exam Monday

1. Foundations of Psychology

Key Ideas: Psychology = scientific study of mind & behavior
Schools of Thought:
- Structuralism (Wundt): break consciousness into parts
- Functionalism (James): focus on purpose of behaviors
- Behaviorism (Watson, Skinner): study only observable behavior
- Psychoanalysis (Freud): unconscious drives behavior
- Humanism (Rogers, Maslow): people strive for growth
Research Methods:
- Experiments (cause/effect)
- Correlational studies (relationships, not cause)
- Surveys, natural observation, case studies
Important Terms: hypothesis, variable, control group, random assignment

2. Biological Bases of Behavior

Neurons: transmit messages; key parts = dendrite, axon, synapse
Neurotransmitters:
- Dopamine: movement, reward (too much = schizophrenia)
- Serotonin: mood, sleep (low = depression)
Brain Regions:
- Frontal lobe: decision-making
- Amygdala: emotion (fear/anger)
- Hippocampus: memory
- Cerebellum: balance
Systems:
- Central (brain + spinal cord)
- Peripheral (nerves): Somatic (voluntary), Autonomic (involuntary)
  - Sympathetic = fight/flight; Parasympathetic = rest/digest

3. Sensation & Perception

Sensation: detecting stimuli (eyes, ears, skin, etc.)
Perception: interpreting info (recognizing a face)
Terms:
- Absolute threshold: smallest detectable stimulus
- Difference threshold: just noticeable difference (JND)
- Sensory adaptation: reduced sensitivity over time (e.g., smell fades)
Vision:
- Retina, rods (black/white), cones (color), optic nerve
Hearing: cochlea, hair cells

4. Consciousness

Sleep Stages:
- Stage 1-4 (deep sleep) + REM (dreams, brain active, body still)
Sleep Disorders: insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy
Drugs:
- Stimulants (caffeine, cocaine), Depressants (alcohol), Hallucinogens (LSD)
Other States: hypnosis, meditation

5. Learning

Classical Conditioning (Pavlov): learning through association
- Example: dog hears bell (neutral) → gets food (unconditioned stimulus) → salivates (response)
- Eventually, bell alone → salivation
Operant Conditioning (Skinner): behavior shaped by rewards/punishment
- Positive/negative reinforcement vs. punishment
Observational Learning (Bandura): learn by watching (Bobo doll)

6. Memory

Processes:
- Encoding (getting info in), storage, retrieval
Types of Memory:
- Sensory: very short
- Short-term: ~7 items, 20 secs
- Long-term: unlimited
Forgetting:
- Decay, interference, retrieval failure
- Flashbulb memories (high emotion) may feel vivid but aren’t always accurate

7. Cognition & Intelligence

Thinking: concepts, problem-solving, decision-making
Biases:
- Confirmation bias: focus on info that supports your belief
- Availability heuristic: judge by what’s easiest to recall
Intelligence:
- Spearman’s g factor (general intelligence)
- Gardner’s multiple intelligences
- IQ tests: measure aptitude (but culturally biased)

8. Developmental Psychology

Theories:
- Piaget: 4 stages of cognitive development (sensorimotor → formal operational)
- Erikson: 8 psychosocial stages (trust vs. mistrust, identity vs. role confusion)
Attachment:
- Harlow’s monkeys: comfort > food
- Ainsworth’s strange situation: secure vs. insecure attachment

9. Personality

Freud’s Theory: id (wants), ego (reality), superego (morals)
- Defense mechanisms: repression, denial, projection
Humanistic:
- Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (self-actualization at top)
- Rogers: self-concept, unconditional positive regard
Trait Theories:
- Big Five: OCEAN (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism)

10. Psychological Disorders

DSM-5: used to diagnose disorders
Major Types:
- Anxiety: GAD, panic, phobias
- Mood: depression, bipolar
- Schizophrenia: hallucinations, delusions
- Personality: borderline, antisocial
Causes: biological, psychological, social

11. Therapies

12. Social Psychology