| Term | Definition |
|---|
| psychology | the scientific study of behavior and mental processes |
| behavior | observable and measurable actions of people and animals |
| cognitive activity | private, unobservable mental processes such as sensation, perception, thought, and problem solving |
| theory | a set of assumptions about why something is the way it is and happens the way it does |
| introspection | an examination of one's own thoughts and feelings |
| behaviorism | the school of psychology, founded by John B. Watson, that defines psychology as the scientific study of observable behavior |
| biological perspective | the psychological perspective that emphasizes the influence of biology on behavior |
| cognitive perspective | the point of view that emphasizes the role of thought processes in determining behavior |
| psychoanalytic perspective | the perspective that emphasizes the influence of unconscious forces in behavior |
| learning perspective | the psychological point of view that emphasizes the effects of experience on behavior |
| clinical psychologist | a psychologist trained to deal with serious mental illness; they do psychological testing, psychotherapy, and conduct research |
| psychiatrist | a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders; can prescribe medication |
| school psychologist | a psychologist who helps students with problems that interfere with learning |
| sports psychologist | a psychologist who helps athletes improve their performance using techniques like relaxation and visualization |
| forensic psychologist | a psychologist who works in the legal system |
| Wilhelm Wundt | founder of structuralism; in 1879, created the first psychology lab in Germany |
| Sigmund Freud | founder of psychoanalysis |
| Science | A method of gaining knowledge about the world that is based on systematic observation |
| cortex | wrinkled outer portion of brain; center for higher order brain functions such as thinking |
| axon | a single long, fiber that carries outgoing messages to other neurons, muscles, or glands |
| central nervous system | the brain and spinal cord |
| corpus callosum | large band of white neural fibers that connects to to brain hemispheres and carries messages between them |
| dendrites | branching extensions of neuron that receives messages from neighboring neurons |
| forebrain | largest, most complicated, and most advanced of the three divisions of the brain; includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, cortex, etc. |
| frontal lobes | control emotional behaviors, make decisions, carry out plans; speech; movement |
| hindbrain | the most primitive of the three divisions of the brain, made up of the pons, medulla, reticular formation, and cerebellum |
| hippocampus | part of the limbic system and is involved in learning and forming new long-term memories |
| hormone | chemical that carries messages that travel through the bloodstream to help regulate bodily functions |
| hypothalamus | part of the forebrain involved in behaviors such as, eating, drinking, and sex drive |
| limbic system | structures located in the forebrain; include the hippocampus and amygdala; associated with emotions and memories |
| midbrain | middle level of the three organizational structures of the brain that receives signals from other parts of the brain or spinal cord |
| nature vs. nurture | deals with the extent to which genetics and the environment each influence behavior |
| neuron | nerve cell that are building block of the nervous system |
| neurotransmitter | chemical messenger released by axon terminals into the synapse |
| occipital lobes | primary area for processing visual information |
| parasympathetic nervous system | a branch of the autonomic nervous system that maintains normal body functions; it calms the body after sympathetic stimulation |
| parietal lobes | processes sensory information including touch, temperature, and pain from other body parts |
| peripheral nervous system | division that connects the central nervous system to the rest of the body; divided into somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system |
| somatic nervous system | division of peripheral nervous system; controls voluntary actions |
| spinal cord | portion of the central nervous system that carries messages to the peripheral nervous system; connects brain to the rest of the body |
| sympathetic nervous system | a branch of the autonomic nervous system and prepares the body for quick action in emergencies ("fight or flight") |
| synapse | the gap between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released by axon terminals and received by dendrites |
| temporal lobes | main area for hearing |
| twin studies | studies of identical and fraternal twins to determine relative influence of heredity and environment on human behavior |
| drug | chemical substance that can alter structure and function of body |
| psychoactive drug | drug that alters behavior, thought, or perceptions; affects nervous system; most cross the blood–brain barrier |
| blood-brain barrier | system that keeps harmful substances from entering the brain |
| tolerance | requiring more of a substance to achieve the same effect |
| withdrawal | physical response that happens when one does not take a drug they are addicted to |
| addiction/substance dependence | uncontrollable, compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences |
| substance abuse | the continued use of a drug despite social, legal, or health problems; doesn't require person to be addicted |
| reward pathway | area of the brain that, when stimulated, leads the person to want to repeat a behavior (e.g., eating, drinking, sex, nurturing, taking drugs) |
| depressants | drugs that relax and calm a user, induce sleep at higher doses, and depress brain activity |
| ethanol | the active ingredient in alcohol |
| alcoholism | means the same as alcohol addiction to alcohol dependence |
| alcohol addiction | means the same as alcohol dependence or alcoholism |
| alcohol dependence | means the same as addiction to alcohol or alcoholism |
| opiates | drugs that derive from the opium poppy, act as pain killers, occupy endorphin receptors, cause euphoria; also known as narcotics |
| stimulants | drugs that cause an elevation in mood, alertness, blood pressure, and heart rate; reduce fatigue and appetite |
| caffeine | drug found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, some nuts, some medicines |
| nicotine | active ingredient in tobacco |
| cocaine | Stimulant drug that comes from the coca plant; first made in mid-1800s; can lead to heart disease and a damaged septum |
| hemp plant | where marijuana comes from |
| THC | active ingredient in marijuana |
| Consciousness | The awareness of things inside you and outside of you |
| Conscious (Freud) | One of Freud's 3 levels of consciousness; includes whatever a person is aware of at a given moment |
| Preconscious (Freud) | One of Freud's 3 levels of consciousness; includes the things that you could be aware of if you thought about them, but are not currently thinking about (e.g., stored information, memories, etc.) |
| Unconscious (Freud) | One of Freud's 3 levels of consciousness; things a person is not aware of (e.g., fears, shameful experiences, violent motives, etc.) |
| Circadian rhythms | Biological changes that occur over a 24 hour period (e.g., the sleep/wake cycle, blood pressure, body temperature) |
| Stage 1 sleep | Lightest stage of sleep; may experience twitches or a sensation of falling |
| Stage 2 sleep | Slightly deeper stage of sleep from Stage 1 |
| Stage 3 & 4 sleep | Deep sleep; sleepwalking/sleep talking happen here; may be disoriented if you wake up from this stage |
| REM sleep | Stage of sleep in which vivid dreams occur; breathing is irregular, sleep paralysis occurs, heart rate increase |
| Lucid dream | A dream in which is aware that he/she is dreaming |
| Manifest content | In Freud's theory of dreams, the story of a dream that a person can remember |
| Latent content | In Freud's theory of dreams, the hidden meaning of a dream |
| Sleep apnea | Sleep disorder in which the person has repeated breathing interruptions while sleeping |
| Insomnia | Sleep disorder characterized by great difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep |
| Narcolepsy | Sleep disorder in which person falls asleep at inappropriate times and places |
Combine with other sets
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