PSY 1100 Exam One Study Session UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Structuralism early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection
to reveal the structure of the human mind
Functionalism early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin;
explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the
organism to adapt, survive, and flourish.
Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamic Freud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to
unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating
psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious
tensions. Psychodynamic: a psychological perspective that analyzes how
behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts.
Psychology the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Cognitive Psychology the scientific study of mental processes, including perception, thought,
memory, and reasoning.
Humanistic Psychology an approach to understanding human nature that emphasizes the positive
potential of human beings
Evolutionary Psychology the attempt to explain social behavior in terms of genetic factors that have
evolved over time according to the principles of natural selection.
Behaviorism the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies
behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists
today agree with (1) but not with (2). Associated with Pavlov, Watson & Skinner.
Peripheral Nervous System A division of the nervous system consisting of all nerves that are not part of the
brain or spinal cord. Somatic, Autonomic, Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
systems.
autonomic nervous system A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls involuntary activity of
visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.
Sympathetic Nervous System the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing
its energy in stressful situations. Fight or Flight system.
Parasympathetic Nervous System the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving
its energy. Rest & Digest.
Central Nervous System consists of the brain and spinal cord
Neurotransmitter chemical messenger used by a neuron to transmit an impulse across a synapse
to another cell
, Lobes of the brain and their functions Frontal Lobe- associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement,
emotions, and problem solving
Parietal Lobe- associated with movement, orientation, recognition, perception
of stimuli
Occipital Lobe- associated with visual processing
Temporal Lobe- associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli,
memory, and speech
Neuron a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell. The building block
of the nervous system.
Corpus Callosum the large band of neural fibers (axons) connecting the two brain hemispheres
and carrying messages between them
Broca's Area Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left
hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech. Discovered
via autopsy by Dr. Paul Broca.
Phineas Gage Was a railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury in 1848 that
dramatically changed his personality and behavior; his case played a role in the
development of the understanding of the localization of brain function.
Traumatic Brain Injury mild or severe trauma that can result from a violent impact to the head.
Parkinson's Disease A progressive disease of the central nervous system that affects movement,
often including tremors.
Cerebellum the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing
sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Neural Plasticity The ability of the brain's networks of neurons and their synapses to change.
Allows adaptation to changing life circumstances as well as memory formation
(memory can be stored as changes to networks of neurons). The ability of the
brain to respond to experience both structurally and chemically.
global workspace model One's level of consciousness depends on which brain region is active
Attention focus of mental resources on specific information to become consciously
aware of it
automatic processing unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and
frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings or brushing
your teeth. It is fast and does not require a lot of mental resources.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Structuralism early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection
to reveal the structure of the human mind
Functionalism early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin;
explored how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the
organism to adapt, survive, and flourish.
Psychoanalysis/Psychodynamic Freud's theory of personality that attributes thoughts and actions to
unconscious motives and conflicts; the techniques used in treating
psychological disorders by seeking to expose and interpret unconscious
tensions. Psychodynamic: a psychological perspective that analyzes how
behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts.
Psychology the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Cognitive Psychology the scientific study of mental processes, including perception, thought,
memory, and reasoning.
Humanistic Psychology an approach to understanding human nature that emphasizes the positive
potential of human beings
Evolutionary Psychology the attempt to explain social behavior in terms of genetic factors that have
evolved over time according to the principles of natural selection.
Behaviorism the view that psychology (1) should be an objective science that (2) studies
behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists
today agree with (1) but not with (2). Associated with Pavlov, Watson & Skinner.
Peripheral Nervous System A division of the nervous system consisting of all nerves that are not part of the
brain or spinal cord. Somatic, Autonomic, Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
systems.
autonomic nervous system A subdivision of the peripheral nervous system. Controls involuntary activity of
visceral muscles and internal organs and glands.
Sympathetic Nervous System the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing
its energy in stressful situations. Fight or Flight system.
Parasympathetic Nervous System the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving
its energy. Rest & Digest.
Central Nervous System consists of the brain and spinal cord
Neurotransmitter chemical messenger used by a neuron to transmit an impulse across a synapse
to another cell
, Lobes of the brain and their functions Frontal Lobe- associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement,
emotions, and problem solving
Parietal Lobe- associated with movement, orientation, recognition, perception
of stimuli
Occipital Lobe- associated with visual processing
Temporal Lobe- associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli,
memory, and speech
Neuron a specialized cell transmitting nerve impulses; a nerve cell. The building block
of the nervous system.
Corpus Callosum the large band of neural fibers (axons) connecting the two brain hemispheres
and carrying messages between them
Broca's Area Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left
hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech. Discovered
via autopsy by Dr. Paul Broca.
Phineas Gage Was a railroad worker who survived a severe brain injury in 1848 that
dramatically changed his personality and behavior; his case played a role in the
development of the understanding of the localization of brain function.
Traumatic Brain Injury mild or severe trauma that can result from a violent impact to the head.
Parkinson's Disease A progressive disease of the central nervous system that affects movement,
often including tremors.
Cerebellum the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing
sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
Neural Plasticity The ability of the brain's networks of neurons and their synapses to change.
Allows adaptation to changing life circumstances as well as memory formation
(memory can be stored as changes to networks of neurons). The ability of the
brain to respond to experience both structurally and chemically.
global workspace model One's level of consciousness depends on which brain region is active
Attention focus of mental resources on specific information to become consciously
aware of it
automatic processing unconscious encoding of incidental information, such as space, time, and
frequency, and of well-learned information, such as word meanings or brushing
your teeth. It is fast and does not require a lot of mental resources.
