PSY 200 Foundations Exam
Explain epigenetics and the bigger idea that nature and nurture really are INTERTWINED and not actually "versus" each other.
Epigenetics is when factors other than genotype produce changes in a phenotype it influences gene expression, which is the process that DNA builds proteins. Some can be reversed, some may last forever. For example, very bad trauma as a child can make changes in the hippocampus- memory plus response to stress. SO they are INTERTWINED (and not "versus") because your genes that you are born with can be changed from a traumatic environmental event which involves both nature and nurture.
what is the basic function of neurotransmitters?
It is a messenger that communicates across a synapse.
why are neurotransmitters important in the context of drug abuse and addiction?
Nerve cells are responsible for nearly all of the observations, communication and action that occurs in the brain and central nervous system - especially where related to the process of substance abuse and addiction. Nerve cells receive signals - such as a drug like heroin - and respond by releasing a specific neurotransmitter. Nearly all drugs work by impeding, enhancing or otherwise interfering with the natural processes of neurotransmitters, resulting in feelings of euphoria and other desirable effects of drug use.
What is an example of a POSITIVE correlation?
The more education years you complete, the higher your potential to earn.
DEFINE: Nurture
the contributions of environmental factors and experience to our physical structure and behaviors. example: intelligence- Those who would argue that a child's intelligence was affected by nurture would look at the child's educational background as well as how his or her parents raised her. These individuals would state that the intelligence level which permitted the child to be so successful, is largely the result of the child's upbringing and the school system.
DEFINE: Nature
the contributions of heredity to our physical structure and behavior. example: intelligence: Those who would argue that nature is largely to thank for the individual's ability to achieve greatness might point to his or her parents and use their level of intelligence as a reason for why he or she is so successful. Perhaps the child developed early skills quickly and this would be used to show that the child was clearly, "born smart."
surverys allow us to get information in flexble formats in a variety of topics they are also vulnerable to certain factors explain 3 concerns or potential threats to good survey research
1) must have confidentiality and anemity and researchers must not share information to participants 2) participants must elect to particpate on own free will and must be educated and have conesnt given 3) compliance with laws and ehtical considerations and must do no harm
what are three specific neurotransmitters and some behaviors and/or disorders associated with each?
1. Dopamine- movement, reward, planning, parkinson's disease 2. Serotonin- mood, appetite, sleep 3.Endorphins- pain
what is an example of a NEGATIVE correlation?
A negative correlation example is the correlation between the number correct and the number wrong on a multiple-choice test. Perfect inverse relationship: as the number correct increases, the number wrong decreases.
psychology is the scientifici study of behaviors and mental processes A) define behavior and provide an example B) define mental processes and define an example C) discuss atleast three reasons why mental processes are so challenging to study
a) behavior refers to actions we can see how a person conducts themselves B)the mental process is more difficult especially before technology there is also cognitive psychology C) mental process are hard to study because it involves introspection the individual had to look inside himself
part of the scientific process is accepting uncertainty with this in mind A) explain why science seeks to disprove rather than to prove B) discuss two reasons why we cannot prove thigns with are psychological research studies
A) because most scientits are scientific skeptics which means they apply reason and critical thinking to determine validity and they must have falsifiablity B) the reason we cannot find definitive proof there may not always be something that we can not 100% prove and because over time somethings change
A) 2 benefits B) 2 concerns with conducting research observations in the labratory as compared to naturalstic observation C) explain which is better
A) benefits are controlled enviroment and have access to specialized equiptment B) possible the behavior of the participant would be different in a naturalistic enviroment and does not allow firm conclusions about cause and effect C) lab is better because it is easier to replicate and control and be standarized and provide more control over variables allows a cause and effect relationship to be established
explain the concepts of A skepticism B empirifcal research and the scitenfic method C discuss why they are importnant to building the science of psycology
A) is the process of applying reason and critical thinking to determine validity supported conclusion B) empirical research gaining knowledge by means of direct or indirect observation of experience scientific method begins witha questiion or hypothesis expersiment to support or disprove the theory C)all important because they are all methods of supporting the conclusion
consider the difference between science and psudeoscience A) define both science ans psuedo science B) provide atleast one example of a psuedo science C) discuss three different reasons people might believe in psuedo science
A) science relies on objectivity conclusions are based on facts without influence from personal emotions or biases relies on repitable evidence B) science that claims to be scientific and factual but is not based on teh scientific method C) some can be hipnotized polygraphy lie deterctors that measure changes in vital signs and subliminal advertising recieving data through hearing or seeing data without noticing it
A) desicribe what it means to say that hypothesis needs to be testable and phalsiphiable B)discuss why this is important for challenging psychology
A)a hypothesis is a educated guess about a result if a hyothesis is not testable there is nothing that can prove or disprove it so no method can be applied testable and falsifiable B) difficult because psychology studies the brain and the brain is intertwined with behavioral and mental process its hard to get a good picture of whats going on in the brain tech helps
What is an example of correlation not equaling causation?
An example would be someone wearing XXL size clothes and heart attacks. Neither does wearing XXL clothes lead to heart attacks and nor does a heart attack make you more prone to wear XXL clothes. The common factor is obesity.
Correlation does not equal ...... ?
Causation
What does Correlation does not equal Causation mean?
Causation is the relationship between cause and effect. So, when a cause results in an effect, that's a causation. When we say that correlation does not imply cause, we mean that just because you can see a connection or a mutual relationship between two variables, it doesn't necessarily mean that one causes the other.
describe atleast 3 factors that have been studied with regards to sexual orientation and what the research suggests according to research is sexual orientation a choice
a combination of genetics and hereditability hormonal cognitive and enviromental factors is likely to lead to it 2) birth order males with many older brothers may be homosexual pre natal hormones may affect sexual orientation and no sexual orientation is not a choice
brain plsiticity define neural plasticity explain how plasiticy helps recover from brain injury discuss role of plasticity in everyday learning and development how do are every actions shape are brains as a result of plasticity how does plasticity contribute
neural plasticity is the ability of the brain to modify its connections or rewire itself if the brain did not have plasticity it would not be able to develop from birth it would not be able to revocer form any injury the brain is like computer it monitors sensory and motor signals in parrelel it has many neural pathways so small errors in developement that dmage can be rewired down a different pathway the more you do things the faster your brain si able to process it if you stop doing soemthing that you do all the time then that part of the brain becomes inactive and it is able to replaced by something else
psychological trait/topic and explain how both nature/nurture contribute to the topic.
topic: Athleticism this topic contributes to both nature/nurture because someone could be born with an athletic build and then they would have to work to build muscle through environment so they both contribute to this topic. another example would be alcoholism. they could be born predisposed to being an alcoholic and then they would have to actually become addicted through their environment.
