Introduction to Psychology
What is psychology?
This is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
What is a hypothesis?
This is a testable prediction derived from a theory.
What is the occipital lobe?
This lobe of the brain houses the visual cortex.
What is photoreception?
Detecting light energy is the job of this type of sensory reception.
What is consciousness?
Awareness of external events and internal sensations is called this.
Who is Wilhelm Wundt?
He founded psychology’s first lab and used introspection to study conscious experience.
What is a random sample?
Every member of the population has an equal chance of selection in this type of sample.
What is the prefrontal cortex?
This brain structure triggered Phineas Gage’s personality changes after injury.
What is sensation?
Turning sensory energies into neural signals is called this process.
What is the reticular activating system?
This structure regulates arousal and wakefulness in the brain.
What is functionalism?
This early school of psychology, led by James, focused on the purpose of mental processes and adaptation to the environment.
What is informed consent?
Participants must know the risks before participating due to this ethical principle.
What is the medulla?
This brain structure regulates vital functions such as breathing and heart rate.
What is perception?
Organizing and interpreting sensory information gives meaning in this process.
What is the activation-synthesis theory?
This theory of dreaming says dreams are the brain’s attempt to make sense of random neural activity.
What is causation?
The principle that correlation does not equal this is central to evaluating psychological research claims.
What is an experimental study?
Manipulating variables to test outcomes is a hallmark of this type of study.
What is dopamine?
This neurotransmitter is associated with voluntary movement and reward.
What is the trichromatic theory?
This theory of color vision states cones are sensitive to red, green, and blue wavelengths.
What are psychoactive drugs?
These substances alter consciousness, perceptions, and moods.
What is the psychodynamic approach?
Freud founded this approach, which emphasizes unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences.
What is a longitudinal study?
Studying the same group’s characteristics over time defines this type of research design.
What is the all-or-nothing principle?
This principle states that a neuron either fires completely or not at all.
What is the opponent-process theory?
Seeing a red afterimage after staring at a green object supports this theory.
What is hypnosis?
This altered state is marked by unusual receptiveness to suggestion, but people cannot be forced to act against their will.