Science of Psychology
This research method involves carefully observing and recording behavior without intervening in the situation.
What is naturalistic observation?
Who is often referred to as the "father of psychology" and established the first psychology laboratory?
Wilhelm Wundt
The basic building block of the nervous system is known as what?
Neurons
What is the term for the minimum amount of stimulus energy needed for an observer to detect a stimulus?
What is the sleep-wake cycle, and what regulates it?
The sleep-wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm, is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep and wake states in living organisms, including humans. It follows a roughly 24-hour cycle and is influenced by external factors such as light and darkness, and internal factors such as melatonin. The sleep-wake cycle plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and well-being.
What is the primary goal of the scientific method in psychology?
understand, describe, and predict behavior and mental processes
Which early school of psychology focused on the basic elements of conscious experience, such as sensations and feelings?
structuralism
Which part of the brain is associated with emotions, motivation, and the formation of memories?
What is the limbic system? (amygdala, basal ganglia, hippocampus, hypothalamus, thalamus, cingulate cortex)
Name the five basic tastes.
sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami.
Name one type of altered state of consciousness.
1) Sleeping
2) Meditation
3) Psychoactive drug influence
Name one key ethical principle that researchers must adhere to when conducting psychological studies.
1) Informed Consent
2) Confidentiality
3) Debriefing
What influential school of psychology, led by John B. Watson, emphasized the study of observable behaviors?
Behaviorism
The endocrine system uses chemicals called what to transmit messages to organs throughout the body?
Hormones
Describe the difference between sensation and perception.
Name the altered state of consciousness induced by a class of substances that includes LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline.
Hallucinogens or psychedelics
This statistical measure describes the extent to which two variables change together.
Name one major criticism of Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory.
1) Lack of empirical evidence
2) unfalsifiable claims
3) overemphasis on sexuality and aggression
Neurotransmitters play a crucial role in communication between neurons. Name one neurotransmitter and its function.
1) Dopamine - Reward and pleasure (also motor control, mood regulation, cognition and attention, sleep regulation, and more)
2) Serotonin - Mood Regulation (also sleep-wake cycle, appetite, cognition and memory, temperature regulation, and more)
3) Acetylcholine - neuromuscular junction, cognitive functions, autonomic nervous system, heart rate regulation, and more
What role does the retina play in the process of vision?
The retina transduces light energy into neural impulses (i.e. electric signals) that are sent through the visual cortex into the occipital lobe.
In the context of consciousness, what is the purpose of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep?
Memory consolidation
research suggests that REM sleep, particularly the dreaming phase, is involved in the consolidation of certain types of memories. It is thought to facilitate the integration of new information into existing knowledge networks, aiding in the storage and retrieval of memories.
In a controlled experiment, what is the purpose of the control group?
to serve as a baseline or reference group for comparison with the experimental group. The control group is exposed to conditions that are identical to the experimental group in all aspects except for the variable being manipulated or tested.
Who is known for proposing the hierarchy of needs and the concept of self-actualization?
What is the fight-or-flight response, and which part of the nervous system is responsible for it?
sympathetic nervous system
Define the term "perceptual constancy" and provide an example.
refers to the phenomenon in which our perception of an object's characteristics (such as size, shape, color, or brightness) remains relatively stable despite variations in the sensory input we receive.
Size constancy, color constancy, brightness constancy, and shape constancy are all examples of perceptual constancy
According to this theory of dreaming, dreams serve as a way to process and consolidate information from the day, helping to form memories and solve problems.
Information-processing theory