127 Cards in this Set
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What is Psychology?
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the scientific study of mind and behavior. The mind refers to the private inner experience of perceptions, thoughts, memories, and feelings. Behavior refers to the observable actions off humans being and non-human animals
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Free Will
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your behavior is completely decided by you, there are no other governing principles deciding your behavior, unable to predict behavior
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Determinism
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There are some factors or acts that determine your behavior, and therefore behavior is predictable, every behavior has a direct cause
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Mind-brain Problem: What is monism?
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A conscious experience gathered by the brain, acknowledging that the mind and the body are the same
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What is dualism?
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the idea that the mind is separate from the brain, as well that the mind controls the brain, and through the brain, the rest of the body
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Who was Descartes?
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Philosopher that argued that the body and mind were fundamentally different things, that the body is made out of a material substance, while the mind (or soul) is made out of an immaterial or spiritual substance
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What was Broca?
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worked with a patient what has suffering damage to a small portion of the left side of the brain.
-identified language production area
-He has the crucial insight that damage to a specific part of the brain impaired a specific mental function
-demonstrated that the brain and mind are c…
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Franz Gall
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-phrenology: abilities and traits are located in particular brain regions
-bumps on your skull determines traits about the person ex. Friendly, cautious
-certain kinds of functions could be identified for particular brain regions
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Wilhelm Wundt
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-made first psychological lab
-focused on structuralism: analysis of the basic components of the mind, breaking down consciousness into elemental sensations and feelings
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E. Titchener
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One of Wundt's students, migrated to US in 1892 to bring the idea of structuralism
-soon faded due mostly to the method of introspection; the subjective observation of one's own experience
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Willam James
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-wrote The Principles of Psychology
-developed a new approach called functionalism: the study of the purpose mental processes serve in enabling people to adapt to their environment
-mental abilities must have evolved because they were adaptive
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Charles Darwin
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Natural selection: variations are selected that best allow the organism to survive and reproduce
- are more likely then other features to be passed onto subsequent generations
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John B. Watson
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Established the idea of behaviorism: the study of observable, measurable behaviors
- its theoretical goal is the prediction and control of behavior
- can be observed by anyone and can be measured objectively
"Little Albert"
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B.F. Skinner
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Established the term Principles of reinforcement: the consequences of a behavior determine whether it will be more or less likely to occur again
- environment shaping behavior
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Sigmund Freud
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revolutionized psychology by proposing the existence of an "unconscious mind": a part of the mind that operates outside of conscious awareness but influences conscious thoughts, feelings, and actions; rooted in our animal origins
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Cognitive Psychology
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the scientific study of mental processes, including perceptions, thought, memory and reasoning
- asked what our limitations on our ability to process information
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Cognitive Neuroscience
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studies the links between cognitive processes and brain activity
-Karl lushly removed parts of rat brain to see if they could still remember
- need the whole brain to remember certain things
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Evolutionary Psychology
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mind and behavior is explained by adaptive value of abilities preserved by natural selection
ex. jealousy, those who were jealous were able to survive
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Cultural Psychology
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the study of how cultures reflect and shape the psychological processes of their members
absolutist: culture makes little or no difference for most psych phenomena
relativism: psych phenomena are likely to vary considerably across cultures and should be viewed only in contact of a spec…
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What do Psychologists do?
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most people with psych degrees go into clinical psychology, followed by man research positions
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Do animals have empathy?
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a human trait, yet there is growing research that empathy is present in animals
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Theory
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a comprehensive explanation of observable events and conditions
-makes precise and consistent predictions
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Falsifiability
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can find sufficient evidence that supports or disproves a theory, must be subject to scientific investigation
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Parsimony
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simple possible explanations
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Empiricism
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the belief that accurate knowledge of the world requires observation
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Hypothesis
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falsifiable prediction made by a theory
- a should statement
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Scientific Method
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a procedure for finding truth by using empirical evidence
- method to test hypothesis, with support or oppose
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Operational Definition
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defines the property to be measured in concrete terms
- defining: happiness; the frequency with which a person smiles
- detecting: a smile-detecting instrument
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Why are humans hard to study?
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1) they are extremely complicated
2) variability, no two humans are alike
3) reactivity, people act and think differently when they know they are being observed
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Validity
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the goodness with which a concrete event defines a property, when you smile thats a good indicator of happiness
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Reliability
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the tendency for the instrument to produce the same measurement whenever it is used to measure the same thing
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Power
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an instruments ability to detect small magnitudes , changes that are found in EMG are detectable
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Convenience Sample
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one that was available easily at hand and ready to study, can't generalize
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Random sample
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Each participant has an equal chance to be chosen, best way to generalize to populations
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Experimenter (observer) bias
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unintentional distortions of procedures/results based on expectations
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Single-Blind
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the researchers know which subjects are receiving the active medication or treatment and which are not
- the subjects are unaware
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Double-Blind
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an observation whose true purpose is hidden from both the observer and the person being observed
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Placebo Effect
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treatment that makes it difficult for subjects (single-blind) or subjects and experimenter (double-blind) to know
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Observational (non-experimental) research design
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Naturalistic observations: a technique for gathering scientific information by unobtrusively overseeing people in their natural environments
Case history: a thorough observation of a single individual
ex. Phineas Gage, a railroad worker explosion forced a rod through his skull, but he …
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Survey
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study of beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors based on the responses to specific questions
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Correlational studies
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comparing the patterns of variation in a series of measurements, measure of the relationship between two variables
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What is a correlation?
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pattern of covariation, or when variations in the value of one variable are synchronized with variations in the value of the other
- correlation doesn't equal causation
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Mathematical values of the correlation coefficient and what they mean
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a mathematical measure of both the direction and strength of a correlation
- can range from -1.00 to +1.00
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Third variable problem
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two variable are correlated to each other only because each is casually related to a third variable
ex. media violence does not cause aggressiveness, but is caused by lack of adult supervision
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Positive Correlations
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every time the value of one variable increases by a fixed amount the value of the second variable also increases by a fixed amount, it is positively correlated
"more with more"
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Negative Correlations
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as one variable increases the other decreases
ex. if every 30 minute increase in sleep is associated with a 2 percent decrease then sleep and memory are negatively correlated
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Independent Variable
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the manipulated, or changed variable, because it is in out control and therefore independent of what the participant says or does
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Dependent Variable
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the variable being measured, it is dependent on what the participant says or does
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Normal Distribution
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mathematically defined distribution in which the frequency of measurements is highest in the middle and decreases symmetrically in both directions
- mean, median, and mode all have the same value
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Skewed Distribution
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Items bunch at the ends, or are evenly distributed throughout
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Range
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the value of the largest measurement in a frequency distribution minus the value of the smallest measurement
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Standard Deviation
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A statistic that describes the average difference between the measurements in a frequency distribution and the mean of that distribution
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Explain why the double-blind procedure and random assignment build confidence in research findings.
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because it shows that the person doing the research is in no way favoring or effecting the results to make them go the way he/she wants them to go
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What are the rules for conducting ethical research in humans?
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Must have informed consent, freedom from coercion, protection from harm, minimal risk, and deception only when necessary.
- in animals: all procedures must be supervised by a professional who is trained in considering animals comfort, health, and humane treatment.
- must make reasonabl…
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Informed consent
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a written agreement to participate in a study made by an adult who has been informed of all the risks that participation may entail
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Debriefing
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verbal description of the true nature and purpose of a study
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Neurons
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cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform information-processing tasks
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Gila
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support cells found in nervous system
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Cell body
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coordinates the info processing tasks and keeps the cell alive
- also, where the protein synthesis, energy production and metabolism occur
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Dendrite
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receive information from other neurons and relay it to the cell body
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Axon
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carries information to other neurons, muscles or glands
- can stretch very long
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Myelin Sheath
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fatty wrap covering a neurons axon
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Action Potential
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electric stimulation of the neuron shuts down the K+ channels and opens the Na+ channels allowing the Na+ to rush in to the axon increasing the positive charge inside the axon
- after an action potential, Na+ gates close, K+ gates open, and K+ flow out of the axon
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Resting Potential
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K+ molecules flow freely in and out of cell, Na+ ions are kept out, creating a difference in electric charge between the inside and outside or neurons cell membrane, no stimulus is occurring, -70 millivolts charge
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Synapse
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a specialized junction between the two neurons where chemical messages cross from one to the other
- Synaptic transmission: once action potential reaches its terminal end and throws neuron transmitter into synaptic gap, activates receptors on dendrite
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How are neurotransmitters removed from the synapse?
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by reuptake into the sending neuron being broken down by enzymes in the synapse or binding to autoreceptors on the sending neuron
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What is Parkinson's disease?
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a movement disorder characterized by tremors and difficulty initiating movement caused by lack of dopamine
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Dopamine
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regulates motor behavior, motivation, pleasure, and emotional arousal
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GABA
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major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, stops the firing of neurons
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Serotonin
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regulates sleep and wakefulness, eating and aggressive behavior
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Glutamate
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major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, enhances the transmission of info between neurons
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Norepinephrine
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present in heightened awareness of dangers in the environment
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Acetylcholine
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contributes to the regulation of attention, learning, sleeping, dreaming and memory
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Endorphins
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dulls the experience of pain
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Agonists
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drugs that increase the action of neurotransmitter
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Antagonist
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drugs that block the function of a neurotransmitter
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Central Nervous System
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brain and spinal cord
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Peripheral Nervous Sytem
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Connect central nervous system to body's organs and muscles
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Occipital Lobe
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processes visual information
- located in back region of brain
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Temporal Lobe
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hearing and language
- located in bottom region of brain
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Frontal Lobe
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Largest tissue in front of brain, motor cortex, movement
- located in front of brain
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Parietal Lobe
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process information about touch, pain, and temperature
- located in upper back of brain
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Homunculus "Little Man"
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a rendering of the body in which each part is shown in proportion to how much the somatosensory cortex is devoted to it
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Automatic Nervous System
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Parasympathetic (calming): Sets of nerves that help the body return to normal resting state
- contracts pupils, slows heartbeat, stimulates digestive activity
Sympathetic (arousing): set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations
- dilates p…
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Midbrain
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Made up of tectum and tegmentum
- involved in orientation, movement and arousal
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Hindbrain
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area of brain that coordinates information coming in and out of the spinal cord
- medulla: breathing and heart rate
- reticular formation: arousal, sleep, wakefulness
- cerebellum: coordination, balance and timing of events
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Hypothalamus
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involved in motivated states, eating drinking and sex
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Amygdala
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emotional memories, fear and aggression
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Hippocampus
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memory
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Basal Ganglia
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Group of nuclei involved in intentional movements
- control of posture and movement
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Endocrine system
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collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, sleep, reproduction and mood
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Gene
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unit of hereditary transmission
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Chromosome
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23 strands of DNA wound in a double helix configuration
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Identical and Fraternal Twins
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The most genetically related people are monozygotic twins (identical twins), who developed from the splitting of a single fertilized egg, and therefore share 100% of their genes. Dizygotic twins (fraternal twins) develop from two separate fertilized eggs and share 50% of their genes, the…
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Heritability
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measure of the variability of behavioral traits among individuals that can be accounted for by genetic behavior
- even if two people share the same genes
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Brain Plasticity
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refers to the extraordinary ability of the brain to modify its own structure and function following changes within the body or in the external environment
Phantom limb: brain still "feels" sensations associated with the corresponding neurons in the brain
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Split-Brain
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the corpus callosum is cut to help with epileptic seizures
- patients can only say what they see on the right side of their body
- left brain: language, speaking
-right brain: face recognition
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Image based object recognition
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the objects you have seen before are saved as templates and your mind then uses those templates to identify new objects
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Parts-Based Object Recognition
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objects are stored in memory as descriptions and these descriptions are used to form a full object
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Sensation
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the basic registration of light, sound, pressure, odor or taste as parts of your body interact with the physical world
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Perception
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the organization, identification, and interpretation of a sensation in order to form a mental representation
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Process of transduction
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occurs when many sensors in the body convert physical signals from the environment into encoded neural signals sent to the central nervous system
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Psychophysics
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methods that measure the strength of a stimulus and the observers sensitivity to that stimulus
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Absolute threshold
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minimal intensity needed to just barley detect a stimulus in 50% of the traits
- it is a boundary
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Just Noticeable difference
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the minimal change in a stimulus that can just barley be detected
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Webers Law
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the just noticeable difference of a stimulus is a constant proportion despite variations in intensity
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Signal Detection theory
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the response to a stimulus depends both on a persons sensitivity in the presence of noise and on a persons decision criterion
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Components of eye
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1) Light passes through the cornea
2) then it is sent through the pupil
3) the colored part is called the iris
4) behind the iris is the retina: light-sensitive tissue lining
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Cones
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detect color, operate under normal daylight conditions and allow us to focus on fine detail
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Rods
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become active under low-light conditions for night vision
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Trichromatic Color Representation
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theory that you see in 3 peaks, in the blue, green and red wavelengths
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Color Opponent System
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pairs of visual neurons work in opposition
- the more the cones work the more fatigued they become
-Ex. after staring at a green wall and you look at a white wall, the wall will be perceived as tinted red bc green is tired
- red vs green
- blue vs yellow
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Single-Neuron Feature Detectors
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Area V1 contains populations of neurons that are specially tuned to respond to certain edges and make out certain shapes
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Ventral Stream
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travels into the lower levels of the temporal lobes
- "what" pathway
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Dorsal stream
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Travels into the parietal lobes
- "how" pathway
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Binding Problem
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How features are linked together so that we see unified objects in our visual world rather than free-floating or miscombined features
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Six Principles of perceptual organization
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1.Simplicity: Simplest explanation is usually the best
2.Closure: We tend to fill in missing elements, allowing us to fill in perceived edges that are separated by gaps
3.Continuity: We focus on continuity rather than groups
4.Similarity: Regions that are similar are perceived as belo…
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Monocular
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aspects of a scene that yield information about depth when viewed with only one eye
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Binocular
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the difference in the retinal images of the two eyes that provide information about depth
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Motion-Based Depth cues
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The motion-perception system must take into account the position and movement of your eyes in order to perceive the motions of objects correctly and allow you to approach or avoid them
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Change Blindness
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occurs when people fail to detect changes to the visual details of a scene
ex. dont notice when a person changes
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Inattention blindness
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a failure to perceive objects that are not the focus of attention
ex. focused on something else
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Ear
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the outer ear collects sound waves and funnels them toward the middle ear, which transmits the vibrations to the inner ear, embedded in the skull, where they are transducer into neural impulses
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Where are pain receptors located?
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the tissue damage that caused the pain
ex. the place on your finger that you touched the hot plate
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Referred Pain
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feeling of pain when sensory information from internal and external areas converges on the same nerve cells in the spinal cord
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Gate-Control Theory
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Signals arriving from pain receptors in the body can be stopped, or gated, by interneurons in the spinal cord via feedback from two directions
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Tonotopic Organization
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The auditory system that begins at the cochlea
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PSY 101: CHAPTER 5 TERMS