions

Evolved protection, restore immune system, memory and creativity, growth

3.9 How does sleep loss affect us?

Impairs cognitive, emotional, and physical functioning, attention, concentration, memory, depression mood energy, Diabetes, reaction time, muscle strength

3.9 Major sleep disorders

Insomnia, narcolepsy (sudden attacks of overwhelming sleepiness) sleep apnea (stopping breathing while sleeping), night terrors (NREM-3)

3.10 Freud dream theory

Wish fulfillment, Manifest (what you recall), Latent (true underlying meaning) No scientific support

3.10 Information processing dream theory

Consolidates and integrates loner term memories (REM), regular and nightly sleep is key

3.10 Physiological function dream theory

Stimulates brain function for repair and development

3.10 Cognitive development dream theory

Reflects brain and cognitive development. Dream content reflect waking development

3.10 Activation synthesis dream theory

Active brain during REM and cortex narrates it. Random activity and narration, dreams contain what the cortex knows