Psy 101 Final

top-down processing

The operation in sensation and perception, launched by cognitive processing at the brain's higher levels, that allows the organism to sense what is happening and to apply that framework to information from the world.

Webster's Law

The principle that two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount) to be perceived as different.

Memory

The processes by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved is called

Four goals of the science of pyschology

describe,predict,understand, influence

Flourens

emphasized the importance of experimental research on the brain. Used controlled experiments on animals to determine localities of brain and their functions to move the field of brain research into more scientific area.

The Rorschach inkblot test is an example of an objective test

false

Cognitive psychologists are specifically interested in studying

human thinking and memory

both social-cognitive theorists and behaviorists adhere to the -----perspective

learning

visual cortex

located in the occipital lobe, the part of the cerebral cortex involved in vision

bottom-up processing

the operation in sensation and perception in which sensory receptors register information about the external environment and send it up to the brain for interpreation

frontal lobe

the portion of the cerebral cortex behind the forehead, involved in personality, intelligence, and the control of voluntary muscles.

validity

the soundness of the conclusions that a researcher draws from an experiment

social psychology

the subfield of psychology that studies attitudes, social perceptions, interpersonal attraction, social influence and group behavior is known as

behavior and mental processes

today,psychology is best defined as the scientific study of

collateral sprouting

when your brain try's to make up a gap between neurons.

one who agrees with their views

which newscast is an individual most likely to watch on a regular basis

T/F During middle adulthood, people are at their height of sensory sharpness, strength, reaction time, and cardiovascular fitness.

False

T/F In the context of stress, predictability is of greater benefit to externals—that is, to people who wish to exercise control over their situations—than to internals

False

T/F Inflammation decreases blood circulation to parts of the body that are injured

False

T/F Postconventional reasoning emerges during a person's middle adulthood

False

T/F Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and deep sleep hinder learning and memory

False

T/F The loss of memory in a person with dissociative amnesia can be attributed to organic problems such as a blow to the head or alcoholic intoxication.

False

T/F Type B people are highly driven, competitive, impatient, hostile, and aggressive—so much so that they are prone to getting into auto accidents.

False

T/F research suggest that brain levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine tend to be higher in introverts than in extraverts

False

temporal lobe

structures in the verbral cortex that are located just above the ears and are involved i hearing, language processing, and memory

occipital lobe

structures located at the back of the head that respond to visual stimuli

correlational coefficient

the degree of relationship between two variables is expressed as a numerical value called a

reinforcement and observation

the manner in which learning helps to shape attitudes is through

Fear appeal

A cosmetic company is interested in selling their product by targeting women's concerns over their appearance, particularly in regard to aging. A technique that is likely to work would be a(n) __________ advertising campaign.

strength

A person who feels very strongly about the sanctity of human life is likely to support pro-life legislation, whereas someone who merely agrees that people have a right to live is less likely to be concerned over the legislation. This demonstrates the effect that the __________ of attitudes has on behavior.

central

A salesperson for vitamins gives out a medical journal article that discusses the research on a particular vitamin's benefits. The salesperson is using the __________ route to persuade customers to buy his product.

behaviorism

A theory of learning that focuses solely on observable behaviors, discounting the importance of such mental activity as thinking, wishing, and hoping.

case study

Also called a case history, an in-depth look at a single individual

Direct experience and reinforcement

Chantel's friends all prefer long hair and low-rise jeans. They have encouraged her to adopt the same look. Chantel now prefers this mode of dress and criticizes others who dress differently. Chantel's attitude was acquired through

-----theories suggest that needs create a state of tension and that behavior relieves that tension and returns the organism to a calm, resting state

Drive-reduction

T/F According to Freud, moderate gratification in any stage could lead to fixation in that stage and to the development of traits that are characteristic of the stage

False

T/F Alcohol enhances cognitive functioning

False

T/F Dream are more likely to be coherent in plot than emotionally gripping

False

T/F Dreams are most likely to be vivid during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, whereas images are vaguer and more fleeting during rapid eye movement sleep (REM) sleep.

False

Observational

John's parents never cared for Southerners. They thought Southerners were slow and lazy. John often heard them make jokes about the south. John is being transferred to Alabama and he knows he won't like it because of the people there.He acquired this attitude through __________ learning

glands

Organs or tissues in the body that create chemicals that control many of our bodily functions

repeated exposure

Research has shown that mere __________ to any stimulus increases the likelihood that people will like it and react favorably to it.

Intelligence

Social psychology involves the study of all of the following, except beliefs,conformity, groups, or intelligence?

glial cells

The second of two types of cells in the nervous system; glial cells provide support, nutritional benefits, and other functions and keep neurons running smoothly.

placebo effect

The situation where participants' expectations, rather than the experimental treatment, produce an experimental outcome.

trichromatic theory

Theory stating that color perception is produced by three types of cone receptors in the retina that are particularly sensitive to different, but overlapping, ranges of wavelengths.

T/F Freud believed that children encounter conflict during each stage of psychosexual development.

True

T/F Hassles and life changes can predict physical health problems such as heart disease and cancer, and even athletic injuries.

True

T/F Hippocrates suggested that psychological disorders are caused by brain abnormalities

True

T/F People with borderline personality disorder show instability in their relationships, self-image, and mood and a lack of control over impulses.

True

T/F Stress elevates blood levels of cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine) and heightens the probability that a dormant Epstein-Barr virus will be reactivated.

True

T/F The Hering-Helmhotlz illusion is a visual illusion

True

T/F The preconscious mind contains ideas that are out of awareness but can be made conscious by focusing on them

True

T/F The reliability of a test refers to the stability of one's test results fromone testing to another.

True

decreases their smoking habit

When health warnings regarding cigarette smoking include pictures of aged, wrinkled skin, yellow-brown teeth and definite risks to appearance in addition to lung cancer, students are more likely to

MRI function

a method of monitoring brain activity by observing changes in blood oxygen

neuron

a nerve cell

prejudice

an attitude toward a group that leads people to evaluate members of that group negatively is known as

attiudes

behavioral and cognitive tendencies that are learned and expressed by evaluating particular people, places or things, with favor or disfavor are known as

stressors

circumstances and events that threaten individuals and tax their coping abilities and that cause physiological changes to ready the body to handle the assault of stress

Three things that make people especially difficult to study:

complexity, variability, reactivity

endorphins

neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and alleviation of pain

Cocaine and amphetamines increase the production of which neurotransmitters

norephinephrine and dopamine

Expertise, attractiveness, trustworthiness

persuasive communicators usually have a good deal of

An advertiser wants to increase the likelihood of persuasion in their commercials.Based on research, they could

play music that puts you in a good mood and saturate airtime with their commercial

the removal of anxiety-provoking ideas from awareness is called

repression

parietal lobe

structures at the top toward the rear of the head that are involved in registering spatial location, attention, and motor control