Foundations of Psychology
Name 2 of the 5 Pillars of Psychology.
Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, Social & Personality, Mental & Physical Health.
Which lobe of the brain is responsible for vision?
Occipital lobe.
Define “absolute threshold.”
The minimum amount of stimulus energy needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.
Give an example of an altered state of consciousness.
Sleep, hypnosis, meditation, drug-induced states.
What does “genotype” mean?
A person’s genetic makeup.
Who is known as the “Father of Psychology” for establishing the first lab in 1879?
Wilhelm Wundt.
Which part of the brain helps tie emotion to memory and is part of the limbic system?
Amygdala
How is “subliminal perception” different from absolute threshold?
Subliminal = below conscious detection level (not consciously perceived); Absolute threshold = the lowest level that can be detected.
True or False: Daydreaming is considered an altered state of consciousness.
True.
What does “phenotype” mean?
Observable characteristics or traits resulting from genes and environment.
Which psychologist studied classical conditioning using dogs, food, and bells?
Ivan Pavlov.
Which lobe of the brain is responsible for reasoning, planning, and decision-making?
Frontal Lobe
Which theory of pitch perception is based on the location along the basilar membrane?
Place theory.
Name one sleep stage and describe what happens in it.
Example: REM sleep = dreaming and rapid eye movements; Stage 3/4 = deep slow-wave sleep, body repair.
What are the three things that research with animals must include respect for?
Proper housing, minimizing discomfort, humane treatment (care, health, and ethical use).
Which psychologist is known for the Stanford Prison Experiment?
Philip Zimbardo.
Wernicke’s area is located in which lobe of the brain, and what does it control?
Temporal lobe; controls language comprehension.
Give one example of how inattentional blindness can be measured.
Example: “Invisible Gorilla” experiment, where people miss the gorilla walking through because they’re focused on counting basketball passes.
How are sleep stages connected to wakefulness phases?
They cycle in ~90-minute patterns through the night, helping regulate alertness and restoration.
Which Belmont Report principle emphasizes fair selection of participants?
Justice.
Compare Pavlov, Bandura, and Zimbardo: what type of learning or research is each most famous for?
Pavlov = classical conditioning; Bandura = observational learning/social learning; Zimbardo = social roles and situational influence (Stanford Prison Experiment).
Name one brain structure (not a lobe) and describe the main function.
Examples: Hippocampus = memory; Cerebellum = balance/coordination; Hypothalamus = hunger, thirst, homeostasis; Medulla = breathing/heart rate.
Compare selective attention and divided attention with an example of each.
Selective = focusing on one thing (listening to a lecture while ignoring side chatter). Divided = splitting attention between tasks (driving while talking on the phone).
Explain how hallucinogens (like LSD or mushrooms) affect the brain’s neurotransmitter systems.
They primarily alter serotonin pathways, causing distorted perception, mood changes, and hallucinations.
A study forces participants to stay awake for 36 hours during finals week. Which Belmont principle is being violated and why?
Beneficence; it exposes students to harm (sleep deprivation, stress) without minimizing risks.