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Intro to Psychology
Psychology Study Cards
172
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
11/15/2009

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
5 Factor Model
Definition

Model that describes all emotions that humans vary on.

  • O-Openness to Experience
  • C-Conscientiousness
  • E-Extroversion
  • A-Agreeableness
  • N-Neuroticism

Term
What is abnormal?
Definition
Defined as "thoughts and behaviors that are maladaptive within one's own culture, and interferes with one aspect of their life."
Term
Primary Emotions
Definition
Evolutionary and cross-cultural adaptive emotions: anger, fear, happiness
Term
Secondary Emotions
Definition
Blends of Primary emotions
Term
What is reflected in personality?
Definition

  1. Learning
  2. Cognition
  3. Biology
  4. Culture

Term
Kluver-Bucy Syndrome
Definition

Damage to Amygdala

  • Hyper sexuality
  • objects in mouth
  • loss of fear/flat affect

Term
Describe Silva & Stanton's Temperament Study
Definition

Classified babies as : well-adjusted, undercontrolled, and inhibited

 

Found that these temperaments predicted behavior later in life. Undercontrolled and inhibited were more likely to have antisocial disorder, alcohol problems, or have a criminal record. 

Term
Is personality set, or does it change?
Definition

Personality changes over time, though the older the individual, the more set their personality tends to be.

Term
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Definition

Pyramid that details the base needs of human beings for progression towards "Self-Actualization". Each step forms a road block to the other steps. 

 

"If you are unable to find food, you focus on finding food, not getting an education."

Term
Humanism
Definition
Believed that humans are innately good. Believed people worked to fulfill their human potential. Focused on thoughts and ideologies.
Term
Personality
Definition
Thoughts, behaviors, characteristics, and emotional responses that are STABLE OVER TIME.
Term
Psychoanalysis
Definition
Freud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to unconscious motives and conflicts.
Term
Id, Ego, Superego
Definition

  • Id: The unconscious well of base human emotions that seek pleasure.
  • Ego: The conscious executive mediator between the superego and the id. 
  • Superego: Internalized ideals and thoughts that give the ego a basis of conscientiousness. 

Term
Psychosexual Stages
Definition

  • Oral (0-18 mos.): Pleasure centers on mouth
  • Anal(18-36 mos.): Pleasure centers on bowel and bladder elimination; coping with demand for control.
  • Phallic(3-6 years): Pleasure zone is genitals, coping with incestuous sexual feelings.
  • Latency (6 yrs. -puberty): dormant stage
  • Genital(Puberty on): Maturation of sexual interests.

Term
Fixation
Definition
Freud's term for lingering in an earlier psychosexual stage.
Term
Defense Mechanisms
Definition

  • Regression
  • Repression
  • Reaction Formation
  • Projection
  • Rationalization
  • Displacement

Term
Collective Unconscience
Definition
Common reservoir of images derived from our specie's universal experiences
Term
Thematic Aperception Test
Definition
View ambiguous images and make up stories about them. Hopes to pick up in Projection.
Term
Rorschach Ink-Blot
Definition
What we see supposedly reflects our inner feelings and emotions.
Term
Emotional Map
Definition
Based on Activation-Deactivation and Unpleasant
Term
James-Lange Theory
Definition
This theory states that emotion stems from physiological responses: You are afraid because your heart is racing.
Term
Cannon-Bard Theory
Definition
This theory states that the mind and body act separately with emotion: Your heart races at the same time you become afraid.
Term
Pathways to the Amygdala
Definition

  1. Quick Route: Through the Thalamus directly to the Amygdala. Less perception but prepares you to react.
  2. Deliberate Route: Through Thalamus to Sensory Cortex to Frontal Lobe then to Amygdala. Better processing of the stimulation.

Term
Two-Factor Theory
Definition
This theory states that the brain perceives the response and produces a physiological response and applies a cognitive label, which combine to produce the emotion.
Term
Darwin's Opinion of Emotions
Definition

  • Aid in memory
  • Capture attention
  • Make decisions
  • Interpersonal Relationships

Term
Autism
Definition

Developmental disorder that can vary in severity. Prevents the person from understanding emotional cues. "Can't read the billboard."

Term
William's Syndrome
Definition
Those afflicted are always in a good mood. Permanently positive attitude.
Term
Orbitofrontal cortex
Definition

Involved with risk assessment and reward value in situations. Damage can cause excessive gambling, uncontrolled swearing, and emotional detachment.

 

"Faux Pas" Test

Term
Lateralized Emotions (Activation by Hemisphere)
Definition

 

  • Left- Happiness, self-confidence, positive
  • Right- Depression, detecting emotional tones in speech, faces, contexts

 

Term
DSM-IV
Definition

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

 

  • Reference Guide to mental disorders. Helps diagnose by observable and reportable symptoms.

Term
Bio-Psych-Social Perspective Medical Model
Definition
Name for the model used in diagnosing and treating mental disorders
Term
5 Axis of Diagnosis
Definition

  • Axis I: Clinical Disorders(schizophrenia, mood, anxiety, sexual & gender, eating disorders)
  • Axis II: Mental Retardation and Personality Disorders
  • Axis III: Relevant Medical Disorders
  • Axis IV: Environmental and Psychosocial
  • Axis V: Global Assessment of Function (GAF)- ranks you 1-100, 1-10 being dangerous to self and others, 100 being superior

Term
Anxiety Disorders
Definition

  • Excessive Anxiety in the absence of true danger. Feel tense, anxious, apprehensive; psychologically and physically
  • Chronic Arousal of Sympathetic nervous system

Term
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Definition
Not related to any specific situation. Causes distractability, fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, irritability.
Term
Panic Disorder
Definition

Causes Panic attacks that can be cued internally or externally. Symptoms of paralyzing terror, lasting for several moments.

 

Symptoms: sweating, heart pounding, feeling of dying, numbness, tingling, short breath

Term
Panic Disorder w/ Agoraphobia
Definition

Anxiety Disorder with a fear of being unable to escape in situations.

 

ex: crowded mall, traffic jam, etc.

Term
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Definition

Obsessions – recurrent, intrusive, unwanted

thoughts, ideas, images.

  (ex: hitting someone with car, violent images, fear of germs, accidents)

Compulsions – behaviors that patients feel compelled to perform over & over & over.

OCD patient realize their thoughts & behaviors are irrational but cannot stop.

Term
Causes of Anxiety and OCD
Definition
Part Biology, part Conditioning. In OCD, reduction of anxiety is a reinforcing act. If it makes you feel better, you are more likely to do it again.
Term
Caudate Nucleus (Basal Ganglia)
Definition
Basal Ganglia are smaller in OCD sufferers. This area controls impulses.
Term
Mood Disorder
Definition
Extreme emotions that are maladaptive. Depression most common.
Term
Major Depression
Definition

Major Depression – depressed (irritable) mood or loss of interest

(ahendonia).

  Sleep Disturbance, weight change, loss of energy, guilt, thoughts of death & suicide.

  An episode lasts approx. 6 months

   90% recover w/ 50% relapsing at some point in life.

Term
Dysthmia
Definition

mild to moderate symptoms of depression. Suffer on most days for at least 2 years.

can last up to 20+ years.

Term
Treating Depression
Definition

 

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy combined with medication is highly successful in relieving symptoms and preventing relapse.
  • Therapy helps patients think more adaptively

 

Term
psychology
Definition
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Term
empiricism
Definition
knowledge originates in experience
Term
structuralism
Definition
Use introspection to examine the mind
Term
functionalism
Definition
focus on how mental and behavioral processes function
Term
Biopsychosocial Approach
Definition
Integrated viewpoint that offers varied levels of analysis. Gives a clearer picture of any mental process or behavior.
Term
Case Study
Definition
When psychologists study a single isolated case
Term
illusory correlation
Definition
Human tendency to see a pattern where there is none
Term
Independent variable
Definition
Can be varied by the researcher
Term
Dependent variable
Definition
It is controlled by the independent variable
Term
Biological Psychology
Definition
Branch of psychology concerned with the link between biology and behavior
Term
Neuron
Definition
a nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system
Term
dendrite
Definition
The bushy, branching extensions of the neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Term
axon
Definition
the tail of the neuron that sends messages to other neurons or muscle fibers
Term
myelin sheath
Definition
layer of fatty tissue that coats the fibers of many neurons. Enables faster transmission speed.
Term
Action Potential
Definition
a neural impulse. brief electrical charge that travels down the axon. The charge is generated by positively charged atoms moving in and out of the axon's membrane.
Term
Threshold (neuron)
Definition
The total level of activation required to trigger an action potential. Stimulation from other neurons collectively decide if the neuron will fire. Some excite, some inhibit.
Term
Neurotransmitters
Definition
Chemicals that are released by one neuron and traverse the synaptic gap from axon fibers to another cell's dendrites. Different chemicals do different things.
Term
Acetyl Choline
Definition
Learning and memory, muscle function
Term
Endorphins
Definition
Linked to pain control and pleasure.
Term
Nervous System
Definition
The electrochemical communication network
Term
Central Nervous System
Definition
Brain and Spinal Cord
Term
Agonist
Definition
Mimics the effects of a neurotransmitter: Morphine mimcs endorphins
Term
Antagonist
Definition
Prevents activation of a site: Some poisons paralyze by inhibiting acetyl choline
Term
Somatic nervous system
Definition
Controls voluntary motion of skeletal muscles.
Term
Autonomic nervous system
Definition
Controls glands and muscles of internal organs
Term
Sympathetic Nervous System
Definition
Arouses the body and mobilizes for "fight or flight". Stops digestion, pumps blood to muscles, raise blood sugar, increase heartrate.
Term
Parasympathetic Nervous system
Definition
Reduces heartrate, increases digestion, lowers blood sugar, calms the body
Term
Spinal reflex
Definition
Automatic reaction to stimuli that does not require the brain
Term
Endocrine System
Definition
System that releases hormones in to the blood stream
Term
Thalamus
Definition
Receives sensory information (All BUT smell) and routes to proper brain area.
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
"little brain" Handles sensory input as well as voluntary movement and balance.
Term
Limbic System
Definition

Associated with emotions: fear, aggression, drive for food and sex.

Hypothalamus, Hippocampus, Amygdala

Term
Reticular Formation
Definition
Controls arousal
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
Governs endocrine system and is related to emotion and basic bodily maintenance.
Term
Glial Cells
Definition
Support and nourish the neurons
Term
Frontal Lobe
Definition
Speaking, judgement, decision making, risk, Personality, behavior, Memory, movement.
Term
Parietal Lobe
Definition

Sensory input for touch and body position.

Contains map of body. Somatosensory Cortex

Term
Occipital Lobe
Definition
Controls vision and receives visual sensory information
Term
Temporal Lobes
Definition

Receives auditory information from the opposite ear.

Also: Memory and recognition of faces.

Term
Cerebral Cortex
Definition
The outer layer that covers the hemispheres. Information processing area.
Term
Motor Cortex
Definition
Part of the frontal lobe; controls voluntary movement
Term
Aphasia
Definition
impairment of language due to damage to brain
Term
Broca's Area
Definition
Controls language expression.
Term
Wernicke's Area
Definition
Controls reception of language
Term
Plasticity 
Definition
Ability of the brain to reorganize and modify its functionality. Most visible in children.
Term
Corpus Callosum
Definition
Connects the left and right hemisphere of the brain.
Term
Chromosomes
Definition
Strands made of DNA molecules
Term
DNA
Definition
Complex molecule made of genes
Term
Genes
Definition
Biochemical units; segment of DNA capable of producing a protein
Term
Genome
Definition
"Blueprints for a human being" All genetic material in the chromosomes
Term
Environment
Definition
Every non biological influence
Term
Behavior Genetics
Definition
Study of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
Term
Temperament
Definition
Emotional reactivity and intensity
Term
Heritability
Definition
Variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. Describes the differences hat genes CAN cause, not do cause. Plays of environmental factors.
Term
Evolutionary Psychology
Definition
Study of the evolution of mind and behavior
Term
Teratogen
Definition
Chemical harmful to a fetus
Term

Piaget's Developmental Stages

Definition

 

  • Sensorimotor Stage: Birth-2 yrs. Experience through senses
  • Preoperational: 2-6 yrs. Using words and images, intuition instead of logic
  • Operational: 7-11 yrs. Thinking logically about events, arithmatic is possible
  • Formal Operational: 12+. Abstract Thought

 

Term
Autism
Definition
deficient communication and difficulty grasping other's state of mind
Term
Critical Period
Definition
Period after birth where certain stimuli must be observed for proper development
Term
Perception
Definition
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information
Term
Priming 
Definition
Unconscious activation of certain associations that briefly dispose a person towards a perception, memory, or response
Term
Rods
Definition
More focused on the outside of the eye, detect black white and gray
Term
Cones
Definition
Centered in the fovea, Detect fine detail better in daylight, give color sensations
Term
Parallel Processing
Definition
Our brains can do several things at once
Term
Pitch
Definition
Perceived highness or lowness; depends on frequency
Term
gate-control theory
Definition

Spinal cord can block pain or allow it through. 

  • Small Fibers cause pain
  • Large fibers stop pain

Term
kinesthesis
Definition
Sense of bodies motion and movement of individual body parts
Term
Psychoactive drugs
Definition
Change perceptions and moods
Term
Barbituates
Definition
Depressants, depress activity of central nervous system
Term
Amphetamines
Definition
Stimulate neural activity, a stimulant
Term
learning
Definition
Relatively permanent change in a person's behavior due to experience.
Term
Opiates
Definition
depressants
Term
Hallucinogens
Definition
Distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of input
Term
Classical Conditioning
Definition
The type of learning when an organism comes to associate a stimulus with an Unconditioned Stimulus, by way of prediction, which causes a Conditioned Response to form to the new stimulus.
Term
behaviorism
Definition

  1. Psychology should be objective
  2. Studies shouldn't reference mental processes "The mind doesn't matter"

Term
acquisition
Definition
The early stage of forming the association between the new stimulus and the Unconditioned Response.
Term
Extinction
Definition
When, after the CS doesn't predict the US, the association weakens
Term
Spontaneous Recovery
Definition
The sudden reawakening at equal strength of an extinguished CR
Term
Generalization
Definition
Tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS.
Term
Operant Conditioning
Definition
Learning where a behavior is strengthened by reinforcer or weakened by a punisher
Term
operant behavior
Definition
Behavior that operates on the environmnet
Term
Shaping
Definition
Uses reinforcement to teach an animal and gradually guide toward desired behavior.
Term
Law of Effect
Definition
"Behaviors followed by positive consequences become more likely"
Term
Skinner box
Definition
Contains a bar or key an animal can operate to receive food or water etc. Monitored for research purposes.
Term
Positive Reinforcment
Definition
Add desirable stimulus
Term
Negative Reinforcement
Definition
Remove bad stimulus
Term
Positive Punishment
Definition
Add negative stimulus
Term
Negative punishment
Definition
Take away positive stimulus
Term
Variable Ratio Schedule
Definition
Produces greatest resistance to extinction. Provide reinforcement only after a certain number of actions, though this number varies. Slower learning due to this, but much more resistant to extinction.
Term
Latent Learning
Definition
Learning that naturally occurs but is not exhibited until there is a need.
Term
Observational Learning
Definition
Learning by observing others. Important in children.
Term
Mirror Neurons
Definition
Fire when doing or observing certain actions
Term
Bobo Doll Experiment
Definition
Showed kids a person beating up a Bobo Doll, children imitated these acts
Term
memory
Definition
Persistence of learning over time
Term
Serial Position Effect
Definition
More likely to remember the first and last bits of information. Primacy effect and recency effect.
Term
Oxytocin
Definition
Hormone that plays a role in behavior and bonding
Term
Sensory Memory
Definition
Recording of sensory information. lasts 1/20th of a second.
Term
Short Term Memory
Definition
Where we hold a few items (7 +/- 2) for 20-30s. Sensory memory that is attended to goes here.
Term
Chunking
Definition
Puts information in to familiar units that are easier to remember.
Term
Long Term Potentiation
Definition
Increases a neuron's firing potential after being stimulated
Term
Explicit Long Term Memory
Definition
Memory of facts that one can consciously declare
Term
Implicit Long Term Memory
Definition
Procedural Memory, memory of how to do something. Centers more in Cerebellum.
Term
Hippocampus
Definition
Part of limbic system, memory catalog, works with the amygdala to form memories.
Term
Recall/Recognition
Definition

Recall= bring up information that is not in conscious awareness.

 

Recognition= be able to identify items previously learned.

Term
mood congruent memory
Definition
Emotions can act as retrieval clues. If you are in a good mood, you tend to remember good things.
Term
Central Executive
Definition
Controls storage and retrieval from LTM and Working Memory
Term
Schemas
Definition
Patterns that humans sort the world in to.
Term
Accommodation/Assimilation
Definition

Accommodate: Adapt or change the schema based n new experience

Assimilation: Put new information in to an existing schema

Term
Schizophrenia
Definition
Psychotic disorder, characterized by alterations in thoughts, perceptions, and consciousness. Frontal Lobe is smaller, an excess of dopamine is observed.
Term
Positive Schizo Symptoms
Definition
Hallucinations, delusions: Grandeur and Reference, and loosening of associations
Term
Negative Schizo Symptoms
Definition
Withdrawn and possibly catatonic. No emotion and very little speech.
Term
Borderline Personality Disorder
Definition

Intense mood, fears of abandonment, relationship problems, can not stand to be alone. "Sex used as a weapon" Overwhelmingly female.

 

Caused: Abuse in early life, rejection by early caregivers. 

Term
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Definition

Lack of empathy or remorse. Hedonistic motives, shallow relationships, impulsive behavior.

Must see early signs before age 15, but will not be diagnosed until 18.

-Links to Biology: No fear or anxiety.

-Most from low socioeconomic background, child abuse a factor.

Term
Stanford Prison Experiment
Definition
Students randomly assigned as students and prisoners. Situation got really out of hand, as the guards became abusive and the prisoners became despondent. Showed deindividuation as the two groups failed to attend to their normal standards.
Term
Bystander Intervention Effect
Definition

The more people who are around, the less likely someone is to help.

 

  1. Diffusion of Responsibility
  2. Fear of Making a Mistake
  3. Anonymity
  4. Cause person more harm than good

 

Term
Seratonin
Definition
Emotional states, impulse control, dreaming, neuroticism and agreeableness.
Term
Norepinephrine
Definition
Excititory, eating and arousal
Term
Dopamine
Definition

Reward, motivation, voluntary movements,

 

Novelty Seeking

Term
How is Neurotransmission stopped?
Definition

Reuptake-Recycles the chemicals

Enzyme Deactivation-Gets rid of excess with enzymes

Autoreception-Some can monitor receptor sites and stop when they are full.

Term
Hemispheres
Definition

Right Hemisphere-

  • Spatial Orientation and Reasoning
  • Facial Recognition
  • Images

Left Hemisphere-

  • Language

Term
Haptic Sense
Definition

Receptors:

A-delta: myelinated, cause sharp pain

C fibers: slow, dull, pain that is activated by chemical changes in the tissue when skin is damaged.

Term
Gate Control Theory
Definition
That small fibers and large fibers are run through the spine. One can block out the other when stimulated.
Term
Babinski Reflex
Definition
Wiggling the toes
Term
Morro
Definition
"Oh God don't drop me!"
Term
Theory of Mind
Definition
Unable to realize that others exist outside of themselves. Egocentrism
Term
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Definition
Misshapen brain, neurons go past their target location during development.
Term
Personality Disorders (categories)
Definition

Long term, chronic, and pervasive

Habitual Interactions that are maladaptive

Categories

  • Paranoid/schizoid/schizotypal: reclusive, suspicious. strange behaviors
  • Histrionic/narcissistic/borderline/antisocial: dramatic, emotional, erratic
  • Avoidant/dependent/obsessive compulsive: anxious, fearful behaviors 

Term
Social Psychology
Definition
The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.
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