Psychology (starred material)
Terms
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- Selective attention
- Giving priority to a particular incoming sensory message.
- Closure
- Gestalt term for the perceptual tendency to complete figures by closing or ignoring small gaps.
- Continuity (continuation)
- Perceptions tend toward simplicity and continuity.
- Common region
- Stimuli that are found within a common area tend to be seen as a group.
- Perceptual set (perceptual expectancy)
- A readiness to percieve in a particular manner, induced by strong expectations.
- Limbic system
- A system of interconnected structures in the forebrain that are closely associated with emotional response.
- Hypothalamus (feeding, fleeing, fighting, f*cking)
- A small area at the base of the brain that regulates many aspects of motivation and emotion, especially hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior.
- Prefrontal cortex
- Executive functions. Planning, and decision making.
- Association areas
- Neural nets - community of neurons that function together. The highest levels of mental function take place within the association areas.
- Plasticity
- The brains capacity for revising its organization.
- Autonomic nervous system
- The neural system that connects the brain with the internal organs and glands.
- Sympathetic system
- A branch of the autonomic system responsible for arousing and activating the body at times of stress.
- Parasympathetic system
- A branch of the autonomic system responsible for quieting the body and conserving energy.
- Central nervous system
- The brain and spinal cord.
- Neurons
- Individual nerve cells. Basic building blocks of a nervous system.
- Neurotransmitters
- Any number of chemical substances secreted by neurons that alter activity in other neurons.
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Classical conditioning
(respondent conditioning) - Basic form of learning in which existing reflex responses come to be elicited by new stimuli
- Ivan Pavlov
- Russian physiologist, observed classical conditioning in the salivation of dogs.
- John B. Watson
- 1913; Behaviorism: study of overt observable behavior.
- Unconditioned stimulus (US or UCS)
- A stimulus innately capable of eliciting a response.
- Unconditioned response (UR or UCR)
- An innate reflex response elicited by an unconditioned stimulus.
- Conditioned stimulus (CS)
- A previously neutral stimulus that acquires the capacity to evoke a response by being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.
- Conditioned response (CR)
- A reflex response linked to a new stimulus through learning.
- Stimulus generalization
- The tendency to respond to stimuli similar to, but not identical to, a conditioned stimulus.
- Expectancies (stimulus, organism, response)
- An anticipation concerning future events or relationships.
- Conditioned emotional response
- An emotional response that has been linked to a previously non-emotional stimulus by classical conditioning.
- Biological predisposition
- The presumed biological readiness of humans to learn certain skills, such as how to use language.
- Operant conditioning
- Learning based on the consequences of responding.
- (Edward Thorndike's) Law of Effect
- Responses that lead to desirable effects are repeated; those that produce undesirable results are not.
- Positive Reinforcement
- Occurs when a response is followed with a reward or other positive event.
- Negative reinforcement
- Occurs when a response is followed with an end to discomfort or with the removal of a negative state of affairs.
- Continuous reinforcement
- Reinforcer follows every correct response.
- Partial reinforcement (intermittent reinforcement)
- A pattern in which only some responses are reinforced.
- Premack principle
- Any high-frequency response can be used to reinforce a low-frequency response.
- Shaping
- The gradual molding of responses to a desired pattern.
- Observational learning
- Learning achieved by watching and imitating the actions of another or noting the consequences of those actions.
- Albert Bandura
- Canadian psychologist most famous for his work on social learning theory (or Social Cognitivism) and self efficacy.
- Social learning theory
- An approach that combines learning principles with cognitive processes (perception, thinking, anticipation), plus the effects of observational learning, to explain behavior.
- Consciousness
- Consists of all sensations, perceptions, memories, and feelings you are currently aware of.
- Circadian rhythms
- Cyclical changes in bodily function and arousal that vary on a schedule approximating one 24-hour day.
- Microsleep
- A momentary shift in brainwave patterns to those of sleep.
- Information processing
- The changing of information in any manner detectable by an observer.
- Wilhelm Wundt
- 1879; Introspection; First psychological laboratory.
- Introspection
- Looking inward.
- Structuralism
- School of thought concerned with analyzing experiences into basic building blocks.
- Edward Tichener
- Structuralism; [Picture - the structure of a tick.]
- Functionalism
- 1890; School of psyc concerned with how behavior and mental abilities help people adapt to environment.
- Wiliam James
- Functionalism; Wrote "The Principals of Psychology;"
- Sigmund Freud
- 1900; Psychoanalysis: explores unconcious conflicts and emotional problems.
- Gestalt Psychology
- 1929; Max Wertheimer; Studied thinking, learning, and perception as whole units.
- Humanism
- 1940's; Carl Rogers; focuses on subjective human experience.
- Psychology
- Scientific study of behavior and mental processes. (SS of BuMP)
- Research Areas in Psychology
- Developmental, learning, personality, sensation and perception. (DEViL PERSON SiNS PERfectly)
- Goals of Psychology
- Describe, Understand, Predict, Control (Influence). (goals = DUP_C)
- Five views of Behavior
- (PBHBC - Psycho, Behave!Humans Be Cool)Psychodynamic, Behavioristic, Biopsychological, Cognitive.
- Psychodynamic
- Behavior is directed by forces within one's personality that are often hidden or unconcious.
- *Humanistic
- Behavior is guided by one's self-image by perceptions of the world and by needs for personal growth.
- *Biopsychological
- Human and animal behavior is the result of internal physical, chemical and biopsychological processes.
- *Cognitive
- Much human behavior can be understood in terms of the mental processing of information.
- **Critical Thinking
- (A_SCEC)An ability to analyze, synthesize, critique, evaluate, and compare information.
- *Temperament
- Physical core of personality, including emotional and perceptual sensitivity, energy levels, typical mood, irritability, and distractibility.
- *Secure Attachment
- Stable and positive emotional bond.
- *Insecure avoidant attachment
- Anxious emotional bond marked by tendancy to avoid reunion w/ parent or caregiver.
- *Separation anxiety
- Distress displayed by infants when tehy are separated from their parents or caregivers.
- *Parenting styles
- Authoritarian, Authoritative, Overly Permissive.
- *Authoritarian Parents
- Enforce rigid rules and demand strict obedience to authority.
- *Overly Permissive
- Give little guidance, allow too much freedo, or do not require the child to take responsibility.
- *Authoritative
- Supply firm and consistent guidance combined with love and affection.
- *Jean Piaget
- Believed all children pass through a series of distinct intellectual development.
- **SCHEMA
- Conceptual framework for organizing information.
- Overly Permissive
- Give little guidance, allow too much freedom, or do not require the child to take responsibility.
- Jean Piaget
- Believed all children pass through a series of distinct intellectual development.
- *Behavioristic
- Behavior is shaped and controlled by one's environment.
- Insecure avoidant attachment
- Anxious emotional bond marked by tendancy to avoid reunion w/ parent or caregiver.
- Authoritative
- Supply firm and consistent guidance combined with love and affection.
- **Perceptual Set/Expectancy
- A readiness to percieve in a particular manner, induced by strong expectations.
- Sleep stage 2
- EEG includes sleep spindles.
- Beta brain waves
- Awake
- Alpha brain waves
- Drowsy
- REM Sleep
- Fast irregular EEG paterns. Characteristics of stage 1 sleep. Theta-like, vivd dreaming.
- NREM Sleep
- Characteristics of stages 2, 3, and 4. Increases after physical exertion.
- Partial reinforcement
- Portion of responses are rewarded.
- Premack Principal
- David Premack; High-rate behaviors can be used as rewards for low-rate behaviors; Anything done can serve as reinforcement.
- Observational Learning (Modeling)
- 1971; Albert Bandura; Acheived by watching and imitating the actions of another person.
- Types of Discipline
- Power assertion; Withdrawal of love; Management techniques
- Power Assertion
- The use of physical punishment to enforce child discipline.
- withdrawal of love
- Withholding affection to enforce child discipline.
- Management techniques
- Combine praise, recognition, approval, rules, reasoning, etc. to enforce child discipline.
- Contiguity
- Nearness in time and space. Often responsible for the perception that one thing has caused another.
- Left Hemisphere
- Language (speaking, writing, understanding). Math, judging time and rhythm. Broca's/Wernicke's Area.
- Heredity
- Nature; Genetics passed from parent to child. (Her mother nature.)
- Teratogens
- Anything capable of causing birth defects.
- Random and Representative Samples
- A small group that accurately reflects a larger population.
- Correlation (Correlational study)
- Positive and negative correlation. Coefficient correlation (-1.00 to +1.00) DOES NOT PROVE CAUSE AND EFFECT.
- Hypothesis
- A tentative explanation of an event or relationship.
- Independent Variable
- Condition being investigated as a possible cause of some change in behavior.
- Dependent Variable
- Condition being measured.
- Placebo
- Changes in one's behavior caused by belief one has taken a drug.
- Biopsychosocial model
- A way of looking at the mind and body of a patient as two important systems that are interlinked.
- DSM-IV-TR
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, handbook used most often in diagnosing mental disorders.
- Maladaptive
- Behavior making it difficult to adapt to the environment and demands of day-to-day life.
- Major depression
- a serious disorder marked by sadness, fatigue, changes in sleep patterns, difficulty thinking and concentrating, changes in appetite, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal thoughts.
- Dysthymia
- a form of the mood disorder of depression characterised by a lack of enjoyment/pleasure in life that continues for at least six months. It differs from clinical depression in the severity of the symptoms.
- Self-fulfilling prophecy
- An expectation that prompts people to act in ways that make the expectation come true.
- Somatoform disorder
- The presence of physical symptoms that mimic disease or injury for which there is no identifiable physical cause.
- Hypochondriasis
- A preoccupation with minor bodily problems and the presence of illnesses that appear to be imaginary.
- Pain disorder
- Pain that has no identifiable physical cause and appears to be of psychological origin.
- Conversion disorder
- A symptom or disability that appears to be physical but that actually results from anxiety, stress, or emotional conflict.
- Dissociative disorder
- Temporary amnesia, multiple personality, or depersonalization.
- Depersonalization
- An alteration in the perception or experience of one's self.