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Psychology Flashcards

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6448086198StructuralismAn early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structural elements of the human mind.0
6448086199Introspectionthe examination or observation of one's own mental and emotional processes.1
6448086200FunctionalismA school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish.2
6448086201BehaviorismThe view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2)3
6448086202Humanistic PsychologyHistorically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individuals potential for personal growth.4
6448086203Cognitionthe mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses.5
6448086204Sigmund FreudThe controversial ideas of this framed personality theorist and therapist have influenced humanity self-understanding.6
6448086205Wilhelm WundtWundt established the first psychology laboratory at the university of Leipzig, Germany.7
6448086208PsychologyThe science of behavior and mental processes.8
6448086209Nature-Nurture issueThe longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today's science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.9
6448086210B.F SkinnerA leading behaviorist, Skinner rejected introspection and studied how consequences shape behavior.10
6448086211NeuroscienceHow the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences.11
6448086212EvolutionaryHow the natural selection of traits promoted the survival of genes.12
6448086213PsychodynamicHow behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts.13
6448086214BehavioralHow we learn observable responses.14
6448086215Social-culturalHow behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures.15
6448086216Biopsychosogical approachAn integrated approach that incorporates biological,psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.16
6448086217Basic researchPure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.17
6448086218Applied ResearchScientific study that aims to solve practical problems.18
6448086219PsychiatryA branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy.19
6448086220When and how did psychological science begin?Psychological science had its modern beginning with the first psychological laboratory, founded in 1879 by German philosopher and physiologist Wilhelm Wundt, and from later work of other scholars from several disciplines and many countries.20
6448086221Empirical Approachbased on evidence. Empirical data is produced by experiment and observation.21
6448086222Case studyAn observation technique in which one person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.22
6448086223Random SampleA sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.23
6448086224Naturalistic ObservationObserving and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.24
6448086225Double-blind procedureAn experimental procedure in which both of the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.25
6448086226Placeboa fake treatment, an inactive substance like sugar, distilled water, or saline solution -- can sometimes improve a patient's condition simply because the person has the expectation that it will be helpful.26
6448086227Experimental groupis the group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested. One variable is tested at a time. The experimental group is compared to a control group, which does not receive the test variable. In this way, experimental groups are used to find answers in an experiment.27
6448086228independent variableexperiment that is manipulated or changed. For example, in an experiment looking at the effects of studying on test scores, studying would be the independent variable.28
6448086229Control groupis composed of participants who do not receive the experimental treatment. When conducting an experiment, these people are randomly selected to be in this group. They also closely resemble the participants who are in the experimental group, or the individuals who receive the treatment.29
6448086230Dependent Variableis the variable that is being measured in an experiment. For example, in a study looking at how tutoring impacts test scores, the dependent variable would be the participants' test scores.30
6448086231Neurona specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell.31
6448086232Sensory NeuronsNeurons that carry incoming information from sensory receptors to the brain and spinal cord.32
6448086234Dendritea short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body.33
6448086235Axonthe long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.34
6448086236Myelina mixture of proteins and phospholipids forming a whitish insulating sheath around many nerve fibers, increasing the speed at which impulses are conducted.35
6448086237Action potentialthreshold in a neuron is the point of depolarization at which the neuron fires, transmitting information to another neuron. Psychologists use the concept of action potential threshold to explain how neurons send information to each other.36
6448086238SynapseThe junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or the synaptic cleft.37
6448086239Neurotransmittersis a chemical messenger that carries, boosts, and modulates signals between neurons and other cells in the body. In most cases, a neurotransmitter is released from the axon terminal after an action potential has reached the synapse.38
6448086241Nervous systemthe network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body.39
6448086242Central Nervous Systemthe complex of nerve tissues that controls the activities of the body. In vertebrates it comprises the brain and spinal cord.40
6448086243Peripheral nervous systemthe nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord.41
6448086244Somatic Nervous Systemdeals with our voluntary control of muscles and our five senses.42
6448086245Autonomic Nervous Systemthe part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.43
6448086246Sympathetic Nervous SystemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.44
6448086247Parasympathetic Nervous systemThe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.45
6448086248AdrenalA pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys.46
6448086249Pituitary glandthe major endocrine gland. A pea-sized body attached to the base of the brain, the pituitary is important in controlling growth and development and the functioning of the other endocrine glands.47
6448086250EndocrineThe body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.48
6448086252Electroencephalogram (EEG)is a recording of the electrical waves of activity that occur in the brain, and across its surface. Electrodes are placed on different areas of a person's scalp, filled with a conductive gel, and then plugged into a recording device.49
6448086253Positron emission tomographywhich is similar to the MRI, is a scanning method that enables psychologists and doctors to study the brain (or any other living tissue) without surgery. PET scans use radioactive glucose (instead of a strong magnetic field) to help study activity and locate structures in the body.50
6448086254MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)is a brain imaging technique that detects magnetic changes in the brain's blood flow patterns.51
6448086255Brainstemcontrols the flow of messages between the brain and the rest of the body, and it also controls basic body functions such as breathing, swallowing, heart rate, blood pressure, consciousness, and whether one is awake or sleepy. The brain stem consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.52
6448086256Medullais a section of the brain located in the brainstem which is responsible for automatic functions like breathing, blood pressure, circulation and heart functions, and digestion. It is also the area responsible for many reflexes like swallowing, vomiting, coughing, and sneezing.53
6448086257Reticular Formationis a portion of the brain that is located in the central core of the brain stem. It passes through the medulla, pons, and stops in the midbrain. Its functions can be classified into 4 categories: motor control, sensory control, visceral control, and control of consciousness. It controls arousal.54
6448086258Limbic Systema complex system of nerves and networks in the brain, involving several areas near the edge of the cortex concerned with instinct and mood. It controls the basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger) and drives (hunger, sex, dominance, care of offspring).55
6448086259Amygdalaa roughly almond-shaped mass of gray matter inside each cerebral hemisphere, involved with the experiencing of emotions.56
6448086260HypothalamusThe area of the brain that secretes substances that influence pituitary and other gland function and is involved in the control of body temperature, hunger, thirst, and other processes that regulate body equilibrium.57
6448086261Cerebral Cortexis the most important part of our brain (at least in the field of psychology) because it is what makes us human. The cerebral cortex (sometimes referred to as called "gray matter", is actually densely packed neurons. Its the information processing center.58
6448086262Frontal lobeseach of the paired lobes of the brain lying immediately behind the forehead, including areas concerned with behavior, learning, personality, and voluntary movement.59
6448086263Parientalportion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position.60
6448086264Occiputalportion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes areas that receive information from the visual fields.61
6448086265Temporal Lobeseach of the paired lobes of the brain lying beneath the temples, including areas concerned with the understanding of speech.62
6448086266PlasticityThe brains ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience.63
6448086267Corpus Callosuma broad band of nerve fibers joining the two hemispheres of the brain.64
6448086276What was William James' theory in psychology?Functionalism65
6448086277Functionalismwas a philosophy opposing the prevailing structuralism of psychology of the late 19th century. Edward Titchener, the main structuralist, gave psychology its first definition as a science of the study of mental experience, of consciousness, to be studied by trained introspection.66
6448086278What is the theory in psychology that believes that "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts"?Gestalt Psychology67
6448086279Gestalt Psychologythe study of perception and behavior from the standpoint of an individual's response to configurational wholes with stress on the uniformity of psychological and physiological events and rejection of analysis into discrete events of stimulus, percept, and response.68
6448086281According to psychoanalysis, when is the personality developed?Within the first 6 years of life69
6448086282What current theory of psychology was based off of psychoanalysis?Psychotherapy70
6448086284Who created the theory of behaviorism?John Watson71
6448086285What theory focuses on learned behaviors and was based on Pavlov's experiment?Behaviorism72
6448086286What was William James's area of specialization?Functionalism73
6448086287Which of the seven modern perspectives focuses on the way people act when they are alone vs when they're with family, friends, classmates, etc.?Sociocultural Perspective74
6448086288Which of the seven modern perspectives focuses on the part biological processes play on the mind?Biopsychological Perspective75
6448086289Which of the seven modern perspectives focuses on the biological bases for universal mental characteristics that all humans share?Evolutionary Perspective76
6448086290Which of the seven modern perspectives focuses on people's abilities to direct their own lives, have free will, and strive for self-actualization?Humanistic Perspective77
6448086291Which of the seven modern perspectives stemmed from Watson's behaviorism but was taken over by BF Skinner?Behavioral Perspective78
6448086292Which of the seven modern perspectives stemmed from Freud's psychoanalysis?Psychodynamic Perspective79
6448086294What are the four main goals of psychology?Description, Explanation, Prediction, and Control80
6448086296What is the measure of the relationship between two variables?Correlation81
6448086297All-or-none responsea neuron's reaction of either firing with a full-strength response or not firing.82
6448086298AcetylcholineA neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement, attention, arousal, memory, and emotion.83
6448086299DevelopmentChanges that take place socially, cognitively and physically across the life span84

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