Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
psychology exam #1
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| american psychological association (APA) | professional organization representing psychologists in the united states |
| behaviorism | focus on observing and controlling behavior |
| biopsychology | study of how biology influences behavior |
| biopsychosocial model | perspective that asserts that biology, psychology, and social factors interact to determine an individual's health |
| clinical psychology | area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior |
| cognitive psychology | study of cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to experiences and actions |
| counseling psychology | area of psychology that focuses on improving emotional, social, vocational, and other aspects of the lives of psychologically health individuals |
| developmental psychology | scientific study of development across a lifespan |
| dissertation | long research paper about research that was conducted as a part of the candidate's doctoral training |
| empirical method | method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities |
| forensic psychology | area of psychology that applies the science and practice of psychology to issues within and related to the justice system |
| functionalism | focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment |
| humanism | perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans |
| introspection | process by which someone examines their own conscious experience in an attempt to break it into its component parts |
| -ology | suffix that denotes "scientific study of" |
| personality psychology | study of patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make each individual unique |
| personality trait | consistent pattern of thought and behavior |
| PhD | (doctor of philosophy) doctoral degree conferred in many disciplinary perspectives housed in a traditional college of liberal arts and sciences |
| postdoctoral training program | allows young scientists to further develop their research programs and broaden their research skills under the supervision of other professionals in the field |
| psychoanalytic theory | focus on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior |
| psychology | scientific study of the mind and behavior |
| PsyD | (doctor of psychology) doctoral degree that places less emphasis on research-oriented skills and focuses more on application of psychological principles in the clinical context |
| sport and exercise psychology | area of psychology that focuses on the interactions between mental and emotional factors and physical performance in sports, exercise, and other activities |
| structuralism | understanding the conscious experience |
| archival research | method of research using past records or data sets to answer various research questions, or to search for interesting patterns or relationships |
| attrition | reduction in number of research participants as some drop out of the study over time |
| cause-and-effect relationship | changes in one variable cause the changes in the other variable; can be determined only through an experimental research design |
| clinical or case study | observational research study focusing on one or a few people |
| confirmation bias | tendency to ignore evidence that disproves ideas or beliefs |
| confounding variable | unanticipated outside factor that affects both variables of interest, often giving the false impression that changes in one variable causes changes in the other variable, when, in actuality, the outside factor causes changes in both variables |
| control group | serves as a basis for comparison and controls for chance factors that might influence the results of the study—by holding such factors constant across groups so that the experimental manipulation is the only difference between groups |
| correlation | relationship between two or more variables; when two variables are correlated, one variable changes as the other does |
| correlation coefficient | number from -1 to +1, indicating the strength and direction of the relationship between variables, and usually represented by r |
| cross-sectional research | compares multiple segments of a population at a single time |
| debriefing | when an experiment involved deception, participants are told complete and truthful information about the experiment at its conclusion |
| deception | purposely misleading experiment participants in order to maintain the integrity of the experiment |
| deductive reasoning | results are predicted based on a general premise |
| dependent variable | variable that the researcher measures to see how much effect the independent variable had |
| double-blind study | experiment in which both the researchers and the participants are blind to group assignments |
| empirical | grounded in objective, tangible evidence that can be observed time and time again, regardless of who is observing |
| experimental group | group designed to answer the research question |
| experimenter bias | researcher expectations skew the results of the study |
| fact | objective and verifiable observation, established using evidence collected through empirical research |
| falsifiable | able to be disproven by experimental results |
| generalize | inferring that the results for a sample apply to the larger population |
| hypothesis | tentative and testable statement about the relationship between two or more variables |
| illusory correlation | seeing relationships between two things when in reality no such relationship exists |
| independent variable | variable that is influenced or controlled by the experimenter |
| inductive reasoning | conclusions are drawn from observations |
| informed consent | process of informing a research participant about what to expect during an experiment, any risks involved, and the implications of the research, and then obtaining the person's consent to participate |
| institutional animal care and use committee (IACUC) | committee of administrators, scientists, veterinarians, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving non-human animals |
| institutional review board (IRB) | committee of administrators, scientists, and community members that reviews proposals for research involving human participants |
| inter-rater reliability | measure of agreement among observers on how they record and classify a particular event |
| longitudinal research | studies in which the same group of individuals is surveyed or measured repeatedly over an extended period of time |
| naturalistic observation | observation of behavior in its natural setting |
| negative correlation | two variables change in different directions, with one becoming larger as the other becomes smaller; a negative correlation is not the same thing as no correlation |
| observer bias | when observations may be skewed to align with observer expectations |
| operational definition | description of what actions and operations will be used to measure the dependent variables and manipulate the independent variables |
| opinion | personal judgments, conclusions, or attitudes that may or may not be accurate |
| participants | subjects of psychological research |
| peer-reviewed journal article | article read by several other scientists (usually anonymously) with expertise in the subject matter, who provide feedback regarding the quality of the manuscript before it is accepted for publication |
| placebo effect | people's expectations or beliefs influencing or determining their experience in a given situation |
| population | overall group of individuals that the researchers are interested in |
| positive correlation | two variables change in the same direction, both becoming either larger or smaller |
| random assignment | method of experimental group assignment in which all participants have an equal chance of being assigned to either group |
| random sample | subset of a larger population in which every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected |
| reliability | consistency and reproducibility of a given result |
| replicate | repeating an experiment using different samples to determine the research's reliability |
| sample | subset of individuals selected from the larger population |
| single-blind study | experiment in which the researcher knows which participants are in the experimental group and which are in the control group |
| statistical analysis | determines how likely any difference between experimental groups is due to chance |
| survey | list of questions to be answered by research participants—given as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally—allowing researchers to collect data from a large number of people |
| theory | well-developed set of ideas that propose an explanation for observed phenomena |
| validity | accuracy of a given result in measuring what it is designed to measure |
| action potential | electrical signal that moves down the neuron's axon |
| adrenal gland | sits atop our kidneys and secretes hormones involved in the stress response |
| agonist | drug that mimics or strengthens the effects of a neurotransmitter |
| all-or-none | phenomenon that incoming signal from another neuron is either sufficient or insufficient to reach the threshold of excitation |
| allele | specific version of a gene |
| amygdala | structure in the limbic system involved in our experience of emotion and tying emotional meaning to our memories |
| antagonist | drug that blocks or impedes the normal activity of a given neurotransmitter |
| auditory cortex | strip of cortex in the temporal lobe that is responsible for processing auditory information |
| autonomic nervous system | controls our internal organs and glands |
| axon | major extension of the soma |
| biological perspective | view that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associated with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter systems |
| broca's area | region in the left hemisphere that is essential for language production |
| central nervous system (CNS) | brain and spinal cord |
| cerebellum | hindbrain structure that controls our balance, coordination, movement, and motor skills, and it is thought to be important in processing some types of memory |
| cerebral cortex | surface of the brain that is associated with our highest mental capabilities |
| chromosome | long strand of genetic information |
| computerized tomography (CT) scan | imaging technique in which a computer coordinates and integrates multiple x-rays of a given area |
| corpus callosum | thick band of neural fibers connecting the brain's two hemispheres |
| dendrite | branch-like extension of the soma that receives incoming signals from other neurons |
| DNA | helix-shaped molecule made of nucleotide base pairs |
| diabetes | disease related to insufficient insulin production |
| dominant allele | allele whose phenotype will be expressed in an individual that possesses that allele |
| electroencephalography (EEG) | recording the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes on the scalp |
| endocrine system | series of glands that produce chemical substances known as hormones |
| epigenetics | study of gene-environment interactions, such as how the same genotype leads to different phenotypes |
| fight or flight response | activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, allowing access to energy reserves and heightened sensory capacity so that we might fight off a given threat or run away to safety |
| forebrain | largest part of the brain, containing the cerebral cortex, the thalamus, and the limbic system, among other structures |
| fraternal twins | twins who develop from two different eggs fertilized by different sperm, so their genetic material varies the same as in non-twin siblings |
| frontal lobe | part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains motor cortex |
| functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) | MRI that shows changes in metabolic activity over time |
| gene | sequence of DNA that controls or partially controls physical characteristics |
| genetic environmental correlation | view of gene-environment interaction that asserts our genes affect our environment, and our environment influences the expression of our genes |
| genotype | genetic makeup of an individual |
| glial cell | nervous system cell that provides physical and metabolic support to neurons, including neuronal insulation and communication, and nutrient and waste transport |
| gonad | secretes sexual hormones, which are important for successful reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation and behavior |
| gyrus | bump or ridge on the cerebral cortex |
| hemisphere | left or right half of the brain |
| heterozygous | consisting of two different alleles |
| hindbrain | division of the brain containing the medulla, pons, and cerebellum |
| hippocampus | structure in the temporal lobe associated with learning and memory |
| homeostasis | state of equilibrium—biological conditions, such as body temperature, are maintained at optimal levels |
| homozygous | consisting of two identical alleles |
| hormone | chemical messenger released by endocrine glands |
| hypothalamus | forebrain structure that regulates sexual motivation and behavior and a number of homeostatic processes; serves as an interface between the nervous system and the endocrine system |
| identical twins | twins that develop from the same sperm and egg |
| lateralization | concept that each hemisphere of the brain is associated with specialized functions |
| limbic system | collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory |
| longitudinal fissure | deep groove in the brain's cortex |
| magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | magnetic fields used to produce a picture of the tissue being imaged |
| medulla | hindbrain structure that controls automated processes like breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate |
| membrane potential | difference in charge across the neuronal membrane |
| midbrain | division of the brain located between the forebrain and the hindbrain; contains the reticular formation |
| motor cortex | strip of cortex involved in planning and coordinating movement |
| mutation | sudden, permanent change in a gene |
| myelin sheath | fatty substance that insulates axons |
| neuron | cells in the nervous system that act as interconnected information processors, which are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system |
| neuroplasticity | nervous system's ability to change |
| neurotransmitter | chemical messenger of the nervous system |
| nodes of ranvier | open spaces that are found in the myelin sheath that encases the axon |
| occipital lobe | part of the cerebral cortex associated with visual processing; contains the primary visual cortex |
| pancreas | secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar |
| parasympathe tic nervous system | associated with routine, day-to-day operations of the body |
| parietal lobe | part of the cerebral cortex involved in processing various sensory and perceptual information; contains the primary somatosensory cortex |
| peripheral nervous system (PNS) | connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, organs and senses in the periphery of the body |
| phenotype | individual's inheritable physical characteristics |
| pituitary gland | secretes a number of key hormones, which regulate fluid levels in the body, and a number of messenger hormones, which direct the activity of other glands in the endocrine system |
| polygenic | multiple genes affecting a given trait |
| pons | hindbrain structure that connects the brain and spinal cord; involved in regulating brain activity during sleep |
| positron emission tomography (PET) scan | involves injecting individuals with a mildly radioactive substance and monitoring changes in blood flow to different regions of the brain |
| prefrontal cortex | area in the frontal lobe responsible for higher-level cognitive functioning |
| psychotropic medication | drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance |
| range of reaction | asserts our genes set the boundaries within which we can operate, and our environment interacts with the genes to determine where in that range we will fall |
| receptor | protein on the cell surface where neurotransmitters attach |
| recessive allele | allele whose phenotype will be expressed only if an individual is homozygous for that allele |
| resting potential | the state of readiness of a neuron membrane's potential between signals |
| reticular formation | midbrain structure important in regulating the sleep/wake cycle, arousal, alertness, and motor activity |
| reuptake | neurotransmitter is pumped back into the neuron that released it |
| semipermeable membrane | cell membrane that allows smaller molecules or molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules |
| soma | cell body |
| somatic nervous system | relays sensory and motor information to and from the CNS |
| somatosensory cortex | essential for processing sensory information from across the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain |
| substantia nigra | midbrain structure where dopamine is produced; involved in control of movement |
| sulcus | depressions or grooves in the cerebral cortex |
| synaptic cleft | small gap between two neurons where communication occurs |
| synaptic vesicle | storage site for neurotransmitters |
| temporal lobe | part of cerebral cortex associated with hearing, memory, emotion, and some aspects of language; contains primary auditory cortex |
| terminal button | axon terminal containing synaptic vesicles |
| thalamus | sensory relay for the brain |
| theory of evolution by natural selection | states that organisms that are better suited for their environments will survive and reproduce compared to those that are poorly suited for their environments |
| threshold of excitation | level of charge in the membrane that causes the neuron to become active |
| thyroid | secretes hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, and appetite |
| ventral tegmental area (VTA) | midbrain structure where dopamine is produced: associated with mood, reward, and addiction |
| wernicke's area | important for speech comprehension |
| alpha wave | type of rbrain wave characteristic during the early part of NREM stage 1 sleep, which has fairly low amplitude and a frequency of 8-12 Hz |
| beta wave | type of brain wave characteristic during wakefulness, which has a very low amplitude and a frequency of 13-30 Hz |
| biological rhythm | internal cycle of biological activity |
| central sleep apnea | sleep disorder with periods of interrupted breathing due to a disruption in signals sent from the brain that regulate breathing |
| circadian rhythm | biological rhythm that occurs over approximately 24 hours |
| codeine | opiate with relatively low potency often prescribed for minor pain |
| withdrawal | variety of negative symptoms experienced when drug use is discontinued |
| cognitive-behavioral therapy | psychotherapy that focuses on cognitive processes and problem behaviors that is sometimes used to treat sleep disorders such as insomnia |
| collective unconscious | theoretical repository of information shared by all people across cultures, as described by Carl Jung |
| consciousness | awareness of internal and external stimuli |
| continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) | device used to treat sleep apnea; includes a mask that fits over the sleeper's nose and mouth, which is connected to a pump that pumps air into the person's airways, forcing them to remain open |
| delta wave | type of brain wave characteristic during stage 3 NREM sleep, which has a high amplitude and low frequency of less than 3 Hz |
| depressant | drug that tends to suppress central nervous system activity |
| euphoric high | feelings of intense elation and pleasure from drug use |
| evolutionary psycholgy | discipline that studies how universal patterns of behavior and cognitive processes have evolved over time as a result of natural selection |
| hallucinogen | one of a class of drugs that results in profound alterations in sensory and perceptual experiences, often with vivid hallucinations |
| homeostasis | tendency to maintain a balance, or optimal level, within a biological system |
| hypnosis | state of extreme self-focus and attention in which minimal attention is given to external stimuli |
Created by:
emilybobal
Popular Psychology sets