Psychology Chapter on Sensation and Perception

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Questions and Answers

What occurs during the process of transduction?

Physical energy is ignored by receptors.

Physical energy is converted into neural energy. (correct)

Only pain stimuli are transduced.

Neural energy is transformed back into physical energy.

What primarily influences the perception of temperature?

Absolute temperature levels regardless of context.

The color of the objects around the sensory input.

The time of day when the sensory input is received.

Changes in ambient energy levels. (correct)

How do endorphins affect the experience of pain?

They only alter the physical structure of pain receptors.

They increase the perception of pain.

They can decrease pain and are released in anticipation of pain. (correct)

They have no impact on pain levels.

Which part of the brain acts as the relay station for sensory information?

Thalamus Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of accessory structures in pain perception?

They modify physical stimuli before they are sensed. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the sensation of temperature at 32 degrees Celsius?

Neither warmth nor cold is felt. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of receptor is responsible for the sensation of pressure?

Mechanoreceptors Signup and view all the answers

What describes the primacy effect in terms of information processing?

Earlier information influences impressions more than later information. Signup and view all the answers

What is the rebound effect in the context of thought suppression?

Suppression of thoughts leads to an increase in the frequency of unwanted thoughts. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the negativity bias?

Negative information in social and moral contexts has a stronger influence than positive information. Signup and view all the answers

What does the halo effect imply about individuals?

Individuals with known positive traits are presumed to have additional positive qualities. Signup and view all the answers

How is discrimination defined in the context of social groups?

Behaviors directed toward others because of their group membership. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon allows us to distinguish between tones above a certain frequency?

Alternation in the firing of hair cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary aspect of sound that frequency theory focuses on?

The rate at which hair cells are stimulated Signup and view all the answers

Which statement highlights a limitation of frequency theory?

It fails to account for sounds above 1000Hz due to refractory periods. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the vibration of the basilar membrane and sound frequency?

Higher frequency causes faster vibrations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the measurement unit for light as mentioned in the content?

Nanometers Signup and view all the answers

Pheromones are primarily understood as:

Chemicals that influence physiological responses. Signup and view all the answers

Which animal's response to pheromones is noted in the content?

Dogs Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon is suggested to occur among women related to pheromones?

Synchronization of menstrual cycles Signup and view all the answers

Which type of light has the smallest wavelength as listed?

X-rays Signup and view all the answers

What do rods primarily provide sensitivity to?

Vision in dim light Signup and view all the answers

Which photopigment is primarily found in rods?

Rhodopsin Signup and view all the answers

What type of color blindness is characterized by the absence of one type of iodopsin?

Monochromatic color blindness Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding dichromats?

They have two types of iodopsin. Signup and view all the answers

What is necessary for distinguishing red from green?

Both red and green iodopsin Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of cones in the retina?

To process bright light images and color Signup and view all the answers

How do different types of iodopsin contribute to color perception?

By breaking down to produce different color sensations Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic do rods lack in their function?

Ability to detect color Signup and view all the answers

What condition do individuals with only blue and green iodopsin experience?

Dichromatic color blindness Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the fovea in the visual system?

High concentration of cones for detailed color vision Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the process of evaluating oneself by comparing personal traits or behaviors with those of others?

Social comparison Signup and view all the answers

In Asch's configural model, how do individuals typically form impressions of others?

By making holistic judgements Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits is considered disproportionately influential in impression formation?

Central traits Signup and view all the answers

When people compare their test scores, which effect does achieving a relatively high score often produce?

Temporary feelings of success Signup and view all the answers

What is stereotype suppression primarily concerned with?

Reducing the impact of stereotypes on judgments Signup and view all the answers

How do central traits function in impression formation?

They dictate the overall perception of a person Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by holistic judgement in the context of human behavior evaluation?

Considering overall impressions from specific information Signup and view all the answers

Which method is useful for summarizing extensive information about a person?

Impression formation techniques Signup and view all the answers

When individuals are presented with a list of traits about different people, what effect does this typically have?

It enables easier categorization of personalities Signup and view all the answers

What is a common result of comparing oneself to others in terms of traits or behaviors?

Heightened feelings of inadequacy Signup and view all the answers

Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Early Psychology

Cartesian Dualism: Separation of mind and body
Malevolent Demon: A controlling being influencing senses
Brain in a Vat: The possibility that our experiences are simulated
Wilhelm Wundt: Established the first psychology lab (1879)
Structuralism: Analysis of mental structures
Introspection: Self-observation of mental processes.
William James: Developed functionalism
Functionalism: Study of how mental processes help us adapt.
Psychodynamic Perspective: Focuses on unconscious motives.
Freud & Jung: Key figures in psychodynamic theory.
Id, Ego, Superego: Components of personality
Psychosexual Stages: Stages of development affecting personality
Humanistic Perspective: Emphasis on free will and self-awareness.
Maslow & Rogers: Key figures in humanistic psychology.
Client-centered Therapy: Emphasizes self-awareness and unconditional positive regard

Science of Psychology

Evolutionary Approach: Behaviour is influenced by genes and reproduction
Variability: Genetic mutations provide variability
Genes: Self-replicating units
Darwin: Key figure in the development of evolutionary theory
Dawkins: Suggested that genes, not species, were the units of selection.
Memes: An idea unit similar to genes, that spread across populations.
Biological Approach: Focuses on physical causes of behaviour
Brain & Nervous System: Crucial to behaviour
Cognitive Neuroscience: How brain structure affects behaviour
Broca & Wernicke: Found areas in the brain involved in speech (production/understanding)

Sensation

Sensory Receptors: Specialized receptors for various types of energy.
Transduction: Conversion of physical energy to neural energy
Sensation: Awareness of physical stimuli
Absolute Threshold: Lowest stimulus intensity detected 50% of the time
Weber's Law: Difference threshold is proportional to the standard stimulus.
Top-down Processing: Interpretation based on prior knowledge
Place Theory: Different places on the basilar membrane vibrate for different pitches.
Frequency Theory: Rate of vibrations in basilar membrane determines pitch.
Frequency & Volley Theory:Alternating firing of hair cells to code high frequencies
Taste, Smell & Other Senses: Include other sensory experiences
Pheromones: Chemical signals impacting behaviour.

Perception

Perceptual Constancies: Stable perceptions despite changing sensory data (size, shape, colour, etc.).
Depth Perception: Ability to perceive depth and distance.
Binocular Cues: Need both eyes (e.g., retinal disparity, convergence).
Monocular Cues: Only need one eye (e.g., linear perspective, texture gradient, aerial perspective).
Motion Perception: Interpretation of movements.
Illusions: Misinterpretations of sensory information

Memory

Stages of Memory: Acquisition, retention & retrieval
Sensory Memory: Initial perception, brief storage
Iconic and Echoic Memory: visual and auditory sensory memories
Short-Term Memory: Limited capacity, consciousness
Long-Term Memory: Relatively permanent storage
Retrieval Cues: Stimuli that prompt retrieval from memory.
Chunking: Grouping items to increase STM capacity
Encoding Specificity: Retrieval effectiveness determined by conditions during encoding
Flashbulb Memories: Vivid memories of emotionally significant events.
Memory Failures: Decay, Displacement, Interference
Levels of Processing: Deeper processing leads to better memory.

Attribution Theory: Explains how individuals develop explanations for behaviour and events.
Fundamental Attribution Error: Tendency to overestimate dispositional factors and underestimate situational factors.
Cognitive Dissonance: Discomfort from inconsistency between attitudes and behaviour.
Self-Serving Bias: Tendency to attribute success to dispositional factors and failure to situational factors.
Heuristics (Mental Shortcuts): Simplifying mechanisms that can lead to biases.
Availability Heuristic: Judging likelihood by how readily instances come to mind.
Representativeness heuristic: Classifying individual based on existing prototypes
Anchoring and Adjustment heuristic: Estimations begin from one value and then adjust from this
Kelley's Covariation Theory: Based on three factors to analyze a behaviour- consistency, consensus and distinctiveness

Compliance: Changes in behaviour due to direct requests.
Obedience: Changes in behaviour due to commands from an authority figure.
Conformity: Changes in behaviour to match the responses of others.
Group Processes: Aspects of the behaviour occurring in group settings
Bystander Intervention: Tendency for individuals to be less likely to help if there are other people around.
Social Loafing: Tendency for individuals to exert less effort in a group compared to working alone.
Ethical Considerations: Moral principles related to research and treatment.

Emotion and Motivation

Emotion: Feelings accompanied by physical changes and mental interpretation
Facial Feedback Hypothosis: Our facial expressions influence our emotions
James Lange Theory: Physiological reactions to stimulus precede and cause an emotional experience
Cannon-Bard Theory: Physiological and emotional responses are simultaneous reactions to stimulus
Schacter and Singer Two Factor Theory: Physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal interact to determine our experience

Health Psychology & Stress

Health Psychology: Scientific study of the interplay between psychological, behavioural, and biological factors and health
Stress: Psychological response to perceived threats or challenges
Stressors: Events or situations that trigger stress responses
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) :Physiological response to stress; three stages
Cognitive appraisal: Interpretation of events affecting stress experience
Coping mechanisms: Strategies for managing stress

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Description

Test your knowledge on the intricacies of sensation and perception with this quiz based on psychology concepts. Explore key topics such as transduction, temperature perception, the role of brain structures, and various psychological phenomena. Challenge yourself and enhance your understanding of how we perceive and process sensory information.