Pscyhology The scientific study of behavior and mental processes Behaviorism A psychological perspective that emphasizes observable behavior over internal mental processes Humanism A psychological perspective that emphasizes the notion that human nature i

Psychology 1100 Final Exam CSCC | 100% VERIFIED questions and answers Pscyhology The scientific study of behavior and mental processes Behaviorism A psychological perspective that emphasizes observable behavior over internal mental processes Humanism A psychological perspective that emphasizes the notion that human nature is generally good and people are naturally motivated to grow toward their own potential Cognitive Psychology A psychological perspective that emphasizes cognitive processes such as thinking, language, attention, memory, and intelligence Neuroscience A psychological perspective that emphasizes the link between behavior and the biological functioning of the brain Postive Psychology A perspective in psychology that emphasizes people's strengths and successes Multiculturalism An approach in psychology that highlights the importance and value of multiple cultural groups within a society Evolutionary Psychology A psychological perspective that emphasizes Charles Darwin's theory of evolution as an influence on behavior Biopsychsocial Theory A uniquely comprehensive psychological perspective that emphasizes biological, psychological, and social factors as influences on behavior Psychoanalysis A psychological perspective created by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes unconscious mental activity and the long-lasting influence of childhood experiences Scientific Method A way of asking and answering questions that follows a predetermined series of steps Posing a Question Step 1 of Scientific Method Conducting a Literature Review Step 2 of Scientific Method Developing a Hypothesis Step 3 of Scientific Method Testing the Hypothesis by Collecting Data Step 4 of the Scientific Method Analyzing the Data and Drawing Conclusions Step 5 of the Scientific Method Hypothesis A prediction, typically based on a theory, that can be tested Theory A proposed explanation for observed events Random Assignment A procedure in experimental research by which the assignment of participants into either the experimental or control group happens entirely by chance Independent Variable A variable in experimental research that is manipulated by the researcher Dependent Variable A variable in experimental research that is expected to depend upon the independent variable Experimental Group The group of participants in experimental research who receive the treatment that is the focus of the study Control Group The group of participants in experimental research who do not receive the treatment that is the focus of the study Descriptive Research A type of research in which the goal is simply to describe a characteristic of the population Experimental Research A type of research in which the goal is to determine the cause-and-effect relationship between two variables by manipulating one and observing changes in the other Correlational Research A type of research in which the goal is to determine the relationship between two variables Correlation-Causation Fallacy A mistaken belief that when two variables correlate strongly with each other, one must cause the other Neurons The cells that facilitate communication within the nervous system Dendrites The branches at the end of neurons that receive signals from other neurons Cell Body (soma) The large central region of a neuron that performs the basic activities, including the production of energy, to keep the neuron functional Axon The part of the neuron that carries information toward other neurons Myelin Sheath A protective sleeve of fatty material that surrounds the axon Synapse The gap between two connecting neurons Action Potential The release, or firing, of an electrical impulse that travels through the axon Neurotransmitters The chemical messengers that travel across synapses from one neuron to the next Plasticity The ability of the brain to adapt its structure or function in response to damage or experience Brainstem The part of the brain that connects to the spine and controls the functions most essential to staying alive Cerebellum The part of the brain near the bottom and the back, primarily involved in balance and the coordination of movement Medulla The part of the brainstem most specifically involved in heartbeat and breathing Limbic System The cluster of brain areas involved primarily in emotion, located near the center of the brain and surrounding the thalamus Hypothalamus The part of the limbic system involved in maintaining a steadiness in bodily functions Hippocampus The part of the limbic system involved in memory, especially spatial memory and long-term memory Amygdala The part of the limbic system involved most directly in emotion, especially fear Thalamus The brain's main sensory processing center, located near the center of the brain Cerebral Cortex The outer layer of the cerebrum, where sensory information is processed Nervous System The full set of nerves that connect the brain with all other parts of the body Central Nervous System The brain and the spinal cord Peripheral Nervous System The neurons that connect the central nervous system to other parts of the body Somatic Nervous System The part of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the parts of the body controlled voluntarily Autonomic Nervous System The part of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to the parts of the body controlled involuntarily Sympathetic Nervous System The part of the autonomic nervous system that revs the body up in response to stressors Parasympathetic Nervous System The part of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body down when stressors decrease Occipital Lobe The lower back part of the brain, involved in vision Temporal Lobe The lower middle part of the brain, involved in hearing and speech production Parietal Lobe The part of the brain near the top and back of the head, involved in touch and perception Somatosensory Cortex The strip of brain matter near the front of the parietal lobe, involved in receiving information from the senses Frontal Lobe The part of the cerebral cortex right behind the forehead, involved in complex thinking tasks, planning, purposeful actions, and other advanced functions Motor Cortex The strip of brain matter near the back of the frontal lobe, involved in voluntary movement Top-down Processing A way of processing information in which expectations or previous experiences influence what a person perceives Bottom-up Processing A way of processing information in which what a person senses becomes a perception with no influence of expectations or previous experiences Sensation The ability of the sensory organs to pick up energy in the environment around the body and transmit it to the brain Absolute Threshold The minimum level of a stimulus necessary for a person to detect its presence at least half of the time Difference Threshold The smallest change in a stimulus necessary for a person to detect it at least half of the time Sensory Adaption The tendency of a person's sensation of a stimulus to decrease when the stimulus remains constant Perception The ability of the brain to interpret the raw sensations it has taken in Selective Attention When the brain pays more attention to one sensory channel than others Perceptual Constancy The brain's ability to maintain the same perception of an object even when conditions around it cause it to produce different sensations Inattentional Blindness The failure to notice something in your visual field simply because your attention was focused elsewhere Vision The sense of sight Retina The rear part of the eyeball, which receives visual stimulation and sends it to the brain via the optic nerve Rods Receptor cells in the retina that detect shades of gray and allow a person to see in low light Cones Receptor cells in the retina that detect color when light is plentiful Trichromatic Theory An explanation of color vision based on the idea that the cones are specialized to sense either red, green, or blue Opponent Process Theory An explanation of color vision based on the idea that the cones are specialized to sense specific opposite pairs of colors (like red-green and blue-yellow) Cochlea The spiral fluid-filled structure in the inner ear that sends sound waves to the brain via the auditory nerve Olfaction The sense of smell Gustation The sense of taste Kinesthetic The sense of the position and movement of the body parts Vestibular The sense of balance Circadian Rhythm The 24-hour cycle on which the brain and body function REM Sleep The stage of sleep in which intense brain activity and vivid dreams are most likely to occur Insomnia A sleep disorder featuring consistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or achieving high-quality sleep