MODULE 1
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF PSYCHOLOGY? X2
1. the scientific study of the mind, brain, and behavior
2.The scientific study of people’s feelings (affect), actions(behavior), and thoughts (cognitions)”
WHAT IS NAiiVE REALISM?
The belief that we see the world precisely as it is
We trust our intuitive perceptions of the world and ourselves
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HYPOTHESIS AND SCIENTIFIC THEORY?
Scientific theory: explanation for a large number of findings in the natural world. Ties multiple findings together; organizes observations. Predicts behaviors or events
Hypothesis: testable prediction derived from a scientific theory
what are the nervous system’s major two divisions?
Peripheral and Central
WHAT IS AN ad hoc immunizing hypothesis?
hypothesis that prevents theory from being falsified •“Loophole” that defenders of a theory use to protect their theory from falsification
WHAT IS THE ABC TRIAD?
Affect= our feelings, emotions
Behavior= what we do, how we act
Cognitions= what we think about
WHAT IS PSEUDOSCIENCE?
FALSE SCEINCE
a set of claims that seem scientific but aren’t
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN IV AND DV?
Independent variable: variable manipulated by the researcher
Dependent variable: variable measured by the researcher (outcome)
what systems are hippocampus, hypothalamus, and amygdala in?
The Limbic System
what is the difference between a correlation and experience?
A correlation shows that two variables are related, but an experiment tests whether one variable actually causes a change in another. In an experiment, researchers manipulate one variable and measure its effect on another.
describe:Scientific study, the mind, the brain, behavior
“soft” science
Mind: conscious or unconscious thought, attention, memory, reason, emotion (“mind is what the brain does”)
Brain: complex biological structure
Behavior: activity that can be observed, recorded, or measured
WHAT ARE THE 3 LOGICAL FALLACIES?
1) Emotional reasoning fallacy 2) Bandwagon fallacy 3) Not me fallacy
WHAT ARE THE THREE COMPONENTS OF AN EXPERIMENT?
IV, DV, random assignment
what are the four lobes of the cerebral cortex?
Frontal lobes
Parietal lobes (Puh-rye-uh-tul)
Occipital lobes
Temporal lobes
what are the left and right hemispheres responsible for? AND what part of the brain that connects them?
The left hemisphere is mainly responsible for language and logical/analytical processing
the right hemisphere is mainly involved in spatial abilities, visual processing, and the big picture. The corpus callosum connects the two hemispheres and allows them to communicate with each other.
WHAT ARE THE INSIGHTS PSYCHOLOGY GIVES US INTO HUMAN BEHAVIOR?
Observe/describe behavior Explain behavior Predict behavior Change behavior, if necessary, Address social problems
WHAT TYPE OF BIAS IS THIS? Tendency to stick to our initial beliefs even when evidence contradicts them
Belief perseverance
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY?
Reliability: consistency of measurement
Validity: extent to which a measure assesses what it purports to measure
what happened to Phineas Gage? why is it important?
Explosion blew an iron rod through his head
Basic skills & abilities intact Personality changed Associate sensations with memories Ability to pair Names with faces Symbols with meanings Emotions with actions
what are the 5 steps of the scientific method?
1) Observe a phenomenon •State a problem to be studied 2) Make a hypothesis •Testable prediction 3) Design a study to test hypothesis •Collect data 4) Test whether data are[plural] consistent with hypothesis 5) Communicate results to the scientific community
can you name the 10 branches of psychology?
Biological Psychology, Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, Social Psychology, Personality Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology
WHAT TYPE OF BIAS IS THIS? tendency to believe, after learning an outcome, that one would have foreseen it
Hindsight bias ("knew it all along")
WHAT IS A CORRELATION COEFFICIENT? describe a positive, negative, and zero correlation. describe strength and direction
Correlation coefficient (CC): a statistical index of the relationship between two variables
positive- As the value of one variable changes, the other goes in the same direction
negative-As the value of one variable changes, the other goes in the opposite direction
strength of a correlation depends on how close it is to -1.0 or +1.0
direction- pos or neg
zero-no relationship; variables don’t go together
what are the subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system? describe their functions?
Autonomic (controls self-regulated action of internal organs and glands
Somatic (controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles)
Sympathetic (arousing) Parasympathetic (calming )
what are the components of the brainstem and the functions of the brainstem, thalamus, and cerebellum?
brainstem: Oldest and central core of the brain, Controls basic functions ,Medulla –heartbeat & breathing ,Reticular Formation filters incoming stimuli Stimulate: wake up Sever: never wake up
Thalamus: This is the “switchboard” It sends information to the Proper location in the brain! It receives information from all Of the senses except smell
Cerebellum: Called the “little brain” This is the ‘motor control’ center. It coordinates your skeletal muscles (voluntary movement)