PSY 101 Midterm #1 Study Guide

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes

the branch of psychology concerned with the scientific investigation of basic psychological processes such as learning, memories, and cognition in humans and animals.

the branch of psychology that focuses on the study of higher mental processes, including thinking, language, memory problem solving, knowing, reasoning, judging, and decision making.

Known for inventing and developing the technique of technique and psychoanalysis. Also know for unconsciousness and internal psychology.

Known for STRUCTURALISM, the “father of experimental psychology”, and founder of the first psychological laboratory.

Known for FUNCTIONALISM, the "Father of American Psychology”, and found psychology as formal discipline.

An early approach to psychology that concentrated on what the mind does - The functions of mental activity - and the role of behavior in allowing people to adapt to their environments. (Opposite of Structuralism)

Focused on uncovering the fundamental mental components of perception, consciousness, thinking, emotions, and other kinds of mental states and activities. (Opposite of functionalism)

Focuses on the psychological drives and forces within individuals that explain human behavior and personality. (Think about Sigmund Freud)

The idea that behavior is caused primarily by choices that are made freely by the individual.

The idea that people’s behavior is produced primarily by factors outside of their willful control. (All events are governed by natural laws)

Occurs when the presence of others discourages an individual from intervening in an emergency situation against a bully, during an assault, or other crimes.

Known for his survival of an accident where a rod impaled through the majority of his left frontal lobe. Psychologists discovered the relation between personality and the front parts of brain as his personality changed drastically.

The approach through which psychologists systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interests.

1. Question

2. Research

3. Hypothesis

4. Experiment

5. Analyze Data

6. Compare hypothesis

7. Communicate results

A prediction stemming from a theory, stated in a way that allows it to be tested.

Broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interests.

The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish focus and reach new conclusions.

Research in which existing data, such as census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings are examined to test a hypothesis.

Research in which an investigator simply observes some natural behavior and does not make a change in the situation.

Research in which people chosen to represent a larger population are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, and attitude.

An in depth, intensive investigation of an individual or small group.

Correlation does not tell us the cause-and-effect relationship while causation does. Causation can occur without correlation and can only be found through experimental research.

The variable that is manipulated by the examiner.

The variable that is measured in an experiment. It is expected to change as a result of the experimenter’s manipulation of the independent variable.

Variables that affect other variables in a way that produces spurious or distorted associations between two variables. (E.g. Caffeine, Sleep, etc.)

A false treatment that the brain believes.

Opposite of PLACEBO, there IS a treatment, but the brain does not believe it.

nerve cells that are the basic element of the nervous system. They communicate and send chemical signals to one another to tell the brain how to react to stimuli.

1. Dendrites

2. Axon

3. Terminal Buttons

4. Myelin Sheath

The space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron by using chemical messages.

Chemicals that communicate messages from one neuron to another across the synapse. Acetylcholine is most common in the brain.

Brain & Spinal Cord

Anything outside of the brain and spinal cord to reach the extremities of the body. It contains two subdivisions, AUTONOMIC and SOMATIC

Part of the PNS that specializes in the control of voluntary movements and the communication of the information to and from the sense organs.

Part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary movement of the heart, glands, lungs, and other organs.

Sympathetic= Fight or Flight

Parasympathetic= Rest & Digest

A chemical communication network that sends messages throughout the body via bloodstream (hormones)

Pituitary Gland

1. EEG

2. PET

3. CAT

4. MRI

• Occipital Lobe= Vision

• Parietal Lobe= Visual, sensory, emotion

• Frontal Lobe= Executive Function

• Amygdala= Emotion

The “new brain”, responsible for most sophisticated information processing in the brain; contains four lobes.

The “bridge” between the two brain hemispheres. Contains more than 200 million myelinated nerve fibers that permit communication between the left and right sides.

Maintains homeostasis, produces and regulates vital behaviors (eating, drinking, sexual behaviors).

Major processing center for emotions, also links emotions to memories, learning, and senses.

2, Left and right.

The dominance of one hemisphere of the brain in specific functions, such as language.

The activation of the sense organs by a source of physical energy

The sorting out, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sense organs and brain.

Energy that produces a response in a sense organ.

The smallest intensity of a stimulus that must be present for the stimulus to be detected.

(A just noticeable difference). smallest levels of added or reduced stimulation required to sense that a change in stimulation occurred (50:1 ratio)

A basic law of psychophysics stating that a just noticeable differences is a constant proportion to the intensity of an initial stimulus (rather than constant amount).

an adjustment in sensory capacity after prolonged exposure to unchanging stimuli.

Thin, cylindrical receptor cells in the retina that are highly sensitive to light, they help give us good vision in low-light settings. (They process light)

Light-sensitive receptor cells in the retina that are responsible for sharp focus and color perception, particularly in bright light. (They process color)

Three:

1. Long Cones- Process red light

2. Medium Cones- Process green light

3. Short Cones- Process blue light

Trichromatic theory & Opponent process theory

Human eyes only perceive three colors of light: Red, Green, and Blue

The way humans perceive colors is controlled by three opposing systems.

The movement of air molecules brought about by a source of vibration.

Hammer, anvil, stirrup

touch, vision, taste, smell, listen

The action or capacity of smelling

sweet, sour, spicy, umami, salty

The thing that lets you feel pain.

A series of principles that describe how we organize bits and pieces of information into meaningful wholes.

Closure, proximity, similarity, and continuation.

Extrasensory perception

The awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings being experienced at a given moment.

A sleep stage that occupies 20% of an adult’s sleep time, characterized by increased heartrate, blood pressure, and breathing rate; erections; eye movement, and dreaming.

1. Evolutionary theory

2. Restoration for mind and body

3. brain and growth development

Sigmund Freud’s theory that dreams represent unconscious wishes that dreamers desire to be fulfilled.

Latent content: Underlying meaning of the dream

Manifest Content: Actual, literal subject matter

Hobson’s theory that the brain produces random electrical energy during REM sleep that stimulates energies stored in the brain.

• Insomnia

• Sleep apnea

• night terrors

• narcolepsy

• sleep talking

• sleep walking

Biological process that occur regularly on approximately a 24-hour cycle

The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

1. Depressants

2. Stimulants

3. Hallucinogens

4. Opioids