Psychology Overview and Historical Foundations

Questions and Answers

What is Psychology?

The science of behavior and mental processes (correct)

An approach to studying mental illness

The study of the medical treatment of psychological disorders

Scientific study of the relationship between behavior and reinforcement

What is Psychiatry?

Scientific study of the relationship between behavior and reinforcement

The study of the medical treatment of psychological disorders (correct)

An approach to studying mental illness

The science of behavior and mental processes

What did Rene Descartes think about the soul?

Separate from the body, and was not subject to physical laws

What was the main research technique of Structuralism?

Introspection Signup and view all the answers

Who opened the first psychology lab and in what country?

Wilhelm Wundt in Germany Signup and view all the answers

Who was the founder of Structuralism and opened the first psychology lab in America?

Edward Titchener Signup and view all the answers

What are two reasons why introspection was considered a poor method for studying mental events?

<ol> <li>It does not replicate across individuals 2) Many psychological processes are not conscious</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

How did Functionalists try to understand the mind?

Determining its purpose Signup and view all the answers

Who was the founder of Functionalism and wrote the book 'The Principles of Psychology'?

William James Signup and view all the answers

What scientific theory influenced the Functionalists?

Darwin's theory of evolution Signup and view all the answers

What is Psychoanalysis?

An approach to studying mental illness that assumes it is caused by subconscious conflicts Signup and view all the answers

What did Sigmund Freud think caused mental illnesses?

Subconscious events Signup and view all the answers

What is Behaviorism?

Scientific study of the relationship between behavior and reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

Who was the founder of behaviorism who conditioned Little Albert?

John Watson Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the behaviorist who studied operant conditioning?

B.F. Skinner Signup and view all the answers

Why did behaviorism decline in popularity?

Inability to provide explanations for many psychological phenomena (language in particular) Signup and view all the answers

What is the Cognitive Approach?

Studying psychology that tries to determine how information is encoded, stored, transformed, and received by the brain Signup and view all the answers

What is the metaphor upon which the Cognitive approach relies?

Computer metaphor Signup and view all the answers

What is the Evolutionary Approach?

Studying psychology in which a researcher tries to develop theories by speculating about what brain structures would have been useful in the environment when the human brain was evolving Signup and view all the answers

What is Physiological Psychology?

Study of the brain mechanisms underlying behavior Signup and view all the answers

What is Sensation and Perception?

Study of how the nervous system receives and interprets information about the senses Signup and view all the answers

What is Cognitive Psychology?

Study of how the brain encodes, stores, retrieves, and interprets information Signup and view all the answers

What is Social Psychology?

Study of how people influence and relate to one another Signup and view all the answers

What is Counseling and Clinical Psychology?

Study of mental health problems and vocational guidance Signup and view all the answers

What is a Scientific Theory?

Explanation for a phenomenon that can be falsified and involves entities that cannot be directly observed Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean for a scientific theory to be falsifiable?

There must be some hypothetical facts that would prove it false Signup and view all the answers

What is a Case Study?

Description of the behavior or abilities of a single individual Signup and view all the answers

Which school of Psychology used case studies as their primary research technique?

Psychoanalysts Signup and view all the answers

What research technique in Psychology is most subject to the problem of confirmation bias?

Case studies Signup and view all the answers

What is Naturalistic Observation?

Research technique in which the researcher observes and describes behavior Signup and view all the answers

What research technique did Jane Goodall use to study the chimpanzees?

Naturalistic observation Signup and view all the answers

What are naturalistic observations good for?

Answering simple questions Signup and view all the answers

What is the Correlational Approach?

Attempts to determine the relationship between variables without manipulating the variables Signup and view all the answers

What are the two circumstances when a Psychologist would use the correlational approach?

<ol> <li>Impossible, very difficult (age, sex, ACT score) 2) Unethical (forcing to smoke)</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is Causation?

A causal relationship exists if a change in one variable results in a change in the other Signup and view all the answers

Can the correlational approach be used to determine if two variables have a causal relationship?

False Signup and view all the answers

If two variables have a perfect positive relationship, what would be the value of the correlation coefficient for those variables?

+1 Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean if the correlation coefficient between two variables is near 0?

The closer to 0, the weaker the relationship is Signup and view all the answers

What two characteristics must an experiment possess?

Independent and dependent variable Signup and view all the answers

What is an Independent Variable?

Variable that is manipulated Signup and view all the answers

What is a Dependent Variable?

Variable measured to determine the effects of the independent variable Signup and view all the answers

What is Random Assignment?

Every person has an equally likely chance of being assigned to each level of the independent variable Signup and view all the answers

In contrast to all other research techniques, what does an experiment allow a researcher to do?

Allows researchers to infer a causal relationship between the independent and dependent variables Signup and view all the answers

What is an Operational Definition?

Concept defined in terms of the variables used to measure it (hunger is defined as hours without food) Signup and view all the answers

What is a Neuron?

Individual nerve cell Signup and view all the answers

What are the four parts of a neuron and what are their functions?

<ol> <li>Dendrites - Receive electrical signals from other neurons 2) Cell body - Contains the nucleus and provides for the life processes 3) Axon - Carries electrical signal from cell body to the terminal buttons 4) Terminal buttons - Release neurotransmitters that cause electrical changes to the next neuron in the chain</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is Action Potential?

Spike of electricity that travels down its axon Signup and view all the answers

What is a Synapse?

Space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of another neuron Signup and view all the answers

What is a Neurotransmitter?

Binds to the receptors in the dendrites of the next neuron in the chain thereby electrically exciting or inhibiting the next cell Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain (hindbrain, midbrain, or forebrain) contains the medulla oblongata and the pons?

Hindbrain Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Medulla Oblongata?

Controls breathing, heart rate, and vomiting Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Pons?

Regulates sleep and arousal Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain (hindbrain, midbrain, or forebrain) contains the superior colliculus, the inferior colliculus, and the substantia nigra?

Midbrain Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Superior Colliculus?

Controls visual reflexes Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Inferior Colliculus?

Controls auditory reflexes Signup and view all the answers

What disease involves the death of neurons in the substantia nigra?

Parkinson's disease Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain (hindbrain, midbrain, or forebrain) contains the cortex, hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and basal ganglia?

Forebrain Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Hypothalamus?

Regulates the 'Four Fs': feeding, fighting, fleeing, and mating Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Amygdala?

Controls emotional responses, particularly fear Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Hippocampus?

Encodes long-term memories Signup and view all the answers

What part of the brain was missing in HM that led to his problems transferring information from short term to long term memory?

Hippocampus Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Basal Ganglia?

Reward system of the brain Signup and view all the answers

According to Burnham and Phelan's theory of how the basal ganglia work, what happens when people have a gain in their material success?

The happiness begins to fade so we will continue to strive to have more success Signup and view all the answers

According to Burnham and Phelan's theory of how the basal ganglia work, what happens when people experience negative events?

The emotional pain will fade quickly so we won't be debilitated by grief Signup and view all the answers

Why is the surface of the cortex wrinkly?

To increase its surface area Signup and view all the answers

What are the four lobes of the cortex?

Frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Frontal Lobe?

Responsible for planning, interpreting emotions, houses the motor cortex, producing speech Signup and view all the answers

What lobe of the brain was damaged in Phineas Gage?

Frontal lobe Signup and view all the answers

What happened to Phineas Gage as the result of his brain damage?

Unable to acceptably express his emotions Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Temporal Lobe?

Houses the primary auditory cortex, performs speech comprehension, and visual recognition Signup and view all the answers

What lobe of the brain is damaged in someone with visual agnosia?

Temporal lobe Signup and view all the answers

What is someone with visual agnosia unable to do?

Identify objects visually Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Parietal Lobe?

Houses the somatosensory cortex (touch), navigation, and math ability Signup and view all the answers

What lobe of the brain is damaged in someone with hemispatial neglect?

Parietal lobe Signup and view all the answers

How do people with hemispatial neglect behave?

Ignore half the visual field and one side of all objects Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the Occipital Lobe?

Houses the primary visual cortex, used entirely for vision Signup and view all the answers

What lobe of the brain is damaged in someone with achromatopsia?

Occipital lobe Signup and view all the answers

What would someone with achromatopsia be unable to do?

Imagine colors Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the neural structure that allows the two hemispheres of the brain to communicate with one another?

Corpus callosum Signup and view all the answers

Which hemisphere of the brain controls and receives input from the right side of the body?

Left Signup and view all the answers

Which hemisphere of the brain controls and receives input from the left side of the body?

Right Signup and view all the answers

What functions of the brain are considered left hemisphere functions?

Speech production and comprehension Signup and view all the answers

In what hemisphere and lobe of the brain is Broca's area?

Left frontal lobe Signup and view all the answers

What is Broca's area responsible for?

Speech production Signup and view all the answers

In what hemisphere and lobe of the brain is Wernicke's area?

Left temporal lobe Signup and view all the answers

What is Wernicke's area responsible for?

Language comprehension Signup and view all the answers

What functions of the brain are considered right hemisphere functions?

Face recognition, music, spatial abilities Signup and view all the answers

What is Prosopagnosia?

Inability to identify faces Signup and view all the answers

Which hemisphere is damaged by prosopagnosia?

Right Signup and view all the answers

What is the last name of the man who did the split-brain studies?

Sperry Signup and view all the answers

What part of the brain was severed in the split-brain patients?

Corpus callosum Signup and view all the answers

If a split-brain patient held an orange in her left hand and a pencil in her right, what would she say if asked what she was holding?

Pencil Signup and view all the answers

What sort of machine is used to measure brain waves?

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Signup and view all the answers

What sorts of brain waves are observed in NREM1 sleep?

Slightly larger brain waves Signup and view all the answers

What sorts of brain waves are observed in NREM2 sleep?

Slower brain waves Signup and view all the answers

In what stage of sleep do sleep spindles first appear?

NREM2 Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of sleep spindles?

Reduce the brain's sensitivity to sensory movement Signup and view all the answers

What sorts of brain waves are associated with NREM3 sleep?

Slowest brain waves Signup and view all the answers

In what stage of sleep do night terrors occur?

NREM3 Signup and view all the answers

How will people in NREM3 sleep feel when awakened?

Very groggy Signup and view all the answers

What sorts of brain waves are observed during REM sleep?

Stage 1 waves Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychology Overview

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Psychiatry focuses on the medical treatment of psychological disorders.

Historical Foundations

René Descartes proposed that the soul is separate from the body and not bound by physical laws.
Structuralism, founded by Wilhelm Wundt in Germany, primarily employed introspection as its research method.
Edward Titchener established the first psychology lab in America and is recognized as the founder of Structuralism.
Functionalists aimed to understand the purpose of the mind, influenced by Darwin's theory of evolution and led by William James.

Approaches to Psychology

Psychoanalysis, developed by Sigmund Freud, suggests mental illnesses arise from subconscious conflicts.
Behaviorism, founded by John Watson, studies the relationship between behavior and reinforcement, exemplified by the conditioning of Little Albert.
B.F. Skinner further explored operant conditioning, defining behaviorism's focus on observable behaviors.
The cognitive approach uses a computer metaphor to explain how the brain processes information.

Research Techniques

The correlational approach examines relationships between variables without manipulation, useful when manipulative experiments are unethical or impractical.
Case studies, commonly used by psychoanalysts, describe individual behaviors but can be susceptible to confirmation bias.
Naturalistic observation entails unobtrusively studying subjects in their environment, effective for answering straightforward questions.

Causation vs. Correlation

Causation implies a direct impact where a change in one variable induces a change in another.
Experiments enable researchers to infer causal relationships through the manipulation of independent and dependent variables.
Random assignment ensures equal chances of participants being placed in different experimental groups.

Neurons and Brain Structure

Neurons consist of dendrites (receive signals), cell bodies (maintain cell life), axons (transmit signals), and terminal buttons (release neurotransmitters).
The action potential is an electrical impulse traveling down an axon, while the synapse is the gap between neurons.
Neurotransmitters bind to receptors in adjacent neurons, influencing their activity.

Brain Regions and Functions

The hindbrain includes the medulla oblongata (controls vital functions) and pons (regulates sleep and arousal).
The midbrain houses the superior colliculus (visual reflexes) and inferior colliculus (auditory reflexes).
The forebrain encompasses key structures: the hypothalamus (regulates basic drives), amygdala (emotional responses, especially fear), and hippocampus (long-term memory encoding).

Cortex and Its Lobes

The cortex features four lobes: frontal (planning and motor functions), temporal (auditory processing), parietal (sensation and navigation), and occipital (visual processing).
Damage to specific lobes can lead to distinct deficits: Phineas Gage suffered emotional control loss due to frontal lobe damage; visual agnosia results from temporal lobe impairment.

Hemispheres and Language

Each hemisphere controls opposite body sides; the left is associated with language production and comprehension (Broca's area in the frontal lobe, Wernicke's area in the temporal lobe).
Right hemisphere functions include face recognition and spatial abilities; prosopagnosia is an inability to recognize faces due to right hemisphere damage.

Brain Imaging and Sleep Studies

An electroencephalogram (EEG) measures brain wave activity.
Sleep stages vary in brain wave patterns: NREM1 has slightly larger, NREM2 displays slower waves with sleep spindles, NREM3 reveals the slowest waves, and REM sleep resembles stage 1 waves.
Night terrors occur in NREM3, while awakening from this stage often results in grogginess.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts and historical milestones in psychology, from the theories of René Descartes to the development of different psychological approaches. Learn about key figures like Wilhelm Wundt and Sigmund Freud, and discover how various schools of thought such as structuralism and functionalism shaped modern psychology.