What is psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Psychology is often confused with common sense or self-help practices.
What are the historical approaches in psychology?
Trephination, dualism, phrenology, structuralism, Gestalt approaches, functionalism, psychoanalytic theory
Key figures include Wundt, James, and Freud.
What is the difference between basic and applied psychology?
Basic psychology seeks to understand fundamental principles, while applied psychology uses this knowledge to solve practical problems.
What are the roles of psychologists compared to therapists?
Psychologists conduct research and studies; therapists apply psychological principles to treat clients.
What degrees are commonly pursued in psychology?
PhD, PsyD, MS
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction derived from a theory.
What is a representative sample?
A subset of a population that accurately reflects the characteristics of the whole population.
What is the difference between reliability and validity in psychological measures?
Reliability refers to consistency of a measure, while validity refers to the accuracy of a measure.
What is correlational research?
A method that examines the relationship between two variables without manipulating them.
What are positive and negative correlations?
Positive correlation: as one variable increases, so does the other; Negative correlation: as one variable increases, the other decreases.
What is an independent variable in an experiment?
The variable that is manipulated to observe its effect on the dependent variable.
What is random assignment?
A technique used to ensure each participant has an equal chance of being assigned to any group in an experiment.
What are the components of the peripheral nervous system?
Somatic and autonomic nervous systems
Autonomic is further divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
What is the function of neurotransmitters?
Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.
What are some key neurotransmitters and their functions?
- Acetylcholine: muscle action and memory
- Dopamine: reward and pleasure
- Serotonin: mood regulation
- Norepinephrine: alertness
- Endorphins: pain relief
What is the role of the amygdala?
Involved in processing emotions, particularly fear and pleasure.
What is sensation?
The process of receiving sensory information from the environment.
What is perception?
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information.
What is the absolute threshold?
The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time.
What is the difference between rods and cones in the retina?
- Rods: detect light and dark, responsible for night vision
- Cones: detect color and are responsible for daylight vision.
What is the trichromatic theory of color vision?
The theory that color perception is based on the activity of three types of cones sensitive to red, green, and blue light.
What is REM sleep?
A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movement and heightened brain activity.
What is the function of sleep in memory consolidation?
Sleep helps to stabilize and integrate new memories.
What is classical conditioning?
A learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, eliciting a conditioned response.
