GenPsych+Exam+1+Study+Guide

Popular Areas of Psychology

  • Clinical Psychology: Focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses.

  • Cognitive Psychology: Examines internal mental processes such as perception, memory, and problem-solving.

  • Developmental Psychology: Studies psychological growth and changes throughout a person’s lifespan.

  • Social Psychology: Explores how individuals are influenced by social environments and interactions.

  • Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Applies psychological principles to workplace environments to improve productivity and employee well-being.

Themes of Psychology

  • Nature vs. Nurture: Debate on the influence of genetics (nature) versus environment (nurture) on behavior.

  • Biological, Psychological, and Social Influences: Understanding behavior through various psychological perspectives.

  • The Mind-Body Connection: Examines how mental and physical processes influence each other.

Key Definitions

Dualism

  • The philosophical perspective that mind and body are distinct entities that interact.

Wilhelm Wundt

  • Known as the father of modern psychology, he established the first psychology lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879.

Introspection

  • A method of self-observation where individuals examine and report their thoughts and feelings.

Structuralism

  • An early school of psychology that focused on breaking down mental processes into basic components; created by Edward Titchener.

Functionalism

  • A psychological philosophy that focuses on the purpose of consciousness and behavior; associated with William James.

Evolution

  • The process through which species change over time due to natural selection and adaptation.

Theories in Psychology

Freud’s Theory

  • Sigmund Freud's theory focuses on the influence of the unconscious mind and childhood experiences on behavior.

Behaviorism

  • A school of thought that emphasizes observable behavior over internal mental states, focused on learning through conditioning.

Gestalt Psychology

  • A psychological approach that emphasizes the human ability to perceive overall patterns and structures, rather than individual components.

Experimental Methods

Steps of Performing an Experiment

  1. Formulate a hypothesis

  2. Design the study

  3. Collect data

  4. Analyze data

  5. Draw conclusions

  6. Report findings

Strictly Controlled Experiment Parts

  • Theory: A well-substantiated explanation.

  • Hypothesis: A testable prediction based on the theory.

  • Support for Theory: Results that confirm or deny the hypothesis.

  • Population: The total group being studied.

  • Sample: A subset of the population selected for the experiment.

Types of Descriptive/Observational Studies

  • Case studies: In-depth analysis of an individual or group.

  • Surveys: Questionnaires or interviews to gather data.

  • Naturalistic observation: Observing subjects in their natural environment.

Ethics in Psychology

Ethics for Animal Experiments

  • Minimize harm and distress.

  • Ensure proper care and treatment of animals.

  • Justify the need for animal research.

Ethics for Human Experiments

  • Obtain informed consent.

  • Ensure confidentiality and privacy.

  • Risk assessment and debriefing participants.

Research Methods

Correlational Study

  • A research method that examines the relationship between two variables.

  • Calculated using the correlation coefficient (r), which ranges from -1 to 1.

Neurons

Diagram of a Neuron

  • Include labels for: Cell body, dendrites, axon, myelin sheath, synapse.

Steps of Neuron Firing

  1. Resting potential.

  2. Action potential initiated when threshold is reached.

  3. Sodium channels open, causing depolarization.

  4. Potassium channels open, repolarizing.

  5. Return to resting state.

Neurotransmitter Removal

  1. Reuptake: Reabsorption of neurotransmitter by the sending neuron.

  2. Enzymatic degradation: Breakdown of neurotransmitters by enzymes.

  3. Diffusion: Movement away from the synaptic cleft.

Medications

Types of Medications

  • Psychiatric medications: Used to treat mental illnesses.

  • Neurological medications: Used to treat neurological disorders.

Neurotransmitters

Six Key Neurotransmitters

  1. Dopamine: Influences movement, learning, and pleasure.

  2. Serotonin: Regulates mood, sleep, and appetite.

  3. Norepinephrine: Involved in arousal and alertness.

  4. Acetylcholine: Plays a role in learning and memory.

  5. GABA: Inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety.

  6. Glutamate: Main excitatory neurotransmitter involved in learning.

Nervous Systems

Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

  • Central Nervous System: Comprises the brain and spinal cord.

  • Peripheral Nervous System: Connects the CNS to the limbs and organs.

Brain Anatomy

Brain Functions

  • Identify specific parts: Frontal Lobe (decision-making), Occipital Lobe (vision), Temporal Lobe (auditory processing), Parietal Lobe (sensory information).

Hormones

Steps of Hormone Release

  1. Synthesis in endocrine glands.

  2. Release into bloodstream.

  3. Transport to target organs.

  4. Bind to receptors, causing effects.

Brain Imaging Techniques

Four Main Types of Brain Scans

  1. CT Scan: Provides detailed images of brain structure.

  2. MRI: High-resolution imaging using magnetic fields.

  3. PET Scan: Shows brain activity through glucose metabolism.

  4. fMRI: Measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Nervous Systems: Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic

Sympathetic Nervous System

  • Activates the fight-or-flight response.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

  • Promotes rest and digest functions.

The Homunculus

Definition

  • A representation of the human body's sensory and motor functions on the brain's cortex.

Importance of Organization

  • Illustrates the disproportionate allocation of brain resources to different body parts, emphasizing sensitivity and motor control.