Psychology Final Exam (2023 fully solved & verified for accuracy)

behavioral approach in personality theory, this perspective focuses on the effects of learning on our observable behavior Biological Approach an approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially the brain and nervous system Cognitive Approach An approach to psychology emphasizing the mental processes involved in knowing: how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve problems. Evolutionary Approach An approach to psychology centered on evolutionary ideas such as adaptation, reproduction, and natural selection as the basis for explaining specific human behaviors. Humanistic How we meet our needs for love and acceptance and achieve self-fulfillment psychiatrist A medical doctor who has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders psychodynamic approach an approach that regards personality as formed by needs, strivings, and desires largely operating outside of awareness-motives that can also produce emotional disorders psychologist A scientist who studies the mind and behavior of humans and animals Psychology the scientific study of behavior and mental processes self-actualization according to Maslow, one of the ultimate psychological needs that arises after basic physical and psychological needs are met and self-esteem is achieved; the motivation to fulfill one's potential confounding variable a factor other than the independent variable that might produce an effect in an experiment dependent variable The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable. double-blind studies studies in which neither the participants nor the researchers administering the treatment know who has been assigned to the experimental or control group ethical standards psychologists must adhere to during an experiment: must have consent (can leave anytime during an experience), must hide identity's of participants, cannot use minors unless written consent, cannot cause long term harm (physical or psychological) and must debrief after experience. experimental to explore cause and effect independent variable The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied. placebo effect experimental results caused by expectations alone; any effect on behavior caused by the administration of an inert substance or condition, which the recipient assumes is an active agent. random assignment assigning participants to experimental and control conditions by chance, thus minimizing preexisting differences between those assigned to the different groups random sampling a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion adrenal glands a pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress. Amygdala two lima bean-sized neural clusters in the limbic system; linked to emotion. autonomic nervous system A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls involuntary activity of visceral muscles and internal organs and glands. Axon A threadlike extension of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body. axon terminals branches at the end of the axon cell body (soma) the part of a neuron that coordinates information-processing tasks and keeps the cell alive central nervous system brain and spinal cord Cerebellum A large structure of the hindbrain that controls fine motor skills. corpus callosum the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them Dendrites a neuron's bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body Dopamine influences movement, learning, attention, and emotion endocrine system Consists of glands that control many of the body's activities by producing hormones. Endorphin chemical in the brain that plays a specialized role in pain reduction frontal lobe A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement Hippocampus A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage. Hormones chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine glands, travel through the bloodstream, and affect other tissues Hypothalamus A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward. left hemisphere controls the right side of the body; analytical, language, math myelin sheath covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses nervous system the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems Neuron a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell. neurotransmitters chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons occipital lobe A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information parasympathetic nervous system the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy parietal lobe A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch. peripheral nervous system the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body pituitary gland The endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands. Pons A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain right hemisphere controls the left side of the body; creative, intuitive, special Serotonin Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal somatic nervous system the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles spinal cord Nerves that run up and down the length of the back and transmit most messages between the body and brain sympathetic nervous system a set of nerves that prepares the body for action in challenging or threatening situations (fight or flight) Synapse Gap between neurons temporal lobe A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language. Testosterone Male sex hormone thyroid gland endocrine gland that surrounds the trachea in the neck Sensation the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment Perception the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. senses sight, taste, touch, smell, and hearing vestibular sense sense of balance kinesthetic sense sense of the location of body parts in relation to the ground and each other absolute threshold the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time difference threshold the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time sensory adaptation a decrease in sensitivity to a constant level of stimulation