PSY 120 Purdue Exam II Questions With Complete Solutions

Sensation correct answer: characteristics of incoming stimuli Perception correct answer: processes used to create a meaningful interpretation of sensations Transduction correct answer: external messages translated into language we can understand Light correct answer: transduced in vision; form of electromagnetic signals Anatomy of the Eye (Vision) correct answer: cornea and lens - pupil - retina - receptor cells (rods and cones) - optical nerve - brain Depth Perception correct answer: ability to perceive world in three dimensions Optical Illusion correct answer: experience of seeming to see something that does not exist Nature/Nurture (vision) correct answer: your environment can condition how and what you see Pitch correct answer: perception of frequency Volume correct answer: perception of amplitude Place Theory correct answer: based on location of active receptor cells Frequency Theory correct answer: based on rate of neural impulses 3 Skin Senses correct answer: 1. Touch 2. Temperature 3. Pain Touch correct answer: pressure- sensitive receptor cells in skin Temperature correct answer: neurons activated when activated when skin is either cold or warm Pain correct answer: bodily warning system for any stimulus intense enough to damage tissue 2 Chemical Senses correct answer: 1.Gustation 2. Olfaction Gustation correct answer: sense of taste Olfaction correct answer: sense of smell Chemoreceptors correct answer: receptor cells that react to molecules in air/liquid Absolute Threshold correct answer: Lowest level of as stimulus that an organism could detect Difference Threshold correct answer: Smallest DETECTABLE difference in magnitude of two stimuli Consciousness correct answer: subjective awareness of internal and external events Attention correct answer: Internal processes used to set priorities for mental functioning Dichotic Listening correct answer: test used to to investigate selective hearing within the auditory system Automaticity correct answer: Effortless processing that requires little to no focused attention 2 Attention Disorders correct answer: 1. Visual Neglect 2. ADHD Visual Neglect correct answer: attention disorder that prevents someone from attending to stimuli on one side of the body ADHD correct answer: chronic condition marked by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and sometimes impulsivity Circadian Rhythms correct answer: 24-hour cycle of biological activities regulated by the hypothalamus (sleep, temp, blood press., hormones...) 5 Stages of Sleep correct answer: 1. Awake -brief random waves 2. N1- relaxed state, drowsy/ dosing -brief regular waves 3. N2 - light sleep slowed heart rate -slower irregular waves 4. N3 _ deeper sleep -slowest waves 5. REM - rapid eye movement (dreaming) - brief random waves Sleep cycle correct answer: 90 minutes through the stages 4-5 times per night 3 Sleep Functions correct answer: 1. Physical 2. Psychological 3. Survival Physical Sleep Function correct answer: Repair cells and strengthen immune system Psychological Sleep Function correct answer: Helps learning and memory Survival Sleep Function correct answer: Adaptive value and avoid predators Dyssomnias correct answer: problems with sleep timing, quality Examples of Dyssomnias correct answer: 1. Insomnia 2. Hypersomnia 3. Narcolepsy Parasomnias correct answer: abnormal sleep distrubances Examples of Parasomnias correct answer: 1. Nightmares and night terrors 2. Sleepwalking 3. Sleeptalking 3 Theories of Dreaming correct answer: 1. Psychodynamic- unconscious wishes 2. Physiological - brain activity 3. Evolutionary- survival rehearsal Psychoactive Drugs correct answer: drugs that affect behavior and mental processes by altering conscious awareness 3 Types of Psychoactive Drugs correct answer: Depressants, Stimulants, Hallucinogens Depressants correct answer: Slows down CNS activity, reduces anxiety, lack of self-awareness (ex. Alcohol, Oxycontin) Stimulants correct answer: Speeds up CNS activity, enhances neural transmission, increases alertness, feelings of pleasures, anxiety (high dose) (ex. Ectasy, Crack) Hallucinogens (Psychedelics) correct answer: disrupt normal mental and emotional functioning, distorts perception and alters reality (ex. Shrooms, LSD) Other Ways of Altering Consciousness correct answer: 1. Hypnosis 2. Meditation Learning correct answer: relatively permanent change in an organisms behavior as a result of an experience Stimulus-Stimulus Learning (S-S) correct answer: learn to associate one stimulus with another Stimulus-Response Learning (S-R) correct answer: learn to associate a response with a consequence Habituation correct answer: respond LESS to an event that becomes familiar through repeated experience Sensitization correct answer: respond MORE to an event that becomes familiar through repeated experience/exposure Classical Conditioning (S-S learning) correct answer: learn to anticipate events by their associations Operant Conditioning (S-R learning) correct answer: learn to associate behaviors and consequences 4 Components of Classical Conditioning correct answer: 1. Unconditioned Stimulus (US) 2. Conditioned Stimulus (CS) 3. Unconditioned Response (UR) 4. Conditioned Response (CR) Unconditioned Stimulus (US) correct answer: stimulus NATURALLY triggers a response Conditioned Stimulus (CS) correct answer: originally neutral stimulus that after being aired with unconditioned stimulus triggers a response Unconditioned Response (UR) correct answer: Unlearned, natural response to unconditioned stimulus Conditioned Response (CR) correct answer: learned response to a previously neutral stimulus Acquisition correct answer: how you acquired that conditioned response Stimulus Generalization correct answer: responding to a new stimulus in a way SIMILAR to the response produced by a CS Stimulus Discrimination correct answer: Responding to a new stimulus in a way DIFFERENT from response produced by CS Extinction correct answer: CR fades out and eventually stops, and CS no longer predicts US Spontaneous Recovery correct answer: An "extinct" CR recovers after a period of non-exposure to the CS (response is weaker though) Behavior in Classical Conditioning correct answer: automatic response to stimulus Behavior in Operant Conditioning correct answer: operates on environment to produce reward/punishment Law of Effect correct answer: By Edward Thorndike; favorable consequences increase likelihood of a behavior and unfavorable decrease likelihood Reinforcer correct answer: any consequence that INCREASES likelihood of behavior; positive- adds a desirable stimulus negative- removes an undesirable stimulus Shaping correct answer: complex behaviors taught in multiple steps Continuous Reinforcement correct answer: Behavior is reinforced every time performed Partial Reinforcement correct answer: reinforced only part of the time Fixed-Ratio correct answer: reinforces response after a specific # of responses Variable-Ratio correct answer: reinforces response after an unpredictable number of responses Fixed-Interval correct answer: reinforces response after specific amount of time has passed Variable-Interval correct answer: reinforces response after unpredictable time intervals Punishment correct answer: any consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior positive- adds an undesired stimulus negative- removes a desired stimulus Observational Learning correct answer: can learn by watching others' behavior Memory correct answer: Capacity to preserve and recover information 3 Basic Processes of Memory correct answer: Encoding, Storage, Retrieval Encoding correct answer: getting info into the brain; memories acquired/formed Storage correct answer: retaining info over time; memories maintained Retrieval correct answer: getting info back out; memories recovered and used 3 Stages/Bins of memory correct answer: Sensory Memory - Short-Term Memory - Long-Term Memory Sensory Memory correct answer: momentarily preserves sensory info; around 1 sec; relatively pure and accurate; retains info until we select items that require attention 2 Main Types of Sensory Memory correct answer: 1. Iconic (Sight) 2. Echoic (Sound) Iconic Sensory Memory correct answer: Stores visual sensory memory; about 0.5 sec Echoic Sensory Memory correct answer: Stores auditory sensory memory; about under a second to 5-10 seconds Short Term Memory correct answer: Temporary storage used in active processing; 1-2 minutes Phonological Loop correct answer: your inner voice Visuospatial Pad correct answer: your inner eye Rehearsal correct answer: internal repetition to maintain short term info in memory Chunking correct answer: rearranging incoming info into meaningful or familiar patterns Long-Term Memory correct answer: maintain info for long periods of time 3 types of Long-Term Memory correct answer: 1. Episodic Memory 2. Semantic Memory 3. Procedural Memory Episodic Long-Term Memory correct answer: personal experiences Semantic Long-Term Memory correct answer: general knowledge, facts Procedural Long-Term Memory correct answer: knowing how to do something Schemas correct answer: organized knowledge structures ("webs of info") 6 Processes to Help Us Remember correct answer: 1. Elaboration 2. Distinctiveness 3. Visual Imagery 4. Repetition 5. Primacy Effect 6. Recency Effect Elaboration correct answer: linking info to other info already stores in memory Distinctiveness correct answer: experiences that are unique or different remembered more Visual Imagery correct answer: mental pic of info Repetition correct answer: spacing info over time Primacy Effect correct answer: better memory for items at the BEGINNING of the list Recency Effect correct answer: better memory for items at the END of the list 3 Strategies to Help Us Remember correct answer: 1. Mnemonics 2. Retrieval Cues 3. Encoding-retrieval match Mnemonics correct answer: strategies and tricks for remembering info Retrieval Cues correct answer: piece of info use to activate other memories Encoding-retrieval match (context-dependent memory) correct answer: Info retrieved best under same conditions it was learned (ex. location, time) Forgetting correct answer: losing access to previously stored material Ebbinghaus Forgetting curve correct answer: shows how info is lost over time Decay correct answer: memories fade or are lost over time 2 types of Memory Interference correct answer: 1. Retroactive: new memories block old ones 2. Proactive: old memories block new ones Repression correct answer: defense mechanism used to push unpleasant memories out of consciousness Flashbulb Memory Error correct answer: error in episodic long-term memory of highly emotional, surprising, or important events Misinformation Effect Error correct answer: Recall of episodic memory less accurate after info after event Amnesia correct answer: partial or total loss of memory 2 types of Amnesia correct answer: 1. Retrograde Amnesia 2. Anterograde amnesia Retrograde Amnesia correct answer: memory loss for events BEFORE damage (ex. concussion) Anterograde Amnesia correct answer: memory loss for events AFTER damage (ex. Alzheimer's) Progressive Memory Disorders correct answer: memory slowly declines over time (ex. Alzheimer's, Dementia) Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) correct answer: obsessions or behaviors that make one feel driven to do something (compulsions) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) correct answer: Both memory loss and intrusive memories Hyperthymesia correct answer: extremely detailed episodic memory