PSYC 1300 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
The scientific study of behavior and the mind - ANSWER-psychology
Investigate the biological basis of human behavior; link between brain functioning and
overall behavior - ANSWER-physiological psychology
Perception, decision-making, language, learning, and memory - ANSWER-cognitive
psychology
First impressions, attraction, how attitudes are formed and maintained, prejudice and
persuasion, conformity and obedience to authority - ANSWER-social psychology
Study the differences between people in such traits as anxiety, sociability, self-esteem,
and aggressiveness - ANSWER-personality psychology
Nature vs. nurture debate, stage theories, change and growth - ANSWER-
developmental psychology
Counseling, diagnosis, cause, and treatment of psychological disorders - ANSWER-
clinical and counseling psychology
Psychology applied to the workspace (training, placement, productivity) - ANSWER-
industrial and organizational psychology
1960s brings a renewed interest in mind, mental activity, and consciousness -
ANSWER-cognitive revolution
An organized set of principles that describes, predicts, and explains some phenomenon
- ANSWER-theory
A specific, testable prediction, derived from a theory - ANSWER-hypothesis
Calculated analysis - ANSWER-science
Anything that can be observed and measured - ANSWER-behavior
Can't be measured, but can be inferred based on behavior - ANSWER-mind
Completely unnatural; act differently, but there is control over variables - ANSWER-lab
setting
, Completely natural; act normal, but there is no control over variables - ANSWER-field
setting
Recording behavior in its natural context - ANSWER-naturalistic observation
In-depth look at a single individual - ANSWER-case study
Large scale measurement of many respondants - ANSWER-survey
Used to investigate the relationships between variables - ANSWER-correlation research
The impact of an independent variable on a dependent variable; control groups and
random assignment necessary - ANSWER-experimental research
Most powerful; can explain the cause (A caused B) - ANSWER-explanation
Send and receive information throughout the body in the form of electrochemical signals
- ANSWER-neurons
Cell body - ANSWER-soma
Receive and connect neurons - ANSWER-dendrites
Things that fire into the dendrites - ANSWER-axons
Covers axons (fatty cells) - ANSWER-myelin sheath
Memory - controls learning and muscle memory - ANSWER-Acetylcholine
Area in parietal lobe of brain that allows us to feel pain, temperature, etc. and allows us
to perceive size, shape, and texture - ANSWER-somatosensory cortex
Major inhibitory transmitter; slows everything down - ANSWER-GABA
Feel-good mood regulation molecule; specific drugs block reuptake of it - ANSWER-
serotonin
(Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor); block reuptake of serotonin - ANSWER-Prozac
- SSRI
Enhances pleasure; too little creates Parkinson's disease; too much creates
schizophrenia - ANSWER-dopamine
Used to treat Parkinson's disease - ANSWER-L-Dopa
ANSWERS
The scientific study of behavior and the mind - ANSWER-psychology
Investigate the biological basis of human behavior; link between brain functioning and
overall behavior - ANSWER-physiological psychology
Perception, decision-making, language, learning, and memory - ANSWER-cognitive
psychology
First impressions, attraction, how attitudes are formed and maintained, prejudice and
persuasion, conformity and obedience to authority - ANSWER-social psychology
Study the differences between people in such traits as anxiety, sociability, self-esteem,
and aggressiveness - ANSWER-personality psychology
Nature vs. nurture debate, stage theories, change and growth - ANSWER-
developmental psychology
Counseling, diagnosis, cause, and treatment of psychological disorders - ANSWER-
clinical and counseling psychology
Psychology applied to the workspace (training, placement, productivity) - ANSWER-
industrial and organizational psychology
1960s brings a renewed interest in mind, mental activity, and consciousness -
ANSWER-cognitive revolution
An organized set of principles that describes, predicts, and explains some phenomenon
- ANSWER-theory
A specific, testable prediction, derived from a theory - ANSWER-hypothesis
Calculated analysis - ANSWER-science
Anything that can be observed and measured - ANSWER-behavior
Can't be measured, but can be inferred based on behavior - ANSWER-mind
Completely unnatural; act differently, but there is control over variables - ANSWER-lab
setting
, Completely natural; act normal, but there is no control over variables - ANSWER-field
setting
Recording behavior in its natural context - ANSWER-naturalistic observation
In-depth look at a single individual - ANSWER-case study
Large scale measurement of many respondants - ANSWER-survey
Used to investigate the relationships between variables - ANSWER-correlation research
The impact of an independent variable on a dependent variable; control groups and
random assignment necessary - ANSWER-experimental research
Most powerful; can explain the cause (A caused B) - ANSWER-explanation
Send and receive information throughout the body in the form of electrochemical signals
- ANSWER-neurons
Cell body - ANSWER-soma
Receive and connect neurons - ANSWER-dendrites
Things that fire into the dendrites - ANSWER-axons
Covers axons (fatty cells) - ANSWER-myelin sheath
Memory - controls learning and muscle memory - ANSWER-Acetylcholine
Area in parietal lobe of brain that allows us to feel pain, temperature, etc. and allows us
to perceive size, shape, and texture - ANSWER-somatosensory cortex
Major inhibitory transmitter; slows everything down - ANSWER-GABA
Feel-good mood regulation molecule; specific drugs block reuptake of it - ANSWER-
serotonin
(Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor); block reuptake of serotonin - ANSWER-Prozac
- SSRI
Enhances pleasure; too little creates Parkinson's disease; too much creates
schizophrenia - ANSWER-dopamine
Used to treat Parkinson's disease - ANSWER-L-Dopa
