Psyc Updated

Question 1

What are the three levels of analysis in human behaviors?

Answer 1

Biological, Psychological, and Social-Cultural.

Question 2

What does the Biological level of analysis focus on?

Answer 2

Neurochemical and physiological structures.

Example: Investigating the role of hormones like testosterone and brain regions on aggression.

Question 3

What does the Psychological level of analysis focus on?

Answer 3

Thinking, feeling, action, and immediate environment.

Example: Looking at cognitive factors such as aggressive thought patterns and memory of past conflicts on aggression.

Question 4

What does the Social-Cultural level of analysis focus on?

Answer 4

Human relationships and societal and cultural influences.

Example: Considering the roles of societal norms regarding violence and peer group influence on aggression.

Question 5

What is the Bio-psycho-social approach?

Answer 5

To fully understand why a person thinks and behaves how they do.

Question 6

What is the focus of Behavioral Psychology?

Answer 6

Study only observable behaviors and that all behaviors are controlled by the environment.

Question 7

What are the key concepts of Cognitive Psychology?

Answer 7

Our interpretation of the environment determines our reaction to it, focusing on mental processes.

Question 8

What does Psychoanalysis emphasize?

Answer 8

Behaviors are determined by internal emotional conflicts from childhood.

Question 9

What is the foundation of Psychological Psychology?

Answer 9

Physiology, including genetics and biochemical processes.

Question 10

What does Socio-cultural psychology focus on?

Answer 10

The influence of the people around us on our behaviors.

Question 11

What does Cognitive Neuropsychology study?

Answer 11

The relationship between thinking and brain function.

Question 12

What is the focus of Evolutionary Psychology?

Answer 12

Using Darwin’s theory to explain present-day human behaviors.

Question 13

What does Humanistic Psychology explore?

Answer 13

The existence of free will and its importance in regulating behaviors.

Question 14

What is research in psychology?

Answer 14

A systematic, replicable method of collecting measurable information.

Question 15

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 15

A testable statement about the relationship between variables.

Example: Depressed teens are more likely to experiment with drugs.

Question 16

What is a theory in psychology?

Answer 16

A collection of statements based on tested hypotheses that explains the world.

Question 17

What is verifiability in scientific claims?

Answer 17

All scientific claims must be verifiable and potentially falsifiable.

Question 18

What is replicability in scientific research?

Answer 18

Scientific claims are valid only if supported repeatedly by research studies.

Question 19

What does parsimony (Occam’s Razor) state?

Answer 19

Scientific claims should be as simple as possible.

Question 20

What is confirmation bias?

Answer 20

The tendency to seek information that supports our beliefs.

Question 21

What is belief perseverance?

Answer 21

Holding onto early-acquired information even when it is incorrect.

Question 22

What is the correlation-causation fallacy?

Answer 22

Correlation does not imply causation; two events may be related without one causing the other.

Question 23

What are the two main types of research in psychology?

Answer 23

Correlation research and experiments.

Question 24

What is an operational definition?

Answer 24

Describing research factors in a measurable way.

Question 25

What is random sampling?

Answer 25

Selecting a small group from a population where everyone has an equal opportunity of being chosen.

Question 26

What is the independent variable in an experiment?

Answer 26

The factor that is manipulated by the experimenter.

Question 27

What is the dependent variable in an experiment?

Answer 27

The factor that is measured in response to the independent variable.

Question 28

What are the four methods of gathering research data?

Answer 28

Naturalistic observation, surveys, laboratory observation, and case studies.

Question 29

What is the placebo effect?

Answer 29

A phenomenon where participants experience changes due to their expectations rather than the treatment.

Question 30

What are neurons?

Answer 30

Cells that send messages electrochemically.

Question 31

What is the function of glial cells?

Answer 31

Support neurons by protecting them and facilitating communication.

Question 32

What does the brain stem regulate?

Answer 32

Breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and other survival mechanisms.

Question 33

What is the role of the cerebellum?

Answer 33

Coordination and balance.

Question 34

What is the function of the midbrain?

Answer 34

The midbrain is a major sensory integration and relay center that regulates some reflexes such as sound, eye blink, and pupil adjustments to light.

Question 35

What is the Reticular Activation System?

Answer 35

The Reticular Activation System is a thick tract of nerve fibers that runs from the bottom of the brain stem to the thalamus of the limbic system. It controls our selective attention process and our ability to sustain attention.

Question 36

What is the cerebellum and its functions?

Answer 36

The cerebellum, known as the 'little brain,' weighs about 11% of the entire brain. It sends signals to muscles to regulate and coordinate movement and plays a role in speech production and the learning and memory of motor skills.

Question 37

What are the overall functions of the limbic system?

Answer 37

The limbic system helps process and integrate sensory signals, regulates internal state, regulates emotions, and helps learn from experience.

Question 38

What is the role of the thalamus?

Answer 38

The thalamus integrates sensory information from all senses before relaying it for conscious processing and helps regulate sleep and wakefulness.

Question 39

What does the hypothalamus control?

Answer 39

The hypothalamus controls various biological drives such as hunger, thirst, and sexual drive, regulates biorhythms, and influences the endocrine system by controlling the pituitary gland.

Question 40

What is the function of the amygdala?

Answer 40

The amygdala is involved in the feeling of fear and, to a lesser extent, feelings of aggression.

Question 41

What is the role of the hippocampus?

Answer 41

The hippocampus is responsible for the formation of long-term memory.

Question 42

What is the structure of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 42

The cerebral cortex consists of two highly convoluted cerebral hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum.

Question 43

What is lateralization in the context of the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 43

Lateralization refers to the fact that the two hemispheres of the brain are good at different tasks.

Question 44

What is the function of the corpus callosum?

Answer 44

The corpus callosum helps the two hemispheres 'talk' to each other and share information.

Question 45

What is split brain surgery?

Answer 45

Split brain surgery involves cutting the corpus callosum and is used as a last resort to treat severe epilepsy.

Question 46

What are the effects of split brain surgery on patients?

Answer 46

Split brain patients show difficulty in integrating information between the two hemispheres under controlled experiments but show little negative side effects in real-life situations.

Question 47

How are the cerebral hemispheres divided?

Answer 47

Each cerebral hemisphere is divided into four lobes by two deep grooves called the central sulcus and the lateral fissure.