General Psychology Midterm Exam, Exams of Psychology

Download General Psychology Midterm Exam and more Exams Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! General Psychology Midterm Exam 1. Applied Re- search a scientific study that aims to solve practical problems. 2. Basic Research pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowl- edge base. 3. Behavior Genet- ics the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior. 4. Behaviorism the view that psychology (1) should be an objective sci- ence that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2). 5. Biopsychoso- cial Approach an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psy- chological, and social-cultural levels of analysis. 6. Clinical Psychol- ogy a branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders. 7. Cognitive Neuro- science the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including perception, thinking, memory, and language). (p. 8,) 8. Cognitive Psy- chology the study of mental processes, such as occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems. 9. Community Psy- chology a branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups. 10. Counseling Psy- chology a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being. 11. Critical Thinking thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and con- clusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions. 1 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam 12. Culture the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and tra- ditions shared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next. 13. Empirical Ap- proach an evidence-based method that draws on observation and experimentation. 14. Evolutionary Psychology the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection. 15. Functionalism an early school of thought promoted by James and in- fluenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function—how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish. 16. Humanistic Psy- chology a historically significant perspective that emphasized hu- man growth potential. 17. Levels of Analy- sis the differing complementary views, from biological to psy- chological to social-cultural, for analyzing any given phe- nomenon. 18. Natural Selection the principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environ- ment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to succeeding generations. 19. Nature-Nurture Issues the longstanding controversy over the relative contribu- tions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. 20. Positive Psy- chology the scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive. 21. Psychiatry a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disor- ders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psycho- logical therapy. 2 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam 43. Random Assign- ment assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences be- tween the different groups. 44. Random Sample a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion. 45. Replication repeating the essence of a research study, usually with different participants in different situations, to see whether the basic finding can be reproduced. 46. SQ3R a study method incorporating five steps: Survey, Ques- tion, Read, Retrieve, Review. 47. Survey a descriptive technique for obtaining the self-reported at- titudes or behaviors of a particular group, usually by ques- tioning a representative, random sample of the group. 48. Testing Effect enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also referred to as a retrieval prac- tice effect or test-enhanced learning. 49. Theory an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events. 50. Absolute Thresh- old the minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a partic- ular stimulus 50 percent of the time. 51. Bottom-Up Pro- cessing analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information. 52. Difference Threshold the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time. We experience the dif- ference threshold as a just noticeable difference (or jnd). 53. Perception the process of organizing and interpreting sensory infor- mation, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events. 54. Perceptual Set 5 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another. 55. Priming the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associa- tions, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response. 56. Sensation the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment. 57. Sensory Adapta- tion diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stim- ulation. 58. Sensory Recep- tors sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli. 59. Signal Detection Theory a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's experi- ence, expectations, motivation, and alertness. 60. Subliminal below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness. 61. Top-Down Pro- cessing information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations. 62. Transduction conversion of one form of energy into another. In sen- sation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brain can interpret. 63. Weber's Law the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount). 64. Audition the sense or act of hearing. 6 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam 65. Cochlea a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear; sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses. 66. Cochlear Implant a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes thread- ed into the cochlea. 67. Conduction Hearing Loss a less common form of hearing loss, caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea. 68. Dissociation a split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others. 69. Embodied Cog- nition the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states on cognitive preferences and judgments. 70. Extrasensory Perception (ESP) the controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input; includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition. 71. Frequency the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time (for example, per second). 72. Frequency Theo- ry in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch. (Also called temporal theory.) 73. Gate-Control Theory the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The "gate" is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain. 74. Hypnosis a social interaction in which one person (the hypnotist) suggests to another (the subject) that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviors will spontaneously occur. 7 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam understanding speech and are therefore unaware of their mistakes. 95. Cortex The surface of the cerebrum is called the cortex. It has a folded appearance with hills and valleys. 96. Hypothalamus a neural structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and re- ward. 97. Pituitary Gland lies in a small pocket of bone at the skull base called the sella turcica. The pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus of the brain by the pituitary stalk. Known as the "master gland," it controls other endocrine glands in the body. It secretes hormones that control sexual devel- opment, promote bone and muscle growth, and respond to stress. 98. Pineal Gland is located behind the third ventricle. It helps regulate the body's internal clock and circadian rhythms by secreting melatonin. It has some role in sexual development. 99. Thalamus the brain's sensory control center, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla. 100. Basal Ganglia includes the caudate, putamen and globus pallidus. These nuclei work with the cerebellum to coordinate fine motions, such as fingertip movements. 101. Limbic System neural system (including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus) located below the cerebral hemi- spheres; associated with emotions and drives. 102. Action Potential a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. 10 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam 103. Adrenal Glands a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress. 104. Agonist a molecule that increases a neurotransmitter's action. 105. All-or-None Re- sponse a neuron's reaction of either firing (with a full-strength response) or not firing. 106. Antagonist a molecule that inhibits or blocks a neurotransmitter's action. 107. Autonomic Ner- vous System the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasym- pathetic division calms. 108. Axon the neuron extension that passes messages through its branches to other neurons or to muscles or glands. 109. Biological Psy- chology the scientific study of the links between biological (ge- netic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes. Some biological psychologists call themselves behav- ioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior ge- neticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsycholo- gists. 110. Cell Body the part of a neuron that contains the nucleus; the cell's life-support center. 111. Central Nervous System (CNS) the brain and spinal cord 112. Dendrites a neuron's often bushy, branching extensions that receive and integrate messages, conducting impulses toward the cell body. 113. Endocrine Sys- tem the body's "slow" chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. 11 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam 114. Endorphins "morphine within"— natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure. 115. Glial Cells cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons; they may also play a role in learning, thinking, and memory. 116. Hormones chemical messengers that are manufactured by the en- docrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues. 117. Interneurons neurons within the brain and spinal cord; they commu- nicate internally and process information between the sensory inputs and motor outputs. 118. Motor Neurons neurons that carry outgoing information from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and glands. 119. Myelin Sheath a fatty tissue layer segmentally encasing the axons of some neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed as neural impulses hop from one node to the next. 120. Nerves bundled axons that form neural cables connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs. 121. Nervous System the body's speedy, electrochemical communication net- work, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems. 122. Neuron a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous sys- tem. 123. Neurotransmit- ters chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gap be- tween neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influenc- ing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse. 124. 12 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam 145. Reticular Forma- tion a nerve network that travels through the brainstem into the thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal. 146. Association Ar- eas areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in prima- ry motor or sensory functions; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking. 147. Cerebral Cortex the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center. 148. Corpus Callo- sum the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them. 149. Frontal Lobes the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgments. 150. Motor Cortex an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements. 151. Neurogenesis the formation of new neurons. 152. Somatosensory Cortex an area at the front of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations. 153. Split Brain a condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain's two hemispheres by cutting the fibers (mainly those of the corpus callosum) connecting them. 154. Temporal Lobes the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each receiving informa- tion primarily from the opposite ear. 155. Alcohol Use Dis- order (popularly known as alcoholism) alcohol use marked by tolerance, withdrawal, and a drive to continue problematic use. 15 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam 156. Amphetamines drugs (such as methamphetamine) that stimulate neural activity, causing accelerated body functions and associ- ated energy and mood changes. 157. Barbiturates drugs that depress central nervous system activity, reduc- ing anxiety but impairing memory and judgment. 158. Cocaine a powerful and addictive stimulant derived from the coca plant; produces temporarily increased alertness and eu- phoria. 159. Depressants drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow body functions. 160. Ecstasy (MDMA) a synthetic stimulant and mild hallucinogen. Produces euphoria and social intimacy, but with short-term health risks and longer-term harm to serotonin-producing neu- rons and to mood and cognition. 161. Hallucinogens psychedelic ("mind-manifesting") drugs, such as LSD, that distort perceptions and evoke sensory images in the absence of sensory input. 162. LSD a powerful hallucinogenic drug; also known as acid. 163. Methampheta- mine a powerfully addictive drug that stimulates the central nervous system, with accelerated body functions and as- sociated energy and mood changes; over time, appears to reduce baseline dopamine levels. 164. Near-Death Ex- perience an altered state of consciousness reported after a close brush with death (such as cardiac arrest); often similar to drug-induced hallucinations. 165. Nicotine a stimulating and highly addictive psychoactive drug in tobacco. 166. Opiates opium and its derivatives, such as morphine and heroin; depress neural activity, temporarily lessening pain and anxiety. 16 / 19 General Psychology Midterm Exam 167. Psychoactive Drugs a chemical substance that alters perceptions and moods. 168. Stimulants drugs (such as caffeine, nicotine, and the more powerful cocaine, amphetamines, methamphetamine, and Ecsta- sy) that excite neural activity and speed up body func- tions. 169. Substance Use Disorder a disorder characterized by continued substance craving and use despite significant life disruption and/or physical risk. 170. THC the major active ingredient in marijuana; triggers a variety of effects, including mild hallucinations. 171. Tolerance the diminishing effect with regular use of the same dose of a drug, requiring the user to take larger and larger doses before experiencing the drug's effect. 172. Withdrawal the discomfort and distress that follow discontinuing an addictive drug or behavior. 173. Accommodation (1) in developmental psychology, adapting our current un- derstandings (schemas) to incorporate new information. (2) in sensation and perception, the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina. 174. Binocular Cue a depth cue, such as retinal disparity, that depends on the use of two eyes. 175. Blind Spot the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there. 176. Cones retinal receptors that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. Cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations. 177. 17 / 19