Science of Psychology
This gender is generally considered more physically aggressive than the other, with psychological explanations ranging from biological to social influences.
Males
This part of the nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, and is responsible for processing and interpreting information.
The central nervous system
This lobe of the brain is primarily involved in processing visual information.
The occipital lobe
This term refers to the tendency to remember the first and last items in a list better than the middle items.
The serial position effect
This type of memory holds information for a few seconds to minutes and is essential for tasks like remembering a phone number long enough to dial it.
Short Term Memory
This psychologist is known for training rats in a Skinner Box, demonstrating the principle of reinforcement by rewarding them with food when they press a lever.
B.F. Skinner
This division of the nervous system carries information to the central nervous system from the senses and from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles.
The somatic division
This lobe is responsible for higher cognitive functions, such as reasoning, planning, and voluntary movement
The frontal lobe
This structure in the brain is essential for forming new explicit memories and is especially important in spatial memory and navigation.
The hippocampus
This famous experiment by Stanley Milgram tested people's willingness to obey authority figures, even when asked to administer potentially harmful shocks to others.
Milgram obedience experiment
This aspect of psychology emphasizes the importance of recognizing and understanding the vast range of human diversity across cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.
Cultural Psychology
The "fight or flight" response is triggered by this branch of the autonomic nervous system, which prepares the body for stressful situations.
The sympathetic nervous system
This structure, often referred to as the "relay station," is involved in transmitting sensory and motor signals between different parts of the brain.
The thalamus
This stage of memory processing involves taking in raw sensory data from the environment before it is encoded into a more meaningful form.
Sensory Memory
The concept of "nature vs. nurture" explores the relative contributions of these two factors in shaping human behavior.
Genetic influences (nature) and environmental influences (nurture)
This branch of psychology seeks to understand human strengths and virtues, such as altruism and wisdom,
Positive Psychology
This structure in the brain is responsible for regulating vital functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and blood pressure.
The medulla oblongata
This structure, often called the "emotional brain," plays a key role in regulating emotions, memories, and arousal.
The limbic system
This process occurs after information has been briefly held in short-term memory and involves organizing it for long-term retention.
Encoding
This term refers to the mental process of organizing, interpreting, and storing information, making sense of the world around us.
Perception
While this type of research might show a relationship between stimulating activities, like museum visits, and children's IQ scores, it cannot conclude that these experiences alone cause changes in intelligence.
Correlational Study
These specialized cells in the nervous system transmit electrical impulses and communicate with each other through synapses.
Neurons
This area, located in the frontal lobe, is critical for language production and speech. Damage to this area can result in a language disorder called aphasia.
The Brocas Area
This theory suggests that memory is stored in a series of stages, from sensory input to short-term processing, and eventually long-term storage, with attention and rehearsal as key factors.
The Information Processing Model
This mental state is characterized by a lack of motivation, often due to a perceived inability to change one’s circumstances.
Learned helplessness