Psych in Life
What is the definition of psychology?
study of mental activity and behavior
based on brain processes
What is a neuron?
Nerve cell
What is consciousness?
One’s subjective experiences of the external world and one’s mental activity
What is good well-being?
Being the healthiest person you can possibly be and feel satisfied with life
What is something the textbook mentions that benefits not only physical health, but cognition/memory and moods/emotions/mental health?
Getting exercise
Who studied Psychoanalysis?
Sigmund Freud
What is the synapse?
The space between neurons where neurotransmitters are passed
What are the two ways one can process information?
Automatic & controlled
What is the biopsychosocial model?
How genetics, behaviors, and social support influence health
What is true of the nature vs. nurture debate?
Life is both nature and nurture
What does it mean when two things are correlated?
Things are related but not cause and effect
What would happen if someone had severe trauma to their Occipital Lobe?
their eyes would still be fully functional, but they would not be able to see
What is the circadian rhythm?
Our 24 hour "internal biological clock" that regulates our biological processes
What disease does chronic smoking affect?
Heart disease
What are some things used to change states of consciousness?
Hypnosis, meditation, & drug use
What are independent and dependent variables in an experiment?
IV- manipulated, DV- changes based on the manipulated variable
What brain structure controls basic survival functions?
Medulla Oblongata
What is subliminal perception?
Processing of sensory information without conscious awareness
What is emotion focused coping?
Focusing on how you handle your emotional reactions
What neurotransmitter is associated with mood?
Serotonin
What is Friendly Skepticism?
Being open to new ideas but being careful to accept them
What happens when a neuron is stimulated?
Fires an action potential
What are the 4 types of psychoactive drugs?
Stimulants, opioids, hallucinogens, and depressants
What are the 3 levels of general adaptation syndrome?
Alarm – Resistance - Exhaustion
What part of the brain controls voluntary movement and balance?
Cerebellum