Midterm Exam Study Guide - with visuals

lOM oA RcPSD |266 83 Introduction to Psychology Midterm Exam Study Guide - with visuals Memorial University of Newfoundland 2024/2025

Pages: 22

Reading time: 45 minutes

Literature:

Introduction to Psychology James W. Kalat edition 2021 Psychology David G. Myers; C. Nathan DeWall edition 2024

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Contents Part 1: Introduction to Psychology............................................................................................................................................3 What is Psychology?....................................................................................................................................................................3 The Four Goals of Psychology.................................................................................................................................................3 Levels of Analysis.........................................................................................................................................................................3 Bio psycho social Approach.....................................................................................................................................................3 History of Psychology.................................................................................................................................................................4 Psychobiology/ Neuroscience................................................................................................................................................6 Psychology’s Current Perspectives.......................................................................................................................................6 Part 2: Psychology as a Science...................................................................................................................................................8 Hypothetico-Deductive Model................................................................................................................................................8 The Scientific Method.................................................................................................................................................................8 Research Methods........................................................................................................................................................................9 The Experiment............................................................................................................................................................................9 Descriptive Research...............................................................................................................................................................10 Analyzing Research Results (statistics)............................................................................................................................10 Ethical Guidelines in Psychology.........................................................................................................................................11 Part 3: Neuroscience (and evolutionary psychology).....................................................................................................13 Mind and Brain...........................................................................................................................................................................13 Examining Autopsy Tissue....................................................................................................................................................13 Neuropsychological Assessment.........................................................................................................................................13 Recording Electrical Brain Activity....................................................................................................................................13 Neuroimaging.............................................................................................................................................................................14 Animal Studies............................................................................................................................................................................14 Cells of the Nervous System..................................................................................................................................................14 Glial Cells.......................................................................................................................................................................................14 Neurons.........................................................................................................................................................................................15 Resting Potential...................................................................................................................................................................16 Action Potential.....................................................................................................................................................................16 Firing Threshold...................................................................................................................................................................16 All or None Response..........................................................................................................................................................16 Refractory Period.................................................................................................................................................................16 Propagation of the Action Potential..............................................................................................................................16 Speed of Action Potential..................................................................................................................................................17 Neural Communication......................................................................................................................................................17 Neurotransmitters....................................................................................................................................................................17 How is the Nervous System Organized?...........................................................................................................................18 Spinal Reflexes............................................................................................................................................................................19 Hindbrain......................................................................................................................................................................................19 2 / 3

Midbrain........................................................................................................................................................................................19 Forebrain......................................................................................................................................................................................20 The Integrated Brain................................................................................................................................................................21 Areas of the Neocortex............................................................................................................................................................23 Neuroplasticity...........................................................................................................................................................................23 Lateralization of Function......................................................................................................................................................23

Part 1: Introduction to Psychology

What is Psychology?Psychology- the scientific study of mental processes and behaviour Behaviour- anything an organism does that is directly observable Mental Processes- internal subjective experiences inferred from behaviour, e.g., thinking (cognition), emotion, etc.Psychology is a science. Involves empiricism (direct observation) to understand mental processes and behaviour The Four Goals of Psychology 1.Describe- what people do and their mental processes (e.g. how think), how often, etc.

2.Explain- why do people behave and have certain mental processes (e.g., think certain ways), i.e. what are the causes of behaviour and mental processes 3.Predict- when are people most likely to behave or have certain mental processes 4.Control- to change, produce, or suppress behaviour or particular mental processes (others and yourself) Levels of Analysis Sciences are hierarchically arranged. There are various levels of analysis (Sociology; psychology; biology; chemistry; physics; math). All are valid and complementary.When studying why a certain behaviour or mental process occurs, psychologists typically

study the behaviour or mental processes at 3 levels:

-Biological e.g. brain, neural activity, etc.-Psychological e.g. personality, life experiences, memories -Social e.g. role of groups, friends, family culture Bio psycho social Approach Biological Influences Natural selection of traits (i.e. through evolution) Brain mechanisms (i.e. genetics) Hormonal influences Psychological Influences Individual’s history Personality

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