Perspectives of Psychology
MONISM VS. DUALISM
Dualism= belief that the mind and body are separate entities: nothing that occurs in the mind can influence bodily processes
Monism= belief that the mind and body are "one": what occurs in the mind can help you to better understand behaviour
BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE
Believes that performance is based on what we are exposed to in our environment
-tabula rasa= blank slate
-includes classical conditioning, operant conditioning, cognitive behaviourism (observational learning)
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH
-has control over one or more of the variables in the study and can manipulate variables a
Advantage= can draw out cause and effect conclusions
Disadvantage= may not generalize well to the "real world"
NEURON STRUCTURE & FXN
Neurons= receive, integrate and transmit information
nucleus= where genetic material is found (DNA which code for certain proteins)
dendrites= receive inputs from other neurons
axon= transmission of electrical potentials that travel to terminal branches at end of axon
myelin= fatty substance that coats axon and helps protect it. Speeds up conduction of electrical impulses down the axon
CNS vs. PNS
CNS= consists of brain and spinal cord
PNS= any components that exist outside of the brain and spinal cord
--> autonomic and somatic
-->sympathetic vs. parasympathetic
EMPIRICISM
All ideas and knowledge are gained empirically through the senses and through things like observation
HUMANISTIC PERSPECTIVE
-Maslow's hierarchy of needs
DESCRIPTIVE METHODS
-allows us to study phenomena as it occurs
Disadvantages= cannot infer causality
TYPES OF GLIAL CELLS
GLIAL CELLS= more glial cells than neurons in NS: think of as "glue"
Astrocyte= structural support, provides nutrients, supports blood brain barrier, also mediates communication within NS
Microglial= derived from macrophages, gets rid of waste materials in NS
Oligodendrocyte= located in CNS, each projection forms a piece of myelin sheath
Ependymal cell= filters blood and manufactures CSF
LOBES OF THE BRAIN
Occipital lobe= most posterior or furthest back. Involved in processing of visual info
Temporal lobe= helps us determine what an object is. Processes auditory information
Parietal lobe= processes pain, pressure and touch
Frontal lobe= "CEO". Processes and integrates info from all sensory systems. Motor programming and initiation of movement
STRUCTURALISM
Considers the elements that make up the overall structure important
eg. when looking at hands, structuralism would consider the fingers, tendons and what makes up the hand
COGNITIVE PERSPECTIVE
Studies the nature of the mind and understands how mental processes influence behaviour
-able to reason and problem solve
-gestalt psychology
-Piaget
CORRELATION COEFFICIENT
(r)= numerical value of r is the strength of relationship, as number decreases away from 1 the strength decreases
-can be positive or negative, (-1 to +1)
correlation= when two variable are related to each other
-measuring variables not manipulating variables (like in experimental)
WHAT IS AN ACTION POTENTIAL
shift in electrical charge that travels down the neuron
-at rest neuron is polarized (-70mV)--> during AP increase to (+40mV) called depolarization
-key ions= sodium, potassium
-much more potassium inside cell at rest
HINDBRAIN VS. MIDBRAIN VS. FOREBRAIN
Hindbrain= basic survival functions. 1. Brainstem 2. Cerebellum
Midbrain= can influence some higher level processing that occurs in forebrain. 1. Reticular formation 2. Substantia niagra 3. Superior and inferior colliculus
Forebrain= complex higher level functions. 1. Thalamus 2. Basal ganglia 3. Hypothalamus 4. Limbic system
FUNCTIONALISM
Emphasis on function or adaptive purpose of the mind. More concerned about function than structure of basic elements
eg. when looking at hands, functionalism emphasizes the importance of the hands and how they are adaptive for us
BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
INTERNAL VS. EXTERNAL VALIDITY
External validity= how well do the findings generalize to the population as a whole?
PASSIVE ION MOVEMENT VS. ACTIVE MOVEMENT VS. VOLTAGE GATED
Passive- doesn't require extra energy to move ions. Ions will naturally move due to concentration gradients and electrostatic pressure
Active- requires energy to force ions in these directions eg. sodium potassium pump
Voltage gated- don't freely open but channels will open if the cell reaches a certain voltage eg. for sodium channels to open, we must reach a threshold of (-55mV)
WERNIKES VS. BROCAS
Wernikes= COMPREHENSION of language
Brocas= PRODUCTION of language
PSYCHODYNAMIC PERSPECTIVE
Looks at the role of the unconscious in influencing conscious thoughts, feelings and behaviour
-Freud
SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE
Looks at influence of our social environment and cultural learning on behaviour, thoughts and feelings
-absolutism vs. relativism
OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
A statement of the procedures or ways in which a researcher is going to measure behaviours or qualities
-have to define exactly what we are looking at
Myelin sheath= speeds up rate of conduction down an axon
Saltatory conduction= when AP can "jump" from node to node because voltage gated channels under myelin sheath do not open and close. Gates open and close only at exposed regions called nodes of ranvier
ANATOMY OF THE EYE: Cornea, pupil, lens, vitreous humor, retina, fovea
Cornea= first entry into the eye for light. Begins to bend light rays
Pupil= controls the amount of light that enters the eye
Lens= bends light rays to focus image on back of eye
Vitreous humor= gel like liquid that light must travel through
Retina- where we find cells responsible for transduction
Fovea= greatest amount of acuity for vision. High levels of detail