Study Guide

Exam 1; Chapters 1-5

Elementary Psychology

Chapter 1 – Thinking Critically with Psychological Science

Define Psychology

Discuss the Nature vs. Nurture issue as it relates to psychology

Define the following:  intuition, hindsight bias, overconfidence, confirmation bias

Describe the scientific method and how it is used in the field of psychology

Differentiate between a theory and a hypothesis

Be able to describe and discuss the uses of the following types of research methods:

       Case Study

       Survey

       Naturalistic Observation

       Correlational Methods (discuss positive and negative correlations)

       Experimental Method

Be able to discuss the following terms/concepts

       Randoom Sample

       Placebo/Placebo Effect

       Independent variable

       Dependent variable

Which research method allows the research to draw cause and effect conclusions?

Chapter 2 – Neuroscience and Behavior

Identify the parts of a neuron and describe the function of each part

What is the function of the myelin sheath?

How do messages travel from one neuron to another?  (define action potential, threshold, synapse and neurotransmitters)

Be able to describe and discuss the functions of each of the various parts of the nervous system:

§   Central Nervous System

§   Peripheral Nervous System

·         Somatic system

·         Autonomic system

§   Sympathetic system

§   Parasympathetic system

Be able to identify and describe the functions of the different parts of the brain:

§   Brainstem

·         Medulla

·         Reticular formation

§   Thalamus

§   Cerebellum

§   Limbic system

·         Amygdala

·         Hypothalamus

§   Cerebral Cortex

·         Frontal lobes

·         Parietal lobes

·         Occipital lobes

·         Temporal lobes

·         Motor cortex

·         Sensory cortex

·         Association areas

Discuss the plasticity of the brain.

Describe the function of the corpus callosum and describe the effects of having the corpus callosum severed.

Chapter 3- Nature, Nurture, & Diversity

Describe the function of each of the following:

·         Chromosomes

·         DNA

·         Genes

What is a genome?

How are twin and adoption studies used to analyze the relative influence of nature and nurture?

Which human characteristics seem to be heavily influenced by nature?

Which human characteristics seem to be heavily influenced by nurture?

How does the field of evolutionary psychology contribute to our understanding of human nature?

Discuss the influence of the following:

·         Natural selection

·         Artificial Selection

How have evolutionary processes seemed to influence mating preferences?

Discuss the relative influence of parents and peers on human behavior.

Chapter 4- The Developing Person

Define the following and discuss the development that occurs during each stage:

• Zygote (Period of the zygote)
• Embryo (Embryonic Period)
• Fetus (Fetal Period)

How do teratogens affect development?

Identify some common infant reflexes and discuss the purposes of reflexes.

Discuss cognitive development and identify Piaget’s four stages

Define the following terms and when appropriate identify the stage in which these are generally present:

§   Schema

§   Cognition

§   Object Permanence

§   Stranger Anxiety

§   Conservation

§   Egocentrism

§   Logical reasoning

§   Abstract reasoning

• Social Development—discuss the process of attachment in humans and how it differs from the process in most animals

·         Describe secure and insecure patterns of attachment and discuss the factors that contribute to each pattern

Define Critical Period and Imprinting

Describe Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development and discuss factors that impact a positive or negative resolution of the stages. (It is not necessary to memorize each stage or the specific attributes of each stage)

 Describe the physical, cognitive and social changes that occur during the stage of adolescence.

·         Puberty

·         Primary sex characteristics

·         Secondary sex characteristics

·         Menarche

Describe the physical, cognitive and social changes that accompany adulthood.

§   Menopause

§   Alzheimer’s Disease

§   Change in acuity of senses

§   Motor skill changes

§   Cognitive skills

·         Recall

·         recognition

·         fluid intelligence

·         crystallized intelligence

Chapters 5– Sensation and Perception

Contrast the processes of sensation and perception

Distinguish between absolute and difference thresholds and discuss research findings on subliminal stimulation

Discuss the process of sensory adaptation

Identify the sensory receptors for sight and describe the process of perception of sight

Identify the sensory receptors for sound and describe the process of the perception of sound

Briefly describe the process of touch and detection of pain

§     Gate-control theory

Identify the sensory receptors for taste and smell and discuss the sensory interaction process for taste and smell

Distinguish between kinesthesis and the vestibular sense.

Discuss Gestalt psychology’s contribution to our understanding of perception.

• Explain the figure-ground relationship, and identify principles of perceptual grouping in form perception
• Explain depth perception and the role of binocular and monocular cues in depth perception.
• Describe perceptual constancy

State the claims of ESP and explain why most research psychologists remain skeptical.