 | Term | Definition |
| |
psychology |
scientific study of mental process |
| |
theory |
framework for the nature of something |
| |
research psychologist |
studies origins, causes, and results |
| |
applied psychologist |
directly apply psycholohical studies |
| |
electicism |
borrowing theories and developing your own combination |
| |
Sigmund Freud |
austrian psychologist who was first to develop a comprehensive theory about personality |
| |
behavioral approach |
rewards and punishment control behavior |
| |
biosychological approach |
physical changes are emphasized |
| |
humanist |
humans are basically good |
| |
psychoanalytical approach |
the unconcious plays a great role in behavior |
| |
sociocultural approach |
ethnic and religious backgrounds influence behavior |
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cognitive approach |
person's thoughts are emphasized |
| |
placebo |
fake medicine |
| |
double-blind study |
neither the participants nor the reseacrchers know which groups anyone belongs to |
| |
hypothesis |
statement of the results expected |
| |
variables |
things that change in a study |
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independent variable |
variable the changes |
| |
dependent variable |
variable that changes depending on the independent variable |
| |
field-study |
study done away from the lab |
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experimental group |
the critical part of the study |
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control group |
the group that stays the same |
| |
representative sample |
small group reflecting the larger group |
| |
naturalistic observation |
researchers secretly observe the subjects |
| |
case study method |
develops information about a person's long term background |
| |
cross-sectional method |
representative sample from each age group |
| |
longitudinal method |
follow the same group through the years |
| |
neuron |
nerve cell |
| |
dendrites |
fibers on the end of the neuron |
| |
axon |
carries the message from the cell to other neurons |
| |
neurotransmitters |
send nerve information from the end of the axon over the synapse |
| |
hormones |
chemicals that pass through the blood stream |
| |
endocrine system |
made up of hormones |
| |
metabolism |
speed that your body operates |
| |
cerebral cortex |
involed in higher level thinking |
| |
amygdala |
involved in emotion |
| |
hippocampus |
enables us to form memories |
| |
corpus callosum |
nerves that connect the hemispheres of your brain |
| |
dopamine |
neurotransmitter associated with parkinson's disease |
| |
acetylycholine |
most common neurotransmitter-connected to alzheimer's disease |
| |
endorphins |
neurotransmitter associated with relief of pain |
| |
thyroid |
gland that controls metabolism |
| |
consciousness |
organism's awareness |
| |
subconscious |
consciousness just below present awareness |
| |
unconscious |
contains deep thoughts and information |
| |
REM sleep |
rapid eye movement |
