Psychology Chapter: Wundt & Psychodynamic Theories

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Questions and Answers

Which part of the nervous system is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response?

Somatic System

Sympathetic System (correct)

Parasympathetic System

Central Nervous System

Which structure is NOT part of the limbic system?

Amygdala

Cerebellum (correct)

Hippocampus

Thalamus

What is the primary function of the hypothalamus?

Regulating emotional responses

Processing sensory information

Controlling voluntary movements

Maintaining homeostasis (correct)

Which of the following brain scanning techniques provides detailed images of brain activity based on blood flow?

PET Scan Signup and view all the answers

The Peripheral Nervous System includes which of the following components?

Somatic and autonomic systems Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of using animals in research?

To avoid exposing them to unnecessary pain Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is primarily linked to muscle activity and emotional arousal?

Dopamine Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of endorphins in the body?

To modulate pain and reduce stress Signup and view all the answers

Why is animal research considered vital for psychological studies?

It offers insights into behaviors impossible to study in humans Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter is associated with feelings of serenity and optimism?

Serotonin Signup and view all the answers

What are glia and neurons categorized as?

Nervous tissue Signup and view all the answers

Which neurotransmitter helps regulate physical arousal and is related to emotional responses?

Norepinephrine Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the action of serotonergic neurons?

They profoundly affect mood and anxiety Signup and view all the answers

What significant achievement is Wundt credited with in 1879?

Founding the first psychology laboratory Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological approach focuses on the development of a sense of self?

Psychodynamic Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology?

Margaret Washburn Signup and view all the answers

What does functionalism primarily focus on?

Finding the function of mental processes in the environment Signup and view all the answers

Which observation method involves controlling the environment and using specialized equipment?

Laboratory Observation Signup and view all the answers

What area of psychology examines the causes of disorders?

Abnormal Psychology Signup and view all the answers

Skinner is associated with which concept within behavioral psychology?

Operant Conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What does the sociocultural approach in psychology examine?

The relationship between social behavior and culture Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary disadvantage of naturalistic observation?

It can lead to observer bias and the observer effect. Signup and view all the answers

In an experiment, what is the independent variable?

The manipulated variable. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a control group in an experiment?

To provide a benchmark for comparing the effects of the independent variable. Signup and view all the answers

What does a double-blind study help eliminate?

Experimenter effects and demand characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the placebo effect?

Improvement in condition due to expectations rather than the treatment itself. Signup and view all the answers

What are terminal buttons responsible for in a neuron?

Transmitting neurotransmitters to other cells. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the myelin sheath?

To insulate the axon and facilitate faster signal transmission. Signup and view all the answers

What does random assignment aim to achieve in an experiment?

Reduces the possibility of bias in group allocation. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'decibel' refer to in the context of sound?

A measure of sound intensity Signup and view all the answers

Which structure in the ear is responsible for transmitting sound waves to the middle ear?

Pinna Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a function of the inner ear?

Maintenance of pressure in the ear Signup and view all the answers

What type of hearing impairment can result from damage to the eardrum?

Conductive Hearing Impairment Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes 'loudness' from 'volume' in sound perception?

Loudness refers to the intensity of sound, while volume is the subjective perception of loudness. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the ossicles in the middle ear?

To amplify sound vibrations Signup and view all the answers

What type of structures are the cochlea and semicircular canals in the inner ear primarily associated with?

Balance and hearing Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of skin is primarily responsible for sensitive touch and pain?

Dermis Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

History of Psychology

Wilhelm Wundt founded the first psychology laboratory in Germany in 1879, earning the title "father of psychology."
Edward Titchener, Wundt’s student, introduced structuralism to America, emphasizing the breakdown of consciousness into its basic elements.
Margaret Washburn was Titchener’s student and the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in psychology.
William James, a proponent of functionalism, focused on how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments.

Key Psychological Approaches

Psychodynamic: Founded by Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler, focusing on the unconscious and the development of the self.
Behavioral: Pioneered by B.F. Skinner, emphasizing operant conditioning and reinforcement concepts through experiments like Skinner's box.
Sociocultural: Explores the interactions between social behavior and cultural context.
Evolutionary: Investigates biological bases for universal mental characteristics shared by all humans.

Areas of Psychology

Abnormal Psychology: Studies the causes and effects of psychological disorders.
Developmental Psychology: Examines psychological changes from prenatal development to death.
Social Psychology: Analyzes the influence of society on individual behavior.

Research Methods

Descriptive Methods: Aim to outline phenomena without manipulation.
Naturalistic Observation: Observes subjects in their natural environments for realistic behavior analysis, albeit with observer bias risks.
Laboratory Observation: Conducts observations in controlled environments, allowing for specialized equipment use but risking artificial behavior.

Types of Research

Correlation: Assesses relationships between variables, including positive correlation (both increase together) and negative correlation (one increases as the other decreases).
Experiments: Involve variable manipulation to establish causation, with key components being the independent variable (IV) and dependent variable (DV).
Control Groups: Subjects not exposed to the IV serve for comparison against experimental groups.

Placebo and Experimenter Effects

The Placebo Effect indicates how participants' expectations can influence outcomes.
The Experimenter Effect describes how a researcher's expectations may inadvertently affect study results.
Single-blind Study: Participants are unaware of group assignments; Double-blind Study: Neither participants nor experimenters know group assignments.

Neurons and Neurotransmitters

Neurons consist of several parts including the cell membrane, cell body (soma), dendrites, axons, terminal buttons, and myelin sheath.
Key neurotransmitters include:
- Acetylcholine: Involved in memory and muscle function.
- Norepinephrine: Regulates arousal and emotions.
- Dopamine: Linked to movement, emotional responses, and learning.
- Serotonin: Affects mood and anxiety.
- Endorphins: Natural pain relievers providing feelings of euphoria.

Nervous System Organization

Central Nervous System (CNS): Comprises the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Divided into somatic and autonomic systems, handling bodily functions.

The Limbic System

Located within the cerebrum, it coordinates emotions and includes critical areas such as the thalamus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus.

Auditory and Olfactory Sensation

Hearing: Involves understanding sound properties including loudness, pitch, decibel levels, volume, and timbre.
Ear Structure: Consists of outer (pinna and tympanic membrane), middle (ossicles), and inner ear (cochlea).
Olfactory System: Detects chemical stimuli, crucial for the sense of smell.

Types of Hearing Impairments

Conduction Hearing Impairment: Results from damage to the eardrum or ossicles leading to sound transmission issues.
Nerve Hearing Impairment: Associated with aging or loud noise exposure affecting the inner ear function.

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Description

Explore the foundational contributions of Wilhelm Wundt, often regarded as the father of psychology, and his influence on psychodynamic theories through figures like Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler. This quiz covers key concepts such as introspection and the development of self, alongside Wundt's impact on psychology's evolution.