Unit 1
Define Empiricism
The knowledge that originates in experience and that science should rely on, observe and experiment
Define Random assignment:
Assigning participants to experimental and control groups by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between the groups.
Define Cognitive neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience is the study of the neural basis of cognition, including perception, attention, memory, language, and decision-making.
Define Sensory (afferent) neurons
Sensory (afferent) neurons are neurons that carry information from sensory receptors to the CNS.
Define Motor (efferent) neurons
Motor (efferent) neurons are neurons that carry information from the CNS to muscles and glands.
Define Structuralism
The school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structure of the human mind
Define Independent variable
The variable that is manipulated in an experiment.
Define Behavior genetics
Behavior genetics is the study of the genetic and environmental factors that influence behavior.
Define Somatic nervous system
Somatic nervous system is the division of the PNS that controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles.
Define Sympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system is the division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for stress or danger by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration.
Define Humanistic psychology
A perspective way that emphasizes the growth of healthy people
Define Descriptive statistics
Statistical procedures used to describe the characteristics and responses of groups of subjects.
Define Environment
Environment refers to all the external factors that influence an organism, including physical, social, and cultural factors.
Define Genes
Genes are segments of DNA that code for specific traits or characteristics.
Define Genome
Genome is the complete set of genetic information in an organism.
Define Levels of analysis
It refers to the different ways in which psychologists approach the study of behavior and mental processes, ranging from biological to social and cultural perspectives.
Define Skewed distribution
A distribution in which one tail is longer than the other.
Define Chromosomes
Chromosomes are thread-like structures in the nucleus of a cell that contain genetic information in the form of DNA.
Define DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a molecule that carries genetic information and is responsible for the development and function of all living organisms.
Define Identical twins
Identical twins are twins that develop from a single fertilized egg and share the same genetic material.
Nature-nurture debate
It is a long-standing debate in psychology that questions whether human behavior is determined by genetics (nature) or the environment (nurture).
Define Statistical significance
A statistical statement of how likely it is that an obtained result occurred by chance.
Define Mutation
Mutation is a change in the DNA sequence that can result in a new trait or characteristic.
Define Epigenetics
Epigenetics is the study of changes in gene expression that are not caused by changes in the DNA sequence itself, but rather by environmental factors.
Define Evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology is the study of how evolutionary principles can explain human behavior and cognition