Psychology Overview and Key Figures

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of John B. Watson's approach to psychology?

Observable behavior and its control (correct)

The exploration of feelings and urges

Dream analysis as a therapeutic technique

The study of unconscious motivations

Which method did Freud establish to access the unconscious mind?

Cognitive restructuring techniques

Experimental studies on consciousness

Behavioral assessments

Dream analysis and free association (correct)

What role did William James hold in the field of psychology?

He was the first American psychologist. (correct)

He introduced psychoanalysis to the United States.

He was the first psychologist to focus on behaviorism.

He developed the unconscious theory ahead of Freud.

In the context of psychoanalysis, what purpose does dream analysis serve?

To reveal hidden motivations and feelings Signup and view all the answers

How did Freud view the unconscious mind?

As a repository of unrecognized feelings and urges Signup and view all the answers

What did William James emphasize in his understanding of personality?

The function of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological perspective emphasizes human potential and the inherent goodness of people?

Humanistic psychology Signup and view all the answers

What did John Watson believe about behavior?

It results from environmental conditioning Signup and view all the answers

What criticism did Naomi Weisstein present regarding psychology in her 1968 publication?

It lacks consideration for cultural biases in female psychology Signup and view all the answers

What key aspect of personality did Sigmund Freud attribute the most importance to?

The unconscious mind and childhood experiences Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first African American to receive a PhD in psychology in the United States?

Francis Cecil Sumner Signup and view all the answers

What does a scientific theory consist of?

A broad explanation consistently supported by evidence Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts is associated with humanistic psychologists like Carl Rogers?

Potential for personal growth Signup and view all the answers

What is necessary for a researcher to establish a cause and effect relationship between two variables?

Perform an experiment Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary reason for conducting a double-blind study?

To control for experimenter and participant expectations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a confounding variable?

An unanticipated factor affecting both variables of interest Signup and view all the answers

What do polygenic traits involve?

Multiple genes influencing a single trait Signup and view all the answers

How is a hypothesis typically structured?

As an if-then statement Signup and view all the answers

In the concept of the range of reaction, what role do genes play?

They set boundaries for trait expression influenced by the environment Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'attrition' refer to in research studies?

The drop-out rate of participants over time Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of genotype?

The combination of inherited alleles in an individual Signup and view all the answers

Which research method involves observing behavior in a natural setting?

Naturalistic observation Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between dominant and recessive genes?

Dominant genes overshadow recessive genes in expression Signup and view all the answers

What does interrater reliability assess in a research study?

The consistency of results among different researchers Signup and view all the answers

What is a cohort in research terms?

A group sharing a common characteristic or experience Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the independent variable in an experiment?

To be manipulated to observe effects on the dependent variable Signup and view all the answers

How does the environment interact with an individual's genetics according to the range of reaction concept?

It modifies the extent of genetic traits being expressed Signup and view all the answers

Which type of research design gathers data repeatedly over a long period?

Longitudinal study Signup and view all the answers

What do scatterplots visually represent in research?

The strength and direction of correlations between variables Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of a dominant gene?

It expresses its trait even when paired with a different variant. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of synaptic vesicles?

To store neurotransmitters prior to release. Signup and view all the answers

Which structure is responsible for receiving incoming signals from other neurons?

Dendrites Signup and view all the answers

What does hyperpolarization refer to in neuronal activity?

A change in membrane potential that makes the inside of a cell more negative. Signup and view all the answers

Which brain regions are primarily involved in dopamine production?

Substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of gyri in brain structure?

They are ridges that increase the surface area of the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What is lateralization in the context of brain function?

The specialization of each hemisphere in processing different types of information. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the myelin sheath in neuronal function?

To increase the speed of signal transmission along the axon. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves applying skills to information to understand and evaluate it.

Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior.

Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalysis studies the unconscious mind.
The unconscious mind contains feelings and urges we are unaware of.
Accessing the unconscious is crucial to resolving psychological issues.
Accessing the unconscious can be done through dream analysis, examining first words, and analyzing slips of the tongue.

Psychologists

William James was the first American psychologist.
John Watson focused on observable behavior and its control.
Sigmund Freud emphasized the unconscious mind and its role in personality.
James saw personality as a dynamic process.
Watson saw personality as a product of learned behaviors.
Freud saw personality as shaped by unconscious desires and conflicts.

Humanism

Humanism focuses on the innate potential for good in all humans.
Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers are key figures.
Humanistic psychology rejected reductionist experimentation, believing it missed the "whole" human being.

Feminist Psychology

Naomi Weisstein criticized psychology for cultural biases in its portrayal of women.
Francis Cecil Sumner was the first African American to receive a PhD in psychology.
Sumner established a psychology program at Howard University, educating a new generation of African American psychologists.
Early psychologists from diverse backgrounds challenged intelligence testing and promoted innovative educational methods.

Scientific Theory

A scientific theory is a broad explanation for natural world phenomena supported by evidence over time.

Double-Blind Studies

In double-blind studies, researchers and participants are unaware of group assignments.
This controls for experimenter and participant expectations.

Hypothesis

A hypothesis is a testable prediction based on an idea.
It is often worded in an if-then statement.
It bridges the gap between ideas and the real world.

The Empirical Approach

The empirical approach uses observation and experience to gain knowledge.

Attrition

Attrition occurs when participants drop out of a study over time.

Naturalistic Observation

Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior in its natural setting.
Jane Goodall studied chimpanzee behavior in Africa.
Critics argued that Goodall's emotional attachment to chimpanzees compromised the objectivity of the study.

Longitudinal Research

Longitudinal research involves gathering data repeatedly over an extended period.
It is often used to study diseases and risk factors.

Cohort Effects

A cohort is a group sharing a common experience or characteristic.
Examples include people born in a specific time period, growing up in the same region, starting college in the same year, or experiencing the same disaster.
Cohort effect is an influence of shared experiences on a group of people.

Interrater Reliability

Interrater Reliability refers to the possibility of researcher expectations influencing study results.

Experimental Design

Experimental design aims to isolate the effects of an independent variable on a dependent variable.
An independent variable is manipulated by the researcher.
A dependent variable is measured to see the effects of the independent variable.
A confounding variable is an unanticipated outside factor influencing both variables of interest, potentially causing a false impression of a causal relationship.

Correlation

Correlation refers to the relationship between two or more variables.
When variables are correlated, changes in one variable correspond to changes in another.
Scatterplots visually represent the strength and direction of correlations.
A stronger correlation means data points are closer to a straight line.
Correlational research can identify relationships but cannot establish cause and effect.

Genetics

Evolution by natural selection states that organisms best suited to their environment survive and reproduce.

Chromosomes and DNA

Chromosomes are long strings of genetic material called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
Egg and sperm each contain 23 chromosomes.
DNA is a helix-shaped molecule made up of nucleotide base pairs.
Genes within DNA sequences control traits like eye color and hair color.

Polygenetic Traits

Polygenetic traits are influenced by multiple genes.

Range of Reaction

The range of reaction theory states that our genes set limits, and our environment interacts with them to determine where we fall within those limits.

Genotype and Phenotype

Genotype is an individual's genetic makeup.
Phenotype is an individual's observable characteristics.

Dominant and Recessive Genes

A dominant gene expresses its trait even when paired with a different variant.
A recessive gene only expresses its trait when paired with another copy of the same recessive gene.

Neuron Structure

Terminal buttons contain synaptic vesicles.
Synaptic vesicles store neurotransmitters.
The myelin sheath coats axons, acting as an insulator and increasing signal speed.
The synapse is the junction between neurons allowing communication.
The axon is the main extension of the soma.
Dendrites receive signals from other neurons.

Action Potential

An action potential is an electrical signal traveling down a neuron's axon.
Membrane potential is the difference in charge across the neuronal membrane.
Hyperpolarization makes the membrane potential more negative.

Neurotransmitter Removal

Neurotransmitters are removed from the synapse to stop signaling.

Drug Action

Drugs interfere with how neurons send, receive, and process signals via neurotransmitters.
The substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area contain dopamine-producing cells crucial for movement.

Important Neurotransmitters

Acetylcholine (ACh) is involved in muscle action, memory, and learning.
Dopamine (DA) is involved in mood, sleep, and learning.
Endorphins are natural pain relievers.
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in brain function and sleep.
Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter involved in memory and learning.
Norepinephrine (NE) is involved in heart function, digestion, and alertness.
Serotonin (5-HT) is involved in mood, sleep, and appetite.

Brain Structures

Gyri are ridges on the brain's surface.
Sulci are grooves on the brain's surface.
The brain has two hemispheres, left and right.
Each hemisphere has four lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal.
Lateralization allows the brain to efficiently process different types of information.

Cerebral Cortex

The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain, responsible for higher-level cognitive functions.

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Description

This quiz covers essential concepts in psychology, including critical thinking, psychoanalysis, and the contributions of key psychologists like Freud and Watson. Explore the dynamics of personality and the importance of understanding the unconscious mind. Test your knowledge on the foundations of psychological theories and practices.