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Questions and Answers
Which area of psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders?
Which area of psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders?
Which type of psychology is primarily concerned with the mental processes such as memory and perception?
Which type of psychology is primarily concerned with the mental processes such as memory and perception?
What aspect does developmental psychology primarily examine?
What aspect does developmental psychology primarily examine?
Which career path is commonly associated with social psychology?
Which career path is commonly associated with social psychology?
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In which branch of psychology would you study ways to enhance athletic performance?
In which branch of psychology would you study ways to enhance athletic performance?
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Which type of psychologist helps individuals navigate personal and emotional challenges?
Which type of psychologist helps individuals navigate personal and emotional challenges?
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What does neuropsychology focus on understanding?
What does neuropsychology focus on understanding?
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Which area of psychology applies principles to the legal and criminal justice systems?
Which area of psychology applies principles to the legal and criminal justice systems?
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What best defines consciousness?
What best defines consciousness?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of full consciousness?
Which of the following is a characteristic of full consciousness?
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What distinguishes the subconscious from the unconscious?
What distinguishes the subconscious from the unconscious?
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Which perspective focuses primarily on the brain's role in consciousness?
Which perspective focuses primarily on the brain's role in consciousness?
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What is an altered state of consciousness?
What is an altered state of consciousness?
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Which stage of sleep is crucial for physical restoration?
Which stage of sleep is crucial for physical restoration?
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Which characteristic is associated with REM sleep?
Which characteristic is associated with REM sleep?
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What is NOT a function of sleep?
What is NOT a function of sleep?
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What is the duration of a full sleep cycle?
What is the duration of a full sleep cycle?
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Which sleep stage accounts for the largest percentage of total sleep in adults?
Which sleep stage accounts for the largest percentage of total sleep in adults?
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What characterizes Stage 3 (N3) of the sleep cycle?
What characterizes Stage 3 (N3) of the sleep cycle?
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During which stage of sleep does vivid dreaming primarily occur?
During which stage of sleep does vivid dreaming primarily occur?
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Which of the following best describes the brain activity during REM sleep?
Which of the following best describes the brain activity during REM sleep?
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What is one of the primary functions of Stage 3 (N3) sleep?
What is one of the primary functions of Stage 3 (N3) sleep?
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What phenomenon occurs when a person is awakened from deep sleep in Stage 3 (N3)?
What phenomenon occurs when a person is awakened from deep sleep in Stage 3 (N3)?
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How does muscle activity change during REM sleep?
How does muscle activity change during REM sleep?
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What is the primary focus of health psychology?
What is the primary focus of health psychology?
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Which school of thought focuses on identifying the basic elements of the mind?
Which school of thought focuses on identifying the basic elements of the mind?
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What is a limitation of structuralism?
What is a limitation of structuralism?
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Which psychological model emphasizes the role of unconscious thoughts and early childhood experiences?
Which psychological model emphasizes the role of unconscious thoughts and early childhood experiences?
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What does behaviorism primarily study?
What does behaviorism primarily study?
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Which approach uses neuroimaging to study mental processes?
Which approach uses neuroimaging to study mental processes?
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What is a common limitation of psychodynamic theories?
What is a common limitation of psychodynamic theories?
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In research design, what is the purpose of the control group?
In research design, what is the purpose of the control group?
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A hypothesis should be all of the following EXCEPT:
A hypothesis should be all of the following EXCEPT:
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The core idea of functionalism is primarily focused on what aspect?
The core idea of functionalism is primarily focused on what aspect?
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Which psychological approach studies the influence of societal norms and culture on behavior?
Which psychological approach studies the influence of societal norms and culture on behavior?
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What is typically the first step in the scientific method?
What is typically the first step in the scientific method?
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In the cognitive approach, what is often highlighted about human perception?
In the cognitive approach, what is often highlighted about human perception?
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Which sleep disorder is characterized by extreme daytime sleepiness and episodes of 'nodding off'?
Which sleep disorder is characterized by extreme daytime sleepiness and episodes of 'nodding off'?
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What is the primary theory suggesting why we dream?
What is the primary theory suggesting why we dream?
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Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, is most commonly observed in which group of individuals?
Sleepwalking, or somnambulism, is most commonly observed in which group of individuals?
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Sleep terrors are a sleep disorder characterized by which symptom?
Sleep terrors are a sleep disorder characterized by which symptom?
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Which condition is associated with pauses in breathing that last at least 10 seconds during sleep?
Which condition is associated with pauses in breathing that last at least 10 seconds during sleep?
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What phenomenon involves temporary paralysis while falling asleep or waking up, often coupled with hallucinations?
What phenomenon involves temporary paralysis while falling asleep or waking up, often coupled with hallucinations?
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What is the range of hours of sleep studies suggest adults should aim for each night?
What is the range of hours of sleep studies suggest adults should aim for each night?
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What does the activation-synthesis theory propose about the nature of dreams?
What does the activation-synthesis theory propose about the nature of dreams?
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Study Notes
Different Types of Psychology
- Clinical Psychology: Focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Career paths include clinical psychologist, therapist, and counselor in hospitals.
- Cognitive Psychology: Studies mental processes like memory, perception, and problem-solving. Career paths include research scientist and cognitive therapist.
- Developmental Psychology: Examines how people grow and change throughout their lives. Career paths include child psychologist, educational consultant, and policy developer.
- Social Psychology: Studies how individuals are influenced by social interactions and group dynamics. Career paths include social psychologist and public relations.
- Industrial Psychology: Studies workplace behavior to improve productivity and employee well-being. Career paths include organizational consultant, human resources manager, and corporate trainer.
- Educational Psychology: Focuses on how people learn and best practices for teaching. Career paths include educational psychologist, curriculum developer, and researcher.
- Sports Psychology: Applies psychological principles to enhance athletic performance and well-being. Career paths include sports psychologist, team consultant, athletic trainer, and rehabilitation specialist.
- Counseling Psychology: Helps individuals navigate personal, social, and emotional challenges to improve well-being and life satisfaction. Career paths include counseling psychologist, career counselor, mental health counselor, and school counselor.
- Neuropsychology: Focuses on understanding the relationship between brain function and behavior, often involving the assessment and rehabilitation of individuals with brain injuries or neurological disorders. Combines knowledge of brain anatomy, cognitive functions, and psychological principles to address various conditions. Career paths include neuropsychologist, brain injury specialist, and research positions in hospitals or academia.
- Forensic Psychology: Applies psychological principles to legal and criminal justice systems, often involving the assessment of individuals involved in legal cases. It includes working with law enforcement, attorneys, and the courts to provide expert testimony or psychological evaluations. Career paths include forensic psychologist, expert witness, and roles in law enforcement agencies.
- Health Psychology: Focuses on how psychological factors influence health and illness. Career paths include health psychologist, wellness coach, positions in public health organizations, and hospitals.
Schools of Psychology
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Structuralism: A school of psychology whose goal was to identify the basic elements or structures of the mind.
- Founded by William Wundt.
- Breaks downs mental processes into their smallest possible components and analyses them.
- Rigorous and scientific.
- Utilizes introspection, asking research participants to describe what they experience as they work on mental tasks.
- Limitations: Participants' inability to report experiences due to their unconscious mind.
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Functionalism: Focused on the purpose and function of human thoughts and subsequent behaviors.
- Focused on the higher purpose of consciousness and behavior.
- The core idea of mental states (beliefs, pain, desire) are only present for their functional role.
- Limitations: No longer in use now, we can’t determine which psychological characteristics our ancestors had.
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Structuralism vs. Functionalism:
- Structuralism: Structure of the mind.
- Functionalism: Function of the mind.
- Structuralism: Primary method: Introspection.
- Functionalism: Focused on application.
Psychodynamic Psychology
- An approach to understanding human behavior that focuses on the role of unconscious thoughts, feelings, and memories.
- Founded by Freud.
- Early childhood experiences are the most important factor in human development.
- Conscious: Thoughts, perceptions.
- Preconscious: Memories, stored knowledge.
- Unconscious: Instincts, fears, trauma, violence.
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Freud states that personality is composed of three elements:
- Id: Part of the mind that wants instant gratification and acts upon basic desires.
- Ego: Balances id desires with reality by making rational desires.
- Superego: A conscience, reminds us of societal roles and morals.
- Psychoanalysis: A deep exploration of the person’s early experiences stored in the unconscious mind, revealed through talk therapy and dream analysis.
- Limitations: Tests of those theories don't always support their proposals.
Behaviorism
- A school of psychology that states that it’s not possible to accurately study the mind, studies behaviors instead.
- Founded by John B Watson.
- Learning can explain all behaviors.
- Believed that stimuli could produce specific responses.
- Pavlov's classical conditioning theory: A form of learning in which a neutral stimulus comes to elicit a response after being paired with a stimulus that naturally elicits that response.
- Skinner used the ideas of stimulus and response along with the application of rewards or reinforcement.
- Behaviorists agree with the nurture approach.
The Cognitive Approach
- A field of psychology that studies mental processes including perception, thinking, memory, and judgment.
- The cognitive approach was given more life because of our ability to see the brain in action using neuroimaging techniques.
- The processing causes the involved areas of the brain to increase blood flow.
- States that our brain is playing tricks on us; we have difficulty with contradicting stimuli.
- Cognitive Approach vs. Behaviorism: The cognitive approach provided a distinct alternative to behaviorism.
Socio-cultural Psychology
- The study of how social situations and cultures influence thinking and behavior.
- Conformity: Change of beliefs and behaviors to fit in.
- The most crucial part is social norms: The ways of thinking, feeling, or behaving being perceived as appropriate due to customs, traditions, and values.
Research Psychology
- Important because it helps us understand human behavior and mental processes.
- The scientific method: A step-by-step process used to explore questions, test ideas, and find answers.
Scientific Method Components
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Theory: A well-supported idea that explains something based on evidence.
- Existing theories are modified on the basis of collected data.
- When a better theory is found, it replaces the old one.
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Hypothesis: A specific, testable prediction about the relationship between two or more variables.
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A good hypothesis should be:
- Testable: Tested through experiments or observations.
- Specific: Clearly defines the variables involved and their expected relationship.
- Falsifiable: Can be proven wrong, there must be evidence that contradicts it.
- Based on existing knowledge: Should be grounded in previous research or theories.
- Clear and concise: Stated in straightforward language.
-
A good hypothesis should be:
Types of Research Design
- Descriptive Research: Used to describe characteristics of a population.
- Correlational Research: Designed to discover relationships among variables.
- Experimental Research: A change of variable and a measurement of the effect of this change.
- Independent Variable (IV): Variable that is manipulated by the researcher.
- Dependent Variable (DV): Variable measured to assess the effect of the IV.
- Control Group: A group that doesn’t receive the experimental treatment used for comparison.
Research Ethics
- Research in psychology may cause stress, harm, or inconvenience for the people who participate in that research.
- Psychologists sometimes intentionally create lesions in animals to study the effects on their behavior.
Consciousness
- Refers to the state of being aware of and able to think and perceive one's own existence, thoughts, and environment.
- Awareness of surroundings.
- Attention to thoughts and feelings.
- The subjective experience of life.
Levels of Consciousness
- Full Consciousness: Being fully aware and engaged with the present moment and surroundings.
- Subconscious: Thoughts and memories that are not currently in the conscious mind but can be accessed.
- Unconscious: Concepts and feelings that are not accessible to awareness and can influence behavior.
Theories of Consciousness
- Biological perspective: Focuses on the brain’s role in consciousness, brain activity correlates with conscious experiences.
- Psychological perspective: Examines how consciousness relates to mental processes, including perception, thoughts, and emotions.
- Philosophical perspective: Explores the nature of consciousness, the “mind-body problem” and subjective experience.
Altered States of Consciousness
- Any mental state that differs from normal waking consciousness.
Sleep and Dreaming
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Sleep: A natural, recurring state of rest characterized by altered consciousness, decreased sensory activity, and inhibition of bodily movements.
- Importance: Essential for physical health, cognitive function, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life.
- The patterns of sleep are recorded by monitors, such as an EEG.
Stages of Sleep
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Non-REM Sleep:
- Stage 1: Light sleep; transition between wakefulness and sleep.
- Stage 2: Moderate sleep; heart rate slows, and body temperature decreases.
- Stage 3: Deep sleep; crucial for physical restoration and recovery.
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REM Sleep:
- Characterized by rapid eye movement, increased brain activity, and vivid dreaming. Important for emotional regulation and memory consolidation.
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Sleep Cycle:
- A full sleep cycle typically lasts about 90 minutes and includes multiple cycles throughout the night.
- Most deep sleep occurs in the first half of the night.
- REM sleep becomes longer in the second half of the night.
Stages of Sleep Breakdown
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Stage 1 (N1) - Light Sleep
- Duration: Lasts for a few minutes (typically 1-7 minutes).
- Characteristics:
- Transition between wakefulness and sleep.
- Easily awakened; may not even realize they were asleep.
- Muscle activity slows, and the eyes move slowly.
- Brain waves begin to slow down from their daytime wakefulness patterns (alpha waves).
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Stage 2 (N2) - Moderate Sleep
- Duration: Lasts about 10-25 minutes during the first cycle and increases with each cycle.
- Characteristics:
- Accounts for about 45-55% of total sleep in adults.
- No eye movement; heart rate, and body temperature decrease.
- Sleep spindles (brief bursts of brain activity) and K-complexes (sudden large waves) occur, which play a role in memory consolidation and protecting sleep from disturbances.
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Stage 3 (N3) - Deep Sleep (Slow-Wave Sleep)
- Duration: Lasts about 20-40 minutes during the first cycle and typically decreases in duration with each subsequent cycle.
- Characteristics:
- Represents the deepest and most restorative sleep stage.
- Difficult to awaken; if awakened, individuals may feel groggy and disoriented (sleep inertia).
- Characterized by delta waves (slow brain waves) and minimal muscle activity.
- Essential for physical restoration, growth, and immune function; plays a vital role in repairing and rebuilding bodily tissues.
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REM Sleep (Rapid Eye Movement)
- Duration: Lasts about 10-20 minutes in the initial cycle and increases with each subsequent cycle, making up about 20-25% of total sleep.
- Characteristics:
- Eyes move rapidly beneath closed eyelids; breathing becomes irregular.
- Brain activity is similar to wakefulness (beta waves), leading to vivid dreaming.
- The body experiences temporary muscle paralysis (atonia) to prevent acting out dreams.
- Important for emotional regulation, memory consolidation, learning, and creativity.
Sleep Disorders
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Insomnia: Persistent difficulty falling or staying asleep.
- Insomnia can be caused by:
- Physical disorders.
- Psychological problems.
- Changes in sleep patterns.
- Insomnia can be caused by:
- Sleep apnea: A sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing that last at least 10 seconds during sleep.
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Narcolepsy: A disorder characterized by extreme daytime sleepiness with frequent episodes of “nodding off.”
- Narcolepsy sufferers move directly into REM.
- Sleep paralysis: A phenomenon in which a person, either falling asleep or awakening, temporarily experiences an inability to move, speak, or react. It is often accompanied by terrifying hallucinations.
- Somnambulism (sleepwalking): In which the person leaves the bed and moves around while still asleep. Sleepwalking is more common in childhood.
- Sleep terrors: A disruptive sleep disorder, most frequently experienced in childhood, that may involve loud screams and intense panic. The sufferer cannot wake from sleep even though they’re trying to.
- REM sleep behavior disorder: A condition in which people engage in vigorous and bizarre physical activities during REM sleep in response to intense, violent dreams.
- Studies suggest that adults should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night.
Dreams
- The succession of images, thoughts, sounds, and emotions that passes through our minds while sleeping.
- The content of dreams generally relates to everyday experiences and concerns, and frequently fears and failures.
Dream Theories
- We dream primarily to help with consolidation, or moving information into long-term memory.
- The activation-synthesis theory: Dreams are the brain’s interpretation of the random firing of neurons in the brain stem.
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Description
Explore the various branches of psychology, including clinical, cognitive, developmental, social, industrial, and educational psychology. This quiz will help you understand the distinct focuses and career paths associated with each specialization. Test your knowledge on how these fields contribute to understanding human behavior.
