Pysch 100 Exam 1 Flashcards

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

studies the inheritance of traits related to behavior

examines the biological basis of behavior

deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders

unites the areas of biopsychology and clinical psychology, focusing on the relationship between biological factors and psychological disorders

focuses on the study of the higher mental processes

focuses primarily on educational, social, and career adjustment problems

investigates the similarities and differences in psychological functioning in and across various cultures and ethnic groups

examines how people grow and change from the moment of conception through death

focuses on how society's diversity affects individual and group behavior

is concerned with teaching and learning processes, such as the relationship between motivation and school performance

considers how climate change affects behavior and the relationship between people and their physical environment

considers how behavior is influenced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors

studies the processes of sensing, learning, and thinking about the world

focuses on legal issues such as determining the accuracy of witness memories

explores the relationship between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease

is concerned with the psych of the workplace

focuses on the consistency in people's behavior over time and the traits that differentiate one person from another

is devoted to counseling children in elementary and secondary schools who have academic or emotional problems

is the study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others

the approach used by psychologists to systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest

theory/idea -> hypothesis -> test -> conclude/repeat

existing data, such as census documents, college records, online databases, etc are examined to test a hypothesis

the investigator observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not interfere or change the situation

a sample of people chosen to represent a larger group of interest (population) is asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, and/or attitudes

seeks to understand the attitudes and values of a culture using an in-depth, extended examination of people in their own environment.

is an in-depth, intensive investigation of a single individual or small group.

two sets of variable are examined to determine whether they are associated or correlated.

a researcher investigates the relationship between two or more variables by deliberately changing one variable in a controlled situation and observing the effects of the change

the change that a researcher deliberately makes in an experiment

- protect participants from physical and mental harm

- right of privacy

- voluntary participation

- inform about the nature of procedures

- must be reviewed before a panel

central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

composed on the brain and spinal cord

thickness of a pencil, contains a bundle of neurons that leaves the brain and runs down the length of the back

an automatic, involuntary response to an incoming stimulus

transmit information from the perimeter of the body to the central nervous system and the brain

communicate information in the opposite direction, sending messages from the brain and nervous system to the muscles and glands

branches out from the spinal cord and brain and reaches the extremities of the body; made up of neurons with long axons and dendrites; everything except from the brain and spinal cord

somatic division and the autonomic division

division of the peripheral nervous system; specializes in the control of voluntary movements

division of the peripheral nervous system; specializes in the control of the parts of the body that automatically function to keep us alive

part of the autonomic nervous system; prepares the body for action in stressful situations by engaging all the organism's resources to run away or confront the threat

part of the autonomic nervous system; acts to calm the body after the emergency has ended

the branch that seeks to identify how behavior is influenced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestor

study of the effects of heredity on behavior

a chemical communication network that sends messages throughout the body via the bloodstream; secretes hormones

chemicals that circulate through the blood and regulate the functioning or growth of the body

pleasure and satisfaction hormone

like testosterone

nerve cells that are the basic components of the nervous system

hold neurons in place and provide nourishment for them

part of the neuron that receives messages from other neurons

carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons

sends messages to other neurons, these messages are electrical

a protective coating of fat and protein that wraps around the axon; helps to increase velocity with the electrical messages/impulses

- either fire or don't (all or none law)

- resting state (negative electrical charge of about 70 millivolts)

- when a message arrives at a neuron the cell membrane briefly opens to allow the positive charge in

moves from one end of the axon to the other like a flame moving along a fuse. it is the electrical impulse that travels after the positive charge reaches the critical level

strong: higher rate of neuron's firing potential

weak: lower rate

neurons that fire not only when a person enacts a particular behavior but also when they simply observe another individual carrying out the same behavior

chemical connection that bridges the gap between two neurons - this is where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron by using chemical messages

carry messages from one neuron to another

not all neurons are capable of receiving the chemical message carried by a particular neurotransmitter

messages inside neurons are transmitted in electrical form, whereas messages traveling between neurons travel via chemical means

chemical messages that make it more likely that a receiving neuron will fire

provide chemical information that prevents or decreases the likelihood that the receiving neuron will fire

the process in which a neurotransmitter produced by a terminal button is reabsorbed by the terminal button - helps to prevent constant stimulation or inhibition of receiving neurons

excitatory in brain and autonomic nervous system; inhibitory elsewhere

function: muscle movement, cognitive functioning

diminished levels may be related to Alzheimer's

excitatory

function: memory

main inhibitory neurotransmitter

function: eating, aggression, sleeping

inhibitory or excitatory

function: movement control, pleasure and reward, attention

Parkinson's disease is caused by a deficiency of dopamine in the brain

Schizophrenia is caused by high levels of dopamine

Inhibitory

function: sleeping, eating, mood, pain, depression

primarily inhibitory, except in hippocampus

function: pain suppression, pleasurable feelings, appetites, placebos

helps to elevate mood like runners high

records electrical activity in the brain creates a pictorial representation of the brain.

used to diagnose epilepsy and learning disabilities

show biochemical activity within the brain at a given moment. used radioactive liquid to determine active regions

used to help diagnose memory problems, and tumors

3-D computer-generated image of the brains structures and activity by aiming a powerful magnetic field at the brain

uses magnetic fields to produce an understanding of the functioning of the brain. researchers can note the effects of a small regions interruption on normal brain functioning.

the "old brain" - similar in all vertebrates

responsible for regulating basic biological needs: hunger, thirst, temperature control

primary gland that regulates other endocrine glands

involved in sleep and arousal

a network of neurons related to sleep, arousal, and attention

responsible for communication between the brain and the rest of the body; involved with simple reflexes

the "new brain" responsible for the most sophisticated processing

bridge of fibers passing information between the two cerebral hemispheres

relay center for cortex; handles incoming and outgoing signals

controls bodily balance

responsible for regulating largely unconscious functions such as breathing and circulation

donut-shaped structure, including the amygdala and hippocampus, has some pleasure centers

controls a variety of basic functions relating to emotions and self-preservation (reproduction, eating, etc)

injury to the amygdala can promote excess aggression

the four major sections of the cerebral cortex

made up of motor area (in control of voluntary movement) and Broca's area (speech and language)

somatosensory area (encompasses specific locations associated with the ability to perceive touch and pressure in a particular part of the body; more sensitive the body part is the greater the area devoted to it in the brain - our fingers is largest) and somatosensory association area

primary auditory area (sense of hearing), Wernicke's area (understanding others speech and language), auditory association area

visual area (stimulation by electrodes produces flashes of light or colors) and visual association area

site of higher mental processes such as thinking, language, memory, and speech

the brain's ability to change throughout the life span

symmetrical let and right halves of the brain, control opposite side of the body

certain behaviors are more likely to reflect activity in one hemisphere than in the other

language processing occurs more on the left and right is non verbal like patterns and drawings

connects the cerebral hemispheres of the brain

the perception of being male or female

sexual anatomy

set of expectations defined by a society based on whats appropriate for men and women

negative attitudes and behavior toward a person based on their gender

attitudes relating to gender that appear on the surface to be beneficial to women but are, in reality, harmful

caused by a combination of biological, evolutionary, and social factors

the process by which individuals learn the rules and norms of appropriate behavior in a given society or culture

a mental framework that organizes and guides a child's understanding of information relevant to gender

hereditary factors

environmental influences

compares people of different ages at the same point in time

group of people who grow up at similar times, similar places, and similar conditions

assesses the behavior of one or more participants as the participants get older

rod-shaped structures that contain all basic hereditary information

23 pairs

smaller units in chromosomes through which genetic information is transmitted

sequences in genes that are like software

when an egg becomes fertilized by sperm

first 2 weeks of growth is called germinal period

from week 2 to week 8

responds to touch, week 16-18 its movements become strong enough for mother to sense them

age of visibility at week 22

week 24 there are many characteristics that will be visible at birth

time when organisms are particularly susceptible to certain kinds of stimuli

child born with PKU cannot produce an enzyme that is required for normal development

result of an accumulation of poisons

one of a group of diseases that gets it's name from abnormally shaped red blood cells. causes pain, yellowish eyes, stunted growth, and vision problems

a disorder most often found in Jews, usually die by 3 or 4 due to an inability to break down fat

extra chromosome

environmental agents such as drugs, chemicals, virus, or other factor that produces a birth defect

women's eggs are removed and mans sperm fertilizes the egg in a lab, fertilized egg is implanted back into woman

procedures where fertilized eggs are implanted into a woman's fallopian tubes

rooting (turn their heads towards things that touch their cheeks), sucking (suck things that touch their lips), gag (to clear throat), Babinski (toes fan out), startle (flings out arms, fans fingers, arches back)

the positive emotional bond that develops between a child and a particular individual

Harlow experience

mother is a home base, they explore and come back

want nothing to do with mother

back and forth, can't decide if they want mother

rigid, strict, unsociable

easy going, lax, undemanding

firm, sets limits, explains things with reasoning

detaches, no demands and no reasoning

basic, inborn characteristic way of responding and behavioral style

involves changes in our interactions and understanding of one another as well as in our knowledge and understanding of ourselves as members of society

trust-versus-mistrust

birth to 1.5 yrs, infants develop trust and mistrust

autonomy-versus-shame-and-doubt

1.5 yr to 3 yrs, toddlers develop independence and autonomy if supported by caregivers

initvative-versus-guilt

3-6 years, desire to act independenly conflicts with the guilt that comes

industry-versus-inferiority

ages 6-12 years, efforts to meet the challenged presented by parents, peers, school, etc.

the process by which a child's understanding of the world changes due to their age and experience

sensorimotor birth-2yr

development of object permanence, motor skills, no symbolic representation

preoperational 2-7 years

development of language and symbolic thinking, egocentric

concrete operational 7-12 years

development of conservation, mastery of reversibility

formal operational 12 years - adult

development of logical and abstract thinking

preconventional morality

avoidance of punishment and desire for rewards

conventional

membership in a society becomes important at this level, want to win approval of others

postconventional

people accept that there are certain broad principles of morality that should govern our actions. these principles are more important than laws of society

identity vs role confusion

adolescence, uniqueness of self and knowledge of a role to be followed

intimacy vs isolation

early adulthood, development of loving, sexual relationships and close friendships

generativity vs stagnation

middle adulthood, sense of contribution to continuity of life (helping next generation)

Ego integrity vs despair

late adulthood, sense of unity in life's accomplishments (looking back)