AP Psy: Theory unit

Question 1

Nature vs Nurture

Answer 1

Whether a person’s traits and behaviors are determined more by inherited genetics (nature) or by environmental factors like upbringing and experiences (nurture).

Question 2

Natural Selection

Answer 2

The principle that the inherited straits enabling an organism to survive & reproduce in a particular environments will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

Question 3

Evolutionary Psychology

Answer 3

The study of the evolution of behavior & the mind, using principles of natural selection

Question 4

Behavior genetics

Answer 4

The study of the relative power & limits of genetic & environmental influences on behavior

Question 5

Mutation

Answer 5

A random error in gene replication that leads to a change

Question 6

Human genome

Answer 6

Our common set of genes

Question 7

Environment

Answer 7

Every nongentic influence, from prenatural nutrition to our experiences of the people and things around us.

Humans family = biological heritage & common Social behaviors, company of people with similar attitudes & attributes

Question 8

Heredity

Answer 8

The genetic transfer of characteristics from parents to offspring

Question 9

Genome

Answer 9

The complete instructions for making an organism

Question 10

Identical (monozygotic) twins

Answer 10

Individuals who developed from a single fertilized egg that split in 2, creating 2 genetically identical organisms

Question 11

Fraternal (dizygotic) twins

Answer 11

Individuals who developed from sperate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than ordinary siblings, but they shared a prenatal environment.

Question 12

Biological vs. Adoptive Relatives

Answer 12

• Genetic relatives (Biological parents & siblings)
• Environmental relatives (Adoptive parents & siblings)

Question 13

Interact (Gene-enviromental interation)

Answer 13

The interplay that occurs when the effect of one factor (environment) depends on another factors (ex. heredity)

Question 14

Epigenetics

Answer 14

“above” or “in addition” (epi) genetics; the study of the molecular mechanism by which environments can influence genetic expression (without DNA change)

Question 15

Personality

Answer 15

An individuals characteristics pattern of thinking, feeling, & acting

• Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory = childhood sexuality & unconscious influence personality
• Humanistic theories: our inner capacities for growth & self-fullfillment
  -Trait theories = examine characteristic patterns of behavior (traits)
• Social cognitive theories = explore interaction between people’s traits (& thinking) & their social context

Question 16

Psychodynamic theories

Answer 16

Theories that view personality with a focus on the unconscious mind & the importance of childhood experiences
- From freud

Question 17

Psychanalysis

Answer 17

Frued’s theory of personality that attributes thoughts & actions to unconsious motives & conflicts; the techniques used in treating psychological disorders by seeking to expose & interpret unconsious tensions

Question 18

Unconscious

Answer 18

A reservoir of mostly unacceptable thoughts, wishes, feelings, & memories. Info processing we are unaware of.

• Freud
• Think iceberg

Question 19

Free Association

Answer 19

A method of exploring the unconsious in which the persons relaxes & says whatever comes to mind, no matter how trivial embarrassing

Question 20

Id

Answer 20

The primitive, unconscious part of the personality that seeks immediate gratification of basic, instinctual drives and desires, operating entirely on the pleasure principle.

Bottom part of iceberg

Question 21

Superego

Answer 21

The partly conscious part of personality that represents internalized ideals & provides standards for judgement (the conscious) & for future aspirations

• Moral compass, how one ought to behave, perfection
• Top right of iceberg

Question 21

Ego

Answer 21

the partly conscious “executive” part of personality that medicates among the demands of the Id, superego,& reality

Operates on the reality principle,satisfying the id’s desires in ways that will realistically bring pleasure rather than pain

• Top of iceberg
• How a young child experiences the world

Question 22

Personality Development

Answer 22

Forms during first few years of life

Oral (0-18 months): Pleasure centers on the mouth.
Anal (18-36 months): Focuses on bowel and bladder control and the demands of toilet training.
Phallic (3-6 years): Genitals become the pleasure zone, and children navigate the Oedipus complex (boys) or Electra complex (girls).
Latency (6-puberty): Sexual feelings are dormant and energy is focused on school and social activities.
Genital (puberty on): Mature sexual interests develop.

Question 23

Defense mechanisms

Answer 23

The ego’s protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality

Question 24

Repression

Answer 24

The basic defense mechanisms that banished from consciousness anxiety - arousing thoughts, feelings, & memories - "Freudran slips" - Latent content dreams

Question 25

Collective unconscious

Answer 25

A shared inherited reservious of memory traces from our species history - Said explains why for [people spiritual concerns, culture, myths - Childhood shapes our personality & ways of becoming attached to others - From Carl Jung

Question 26

Later psychodynamtic theorists

Answer 26

Alfred Adler & Karen Horney argued with idea that childhood is important, but social not sexual tensions are crusical for personality formation.

Question 27

Terror -mangement theory

Answer 27

death-realted anxiety; explores people's emotional & behavioral responded to reminders of their impending death

Question 28

Thematic Appereception (assessing unconscious processes)

Answer 28

A projective test in which people express their inner feelings & interests through the stories they make up about ambigous scenes

Question 29

Projective Test (assessing unconscious processes)

Answer 29

A personality test (ex. TAT) that provides ambigous images desicined to trigger projection of one's inner dynamics & explore the preconscious & unconsious mind

Question 30

Rarshach Inkblot test

Answer 30

A projective test designed by Hermann Rorshach; seeks to identify people's inner feelings by anaylazing how they interpret 10 inkblots

Question 31

Denial (Defense Mechanism)

Answer 31

Refussing to accept real events because they're unpleasent

Question 32

Displacement (Defense Mechanism)

Answer 32

Transferring inaapriopate urges or behaviors onto a more acceptable or less threatening target

Question 33

Projection (Defense Mechanism)

Answer 33

Attributing unacceptable desires to others

Question 34

Reaction Formation (Defense Mechanism)

Answer 34

Reducing anxiety by adopoting beleifs contrary to your own beleifs

Question 35

Regression (Defense Mechanism)

Answer 35

Returning to coping strategies for less mature stages of development

Question 36

Repressions (Defense Mechanism)

Answer 36

Suppressing painful memories & thoughts

Question 37

Sublimation (Defense Mechanism)

Answer 37

Redirecting unacceptable desires through socially acceptable channels

Question 38

Personality Humaistic theories

Answer 38

Abraham Maslow & Carl Rogers - HUmanisic theories: theories that view personality with or focus on the potential for healthy personal growth

Question 39

Maslow's Self-Actualizing person

Answer 39

- Hierarchy of needs: level of human needs, begining at the base with physiological needs - Self-actualization: one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical & pyschological needs are met & self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one's potential - Self-transcendence: the striving for identity, meaning, & purpose beyond the self

Question 40

Carl Rogers' person-centered perspective

Answer 40

Believed that a growth-promoting social climate provides acceptance, genuineness, & empathy - Unconditional positive regard: a caring, accepting, nonjudgmental attitude Rogers believed would help people develop self-awareness & self-acceptance (unconditional regard) - Self-concept: all our thoughts & feelings about ourselves, in answer to the question "Who am I?" - Postive = great - Negative = fall short

Question 41

Evaluating humanistic theories

Answer 41

- Impactful ideas by Maslow & Rogers - Influended many of today's population psychology

Question 42

Cognitive Approach

Answer 42

Focus on how we learn, think, & remember, all mental events that go on inside out heads & influence behavior. How we make decisions, solve problems, & process emotions.

Question 43

Evolutionary Approach

Answer 43

Mental process exist because they serve an evolutionary purpose - they said in human survival & reproduction

Question 44

Cross-cultural Approach

Answer 44

Look at human behavior across different cultures. How culture influences our thinking & behavior.