Psychology CH 1-3

The scientific study of human behavior and mental processes

1879 in the lab of Wilhelm Wundt

• The goal to break consciousness into basic elements
• Introspection - systematically observes our own consciousness
• Titchener

• "What is the purpose of consciousness?"
• William James was influenced by Darwin

• 1. The observer must know when the experience begins and ends
• 2. The observer must maintain "strained attention"
• 3. The phenomenon must bear repetition
• 4. The phenomenon must be capable of variation

• Psychoanalysis
• Behaviorism
• Humanistic
• Cognitive
• Biological
• Evolutionary
• Sociocultural

• Focused on unconscious and early childhood experiences
• Sigmund Freud

• Only studies ovservable behaviors, behavior determind by envionment
• John B Watson, Ivan Pavlov, B. F. Skinner

• Charges that both were dehumanizing
• We have free will and make choices for personal growth
• Abraham Maslow, Carl Rodgers

• Cognition - Mental processes involved in aquiring knowledge
• Understanding behavior by looking at how people think
• Jean Piaget

• Behavior explained in terms of physiological processes
• Brain and Nervous system

• Natural selection occurs for behavioral, as well as physical characteristics
• Buss

Ethnecentrism

• Theroy
• Hypothesis
• Research and observations

A principle of set of principles pruposed to explain how a number of seperate facts are related

A testable prediction; often applied by a theroy

describe, predict and explain

An observation technique in which one person or group is studied in depth over an extended period of time

Observing and recording behavior in naturally occuring situations without trying to munipulate or control the situation

A research method used to establish the degree of relationshipo (correlation)between two characteristics, events, or behaviors

Building block of the nervous system, allows for communiction

Receive messages from the other cells

form junctions with other cells

Passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

The cells life support center (Soma)

Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed neural impulses

electrical signal traveling down the axon

Relay info from the senses to brain and spinal cord

Carry outgoing info from the CNS to muscles and glands

carry information between neurons

Brief electical charge that travels down an axon

The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

• Axon Terminal
• Synaptic Vesicles Neurotransmitters
• Neurotransmitters
• Synaptic Cleft
• Receptor Sites

Triggers muscle contraction; involved in learning

linked to pain control and to pleasure

Electrchemical communication system

The brain and spinal cord

Sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the resst of the body

Controls functions such as hunger, thirst, body temperature; helps control endocrine system; involved in emotion

Controls unconscious motor actions

plays role in relaying motor messages between cerebellum and motor cortex exerts influence on sleep and dreaming

control center for heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, swallowing, and coughing

extenion of breain; controls simple reflexes connects brain to peripheral nervous system

arousal system; activates cerebral cortex

coordinates skilled movement; regulates muscle tone and posture; plays a role in motor learning and probably cognition

relay station between cerebral cortex and lower brain centers

group of structures involved in emotional expression, memory, and motivation

Making plans and judgment

the somatosensory cortex

Visual cortex

auditory cortex

the brains capacity for modification