Questions and Answers
What is psychology?
The study of mind and behavior.
What is nativism (nature)?
Nativism is the theory that knowledge is innate and inborn.
What is empiricism (nurture)?
Empiricism is the idea that we gain knowledge through experience.
What philosophical view did Plato believe in?
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What philosophical view did Aristotle believe in?
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What did Wilhelm Wundt believe in?
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What did William James focus on in psychology?
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What did John Watson believe about psychology?
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What is behaviorism?
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What is cognitive psychology?
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What does evolutionary psychology explain?
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What is humanistic psychology?
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What does social psychology study?
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What is the definition of a correlation?
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What is the double blind experiment?
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What is a dependent variable?
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What is an operational definition?
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What is the role of neurons?
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What happens at a synapse?
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What is consciousness?
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What is the 'mind/body problem'?
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What is thought suppression?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Psychology
- Psychology is defined as the study of mind and behavior.
Philosophical Perspectives
- Nativism (Nature): Theory asserting that certain knowledge is innate due to biological endowment.
- Empiricism (Nurture): Belief that knowledge is acquired through experiences and interactions with the environment.
Key Philosophers
- Plato: Advocated for nativism, suggesting knowledge is inborn.
- Aristotle: Supported philosophical empiricism, emphasizing experience as the source of knowledge.
Founding Figures in Psychology
- Wilhelm Wundt: Introduced structuralism, focusing on breaking down mental processes into basic elements.
- William James: Developed functionalism, looking at how individuals adapt to their environment.
- John Watson: Promoted behaviorism, arguing that psychology should focus solely on observable behavior.
- B.F. Skinner: Furthered behaviorism; studied learned behaviors through environmental influences.
- Sigmund Freud: Originated psychoanalytic theory, examining the unconscious mind's influence on behavior.
Key Psychological Approaches
- Behaviorism: Focus on objectively observable behavior; dismisses introspection.
- Cognitive Psychology: Investigates mental processes like perception, thought, and memory.
- Evolutionary Psychology: Describes psychological traits as adaptations evolving to enhance survival.
- Humanistic Psychology: Emphasizes the inherent potential for self-actualization in individuals.
- Social Psychology: Studies the influence of social contexts on individual behavior.
- Cultural Psychology: Examines how cultural contexts shape individual psychological processes.
Emergence of Cognitive Psychology
- Initiated by Max Wertheimer’s studies on illusions; led to Gestalt theory, focusing on holistic perceptions versus isolated parts.
Research Methodology
- Operational Definition: Clear descriptions for measurable variables.
- Dependent Variable: Outcome variable influenced by manipulation.
- Independent Variable: Manipulated variable that influences the dependent variable.
- Reliability: Consistency of a measurement tool.
- Validity: Accuracy of a measure in assessing the intended property.
- Demand Characteristics: Features of a study influencing participant behavior based on perceived expectations.
- Double Blind Experiment: Both researcher and participant are unaware of experimental conditions to prevent bias.
Statistical Concepts
- Mean: Average; sum of values divided by their count.
- Mode: Most frequently occurring value.
- Range: Difference between highest and lowest values.
Experimental Design
- Experimental Group: Participants exposed to stimulus.
- Control Group: Participants not exposed to stimulus, serving as a baseline.
Ethical Standards in Research
- Established by the Nuremberg Code to protect participants from unethical practices.
- Informed Consent: Agreement to participate after being made aware of risks.
- No Coercion: Ensuring voluntary participation without pressure.
- Protection from Harm: Obligation to safeguard participants from any harm.
- Risk-Benefit Ratio: Weighing potential risks against social benefits of research findings.
- Deception: Permitted only under justified circumstances.
- Debriefing: Providing participants with explanations of the study after participation.
- Confidentiality: Ensuring the privacy of participant data.
Neuron Structure and Function
- Neurons: Basic units of the nervous system, processing and communicating information.
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Parts of a Neuron:
- Dendrites: Receive information.
- Cell Body: Integrates signals, maintains cell health.
- Axon: Transmits information to other neurons.
- Myelin Sheath: Insulates axon, speeding transmission.
- Synapse: Gap between neurons where communication occurs.
Types of Neurons
- Sensory Neurons: Carry information from the sensory organs to the brain.
- Interneurons: Connect sensory and motor neurons.
- Motor Neurons: Relay signals from the brain to muscles for movement.
- Mirror Neurons: Activate when observing actions performed by others.
Neurotransmitters
- Acetylcholine: Involved in motor control; linked to Alzheimer's disease.
- Dopamine: Regulates movement and reward; associated with Parkinson’s and schizophrenia.
- Glutamate: Main excitatory neurotransmitter, enhancing communication.
- GABA: Major inhibitory neurotransmitter, reducing neuron firing.
- Norepinephrine: Influences mood and alertness.
- Serotonin: Regulates sleep, appetite, and mood.
- Endorphins: Involved in pain relief and emotion regulation.
Nervous System Organization
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Peripheral Nervous System: Connects CNS to organs and muscles.
- Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary muscle movements.
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Autonomic Nervous System: Regulates involuntary actions.
- Sympathetic Division: Prepares for action in stress situations.
- Parasympathetic Division: Calms body to normal state.
Brain Structure and Functions
- Central Nervous System: Comprises the brain and spinal cord.
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Lobes of the Brain:
- Frontal: Movement, planning, memory.
- Temporal: Hearing, language processing.
- Parietal: Touch sensation.
- Occipital: Visual processing.
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Other Brain Areas:
- Amygdala: Emotion and memory processing.
- Cerebellum: Balance and fine motor skills.
- Hippocampus: Memory creation and storage.
- Medulla: Regulates vital functions like heartbeat.
- Thalamus: Relay for sensory information.
Consciousness
- Defined as subjective experience of the world and mind.
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Properties of Consciousness:
- Unity: Resistance to division.
- Intentionality: Directedness toward an object.
- Selectivity: Includes some stimuli, excludes others.
- Transience: Tendency to change and fluctuate.
Mind and Body Issues
- The Problem of Other Minds: Challenges in understanding if others have consciousness.
- Mind/Body Problem: Examines relationship between mental states and physical brain; Descartes proposed they are separate.
Levels of Consciousness
- Minimal Consciousness: Low sensory awareness; reactive.
- Full Consciousness: Awareness of mental states that can be reported.
- Self-Consciousness: Awareness of self as an object.
Cognitive Phenomena
- Change Blindness: Inability to notice changes in a complex scene.
- Default Network: Brain areas active during restful reflection.
Freud’s Contribution to Psychology
- Dynamic Unconscious: Active system of repressed memories and instincts.
- Cognitive Unconscious: Underlies thoughts and actions not currently experienced consciously.
Thought Suppression
- Rebound Effect: Suppressed thoughts return more frequently.
- Ironic Processes of Mental Control: Unintentional errors that occur when attempting to avoid specific thoughts.
Stages of Sleep
- Characterized by different brain wave patterns:
- Awake: Alpha-beta waves.
- Stage 1: Theta waves indicating light sleep.
- Stage 2: Features sleep spindles and K-complexes.
- Stage 3: Delta waves; deep sleep begins.
- Stage 4: Delta waves; deepest state of sleep.
- REM Sleep: Saw-tooth waves; associated with dreaming and vivid imagination.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts in psychology, including definitions of psychology, nativism, and empiricism. Test your understanding of these foundational theories and their implications on human behavior. Ideal for students preparing for their first exam in psychology.
