What is classical conditioning, and who is most commonly associated with its discovery?
Ivan Pavlov, who discovered it through his experiments with dogs, demonstrating how a neutral stimulus
could become associated with an unconditioned response.
What is the difference between the conscious and unconscious mind, according to Freud?
The conscious mind includes thoughts and perceptions we are aware of, while the unconscious mind
contains desires, memories, and motivations hidden from awareness but influencing behavior.
How does cognitive dissonance affect decision-making?
Cognitive dissonance creates mental discomfort when a person holds conflicting beliefs or behaviors,
often motivating them to change one to restore consistency.
What is Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and what is at the top of this hierarchy?
Maslow's hierarchy outlines human needs, starting with physiological necessities and progressing to self-
actualization, the realization of one's potential.
What is the fundamental attribution error in social psychology?
The fundamental attribution error is the tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and
underestimate situational factors when interpreting others' behavior.
How do reinforcement and punishment differ in operant conditioning?
Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again, while punishment decreases its
likelihood.
What is the bystander effect, and what factors influence it?
The bystander effect occurs when individuals are less likely to offer help in an emergency when others
are present, influenced by diffusion of responsibility and social influence.
What is the role of the hippocampus in memory?
The hippocampus is critical for forming and storing new long-term memories, particularly declarative
and episodic memories.
How does attachment theory explain early childhood bonding?
Attachment theory suggests that early relationships with caregivers shape emotional bonds and
influence behavior in later relationships.
What is learned helplessness, and who discovered it?
Learned helplessness is a state where an individual feels powerless to change their situation after
repeated failure, discovered by Martin Seligman through experiments with dogs.
What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation?
Intrinsic motivation comes from internal desires like personal growth, while extrinsic motivation stems
from external rewards such as money or recognition.
, How does the Big Five personality model describe traits?
The Big Five model categorizes personality traits into openness, conscientiousness, extraversion,
agreeableness, and neuroticism.
What is the significance of mirror neurons in understanding empathy?
Mirror neurons are brain cells that activate when observing others, playing a role in empathy, imitation,
and understanding social interactions.
How does the placebo effect demonstrate the power of perception?
The placebo effect shows that belief in a treatment’s effectiveness can lead to real physiological or
psychological improvements, even without active ingredients.
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation involves detecting physical stimuli, while perception is the brain’s interpretation of those
stimuli to form a meaningful experience.
Psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
psychiatry
a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; who sometimes provide medical (for
example, drug) treatments
free will
The idea that human beings are free to make their own choices
Determinism
the philosophy that holds that every event, action, and decision results from something independent of
the human will
Nature
the influence of our inherited characteristics on our personality, physical growth, intellectual growth, and
social interactions
nurture
the influence of our environment
CNS (central nervous system)
includes the brain and spinal cord
PNS (peripheral nervous system)
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
Cerebellum function