Psychology: Absolute Threshold Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the definition of absolute threshold?

The strongest amount of a stimulus that a person can detect half the time

The sense of movement and body position

The weakest amount of a stimulus that a person can detect half the time (correct)

The ability to recognize distances and 3D

What is kinesthesis?

The sense of movement and body position

What does the vestibular system provide?

The sense of balance

What is depth perception?

The ability to recognize distances and 3D Signup and view all the answers

Define constancy in the context of perception.

The tendency to perceive certain objects in the same ways regardless of changing angle, distance, or lighting Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes REM sleep?

Rapid eye movements and dreaming Signup and view all the answers

What is biofeedback?

The process of learning to control bodily states with the help of monitoring machines Signup and view all the answers

What are psychoactive drugs?

Chemicals that affect the nervous system and result in altered consciousness Signup and view all the answers

Define meditation.

The focusing of attention to clear one's mind and produce relaxation Signup and view all the answers

What is consciousness?

A state of awareness of feelings, sensations, ideas, and perceptions Signup and view all the answers

What are endorphins?

Neurotransmitters that produce the euphoria of a runner's high Signup and view all the answers

Define neurotransmitters.

Chemicals released by neurons that determine the firing rate of other neurons Signup and view all the answers

What is the hindbrain?

A part of the brain located at the rear base of the skull involved in basic processes of life Signup and view all the answers

What is the midbrain responsible for?

Integrating sensory information and relaying it upward Signup and view all the answers

What does the left hemisphere of the brain control?

The movement of the right side of the body and speech for most people Signup and view all the answers

Define stress.

A person's reaction to their inability to cope with a certain tense event or situation Signup and view all the answers

What is eustress?

Positive stress that results from motivating strivings and challenges Signup and view all the answers

What does approach-avoidance conflict refer to?

A situation that has both enjoyable and disagreeable consequences Signup and view all the answers

What is the fight-or-flight response?

A stage of alarm regarding whether to face the problem or run away Signup and view all the answers

Define hassle in the context of stress.

Minor, day-to-day stressors that impact health Signup and view all the answers

What is a case study?

An intensive study of a person or group Signup and view all the answers

Define the placebo effect.

A change in a participant's illness or behavior due to belief in treatment's effect Signup and view all the answers

What is the median in statistics?

The middle score Signup and view all the answers

Define mode in statistics.

The most frequent score Signup and view all the answers

What is a cross-sectional study?

Another way to gather data by organizing individuals into groups based on age Signup and view all the answers

What is a theory?

A set of assumptions used to explain phenomena Signup and view all the answers

Define applied science.

Discovering ways to use scientific findings to achieve practical goals Signup and view all the answers

Who is Wilhelm Wundt?

Known for establishing modern psychology as a separate, formal field of study Signup and view all the answers

What is basic science?

The pursuit of knowledge about natural phenomena for its own sake Signup and view all the answers

What is free association?

A method used to indirectly study unconscious processes by saying anything that comes to mind Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Concepts in Psychology

Absolute Threshold: Refers to the minimal level of stimulus intensity that an individual can detect 50% of the time, crucial for understanding sensory perception.
Kinesthesis: Involves the perception of body movements and position, essential for coordination and balance.
Vestibular System: Composed of three semicircular canals located in the inner ear, it plays a vital role in maintaining balance and spatial orientation by relaying information to the brain.
Depth Perception: The ability to perceive distance and three-dimensionality, which begins to develop during infancy, allowing individuals to navigate their environment effectively.
Constancy: This perceptual tendency allows individuals to perceive objects as stable and constant in size, color, and shape despite variations in viewing conditions.
REM Sleep: A unique sleep stage marked by rapid eye movement, intense brain activity, muscle relaxation, and vivid dreaming, important for memory consolidation and emotional processing.
Biofeedback: A technique utilizing monitoring devices that teaches individuals to control physiological processes, enhancing personal awareness and self-regulation.
Psychoactive Drugs: Substances that influence the nervous system, leading to altered states of consciousness and impacting mood, perception, or behavior.
Meditation: An intentional practice aimed at focusing attention to achieve mental clarity and relaxation, often associated with stress reduction and increased awareness.
Consciousness: Encompasses a person's total awareness, including sensory experiences, thoughts, feelings, and perceptions, integral to subjective experience.

Neurobiology and Behavior

Endorphins: Naturally occurring neurotransmitters that promote feelings of euphoria, often associated with physical activities like running.
Neurotransmitters: Chemicals released by neurons that influence the firing rate of other neurons, central to communication within the nervous system.
Hindbrain: Located at the rear base of the skull, it is responsible for vital life-sustaining processes such as heartbeat and respiration.
Midbrain: Positioned above the pons, it plays a critical role in integrating sensory information and relaying it to higher brain regions.
Left Hemisphere: Dominantly associated with language and verbal skills, it governs movement on the right side of the body for most individuals.

Stress and Psychological Responses

Stress: A physiological and psychological response to perceived challenges or threats, influencing health and well-being.
Eustress: Positive form of stress that arises from motivational challenges, facilitating personal growth and achievement.
Approach-Avoidance Conflict: A psychological dilemma faced when an individual encounters a situation with both positive and negative outcomes.
Fight-or-Flight Response: An automatic physiological reaction to perceived threats, determining whether to confront the stressor or escape.
Hassles: Minor, everyday stressors that accumulate and can impact overall health, emphasizing the need for stress management strategies.

Research Methods and Theories

Case Study: An in-depth examination of a single person or group that provides detailed qualitative insights into behavior or circumstances.
Placebo Effect: Psychological phenomenon where a patient's condition improves due to their belief in the efficacy of a treatment, rather than the treatment itself.
Median: The middle score in a data set, used as a measure of central tendency.
Mode: The most frequently occurring score in a data set, helping to identify commonalities in data distribution.
Cross-Sectional Study: A research method that organizes subjects into different age groups to study variations across a population at a single point in time.
Theory: A systematic framework that explains phenomena and is built upon hypotheses and observations.
Applied Science: Utilization of scientific knowledge to address practical problems, emphasizing real-world applications of research findings.
Basic Science: Focuses on gaining knowledge for its own sake, contributing to foundational understanding of natural phenomena.
Wilhelm Wundt: Recognized for founding modern psychology as an independent academic discipline, emphasizing empirical methods of inquiry.
Free Association: A therapeutic technique enabling insight into unconscious thought processes by allowing individuals to verbalize whatever comes to mind without censorship.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key psychological concepts related to the absolute threshold and sensory perception. This quiz covers important terms such as kinesthesis, vestibular system, and depth perception, helping you reinforce your understanding of these foundational ideas in psychology.