Pyschology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

behavioral genetics

studies the inheritance of traits related to behavior

behavioral neuroscience

examines the biological basis of behavior

clinical psychology

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

clinical neuropsychology

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

cognitive psych

focuses on the study of the higher mental processes

counseling psych

focuses primarily on educational, social, and career adjustment problems

cross-cultural psych

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

developmental psych

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

diversity science

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

educational psych

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

climate and environmental psych

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

evolutionary psych

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

experimental psych

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

forensic psych

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

health psych

explores the relationship between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease

industrial/organizational psych

is concerned with the psych of the workplace

personality psych

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

school psych

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

social psych

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

scientific method

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

scientific method order

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

archival research

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

naturalistic observation

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

survey research

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

ethnographic research

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

case study

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

correlational research

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

experimental research

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

experimental manipulation

the change that a researcher deliberately makes in an experiment

ethnical guidelines

- protect participants from physical and mental harm

- right of privacy

- voluntary participation

- inform about the nature of procedures

- must be reviewed before a panel

the two parts of the nervous system

central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

central nervous system

composed on the brain and spinal cord

spinal cord

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

reflex

an automatic, involuntary response to an incoming stimulus

sensory (afferent) neurons

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

motor (efferent) neurons

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

peripheral nervous system

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

divisions of the peripheral nervous system

somatic division and the autonomic division

somatic division

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

autonomic division

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

sympathetic division

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

parasympathetic division

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

evolutionary psych

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

behavioral genetics

study of the effects of heredity on behavior

endocrine system

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

hormones

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

oxytocin

pleasure and satisfaction hormone

artificial hormones

like testosterone

neurons

nerve cells that are the basic components of the nervous system

glial cells

hold neurons in place and provide nourishment for them

dendrites

part of the neuron that receives messages from other neurons

axon

carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons

terminal buttons

sends messages to other neurons, these messages are electrical

myelin sheath

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

neurons firing

- 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

action potential

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/weak stimulus

strong: higher rate of neuron's firing potential

weak: lower rate

mirror neurons

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

synapse

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

neurotransmitters

carry messages from one neuron to another

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

neuron fact

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

excitatory messages

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

inhibitory messages

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

reuptake

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

acetylcholine (ACh)

excitatory in brain and autonomic nervous system; inhibitory elsewhere

function: muscle movement, cognitive functioning

diminished levels may be related to Alzheimer's

glutamate

excitatory

function: memory

gamma-amino butyric acid (GAMA)

main inhibitory neurotransmitter

function: eating, aggression, sleeping

Dopamine (DA)

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

serotonin

Inhibitory

function: sleeping, eating, mood, pain, depression

endorphins

primarily inhibitory, except in hippocampus

function: pain suppression, pleasurable feelings, appetites, placebos

helps to elevate mood like runners high

EEG

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

used to diagnose epilepsy and learning disabilities

PET

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

fMRI

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

TMS

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.

central core

the "old brain" - similar in all vertebrates

hippothalamus

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

pituitary gland

primary gland that regulates other endocrine glands

pons

involved in sleep and arousal

reticular formation

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

Spinal cord

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

cerebral cortex

the "new brain" responsible for the most sophisticated processing

corpus callosum

bridge of fibers passing information between the two cerebral hemispheres

thalamus

relay center for cortex; handles incoming and outgoing signals

cerebellum

controls bodily balance

medulla

responsible for regulating largely unconscious functions such as breathing and circulation

limbic system

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

lobes

the four major sections of the cerebral cortex

frontal lobe

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

parietal lobe

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

temporal lobe

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

occipital lobe

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

association areas of the brain

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

neuroplasticity

the brain's ability to change throughout the life span

hemispheres

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

lateralized

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

corpus callous

connects the cerebral hemispheres of the brain

gender

the perception of being male or female

sex

sexual anatomy

gender roles

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

sexism

negative attitudes and behavior toward a person based on their gender

benevolent sexism

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

gender differences

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

socialization

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

gender schema

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

nature

hereditary factors

nurture

environmental influences

cross-sectional research

compares people of different ages at the same point in time

cohort

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

longitudinal research

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

chromosones

rod-shaped structures that contain all basic hereditary information

23 pairs

genes

smaller units in chromosomes through which genetic information is transmitted

DNA

sequences in genes that are like software

zygote

when an egg becomes fertilized by sperm

first 2 weeks of growth is called germinal period

embryo

from week 2 to week 8

fetus

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

sensitive periods

time when organisms are particularly susceptible to certain kinds of stimuli

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

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

result of an accumulation of poisons

sickle-cell anemia

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

Tay-sachs disease

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

down syndrome

extra chromosome

teratogens

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

in vitro fertilization (IVF)

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

gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT)

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

basic newborn reflexes

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)

attachment

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

Harlow experience

securely attached children

mother is a home base, they explore and come back

avoidant children

want nothing to do with mother

ambivalent children

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

authoritarian parents

rigid, strict, unsociable

permissive

easy going, lax, undemanding

authoritative

firm, sets limits, explains things with reasoning

uninvolved

detaches, no demands and no reasoning

temperament

basic, inborn characteristic way of responding and behavioral style

psychological development

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

Erikson's first stage of psychological development

trust-versus-mistrust

birth to 1.5 yrs, infants develop trust and mistrust

Erikson's second stage of psychological development

autonomy-versus-shame-and-doubt

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

Erikson's third stage of psychological development

initvative-versus-guilt

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

Erikson's fourth stage of psychological development

industry-versus-inferiority

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

cognitive development

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

Piaget's first stage

sensorimotor birth-2yr

development of object permanence, motor skills, no symbolic representation

Piaget's second stage

preoperational 2-7 years

development of language and symbolic thinking, egocentric

Piaget's third stage

concrete operational 7-12 years

development of conservation, mastery of reversibility

Piaget's fourth stage

formal operational 12 years - adult

development of logical and abstract thinking

moral level 1

preconventional morality

avoidance of punishment and desire for rewards

moral level 2

conventional

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

moral level 3

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

Piaget's fifth stage

identity vs role confusion

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

Piaget's sixth stage

intimacy vs isolation

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

Piaget's seventh stage

generativity vs stagnation

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

Piaget's eighth stage

Ego integrity vs despair

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