Final

• biological psychology

  a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior. Genetics.
• behavioral psychology


  the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning. conditioning etc.
• Cognitive Psychology


  the scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.
• humanistic psychology

  historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual's potential for personal growth.
• psychoanalytic theory

  A theory developed by Freud that attempts to explain personality, motivation, and mental disorders by focusing on unconscious determinants of behavior.
• sociocultural perspective


  perspective that focuses on the relationship between social behavior and culture
• evolutionary psychology

  the study of the roots of behavior and mental processes using the principles of natural selection.
• Nature (Nature vs. Nurture)


  the influence of our inherited characteristics on our personality, physical growth, intellectual growth, and social interactions
• Nurture (Nature vs. Nurture)


  influence of environment and physical surroundings on behavior
• Validity


  the extent to which a test measures or predicts what it is supposed to
• Reliability


  the extent to which a test yields consistent results, as assessed by the consistency of scores on two halves of the test, on alternate forms of the test, or on retesting
• experimental research

  gathering primary data by selecting matched groups of subjects, giving them different treatments, controlling related factors, and checking for differences in group responses
• naturalistic observation


  observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.
• double-blind procedure

  an experimental procedure in which both the research participants and the research staff are ignorant (blind) about whether the research participants have received the treatment or a placebo. Commonly used in drug-evaluation studies.
• survey research


  gathering primary data by asking people questions about their knowledge, attitudes, preferences, and buying behavior
• positive correlation 


  A correlation where as one variable increases, the other also increases, or as one decreases so does the other. Both variables move in the same direction.
• negative correlation

  the relationship between two variables in which one variable increases as the other variable decreases
• positive coefficient

  tells us that as values of one variable increase, the values of the other variable increase as well
• negative coefficient 


  as one variable increases, the other decreases
• mean 


  the arithmetic average of a distribution, obtained by adding the scores and then dividing by the number of scores
• Mode

  The value that occurs most frequently in a given data set.
• range

  the difference between the highest and lowest scores in a distribution. Biggest number minus smallest number.
• standard deviation

  a computed measure of how much scores vary around the mean score
• case study

  a descriptive technique in which one individual or group is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles
• Cerebellum


  the "little brain" at the rear of the brainstem; functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.
• Medulla


  an extension of the spinal cord into the skull that coordinates heart rate, circulation, and respiration.
• Pons


  A brain structure that relays information from the cerebellum to the rest of the brain. Sleep and arousal. (Ponzzzzzzzz)
• reticular formation (RF)


  a nerve network that travels through the brainstem and thalamus and plays an important role in controlling arousal (attention); Pay no attention, you R F'd.
• limbic system


  neural system located below the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions and drives
• Amygdala


  A limbic system structure involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression. Don't make Amy(gdala) mad!
• Hippocampus


  A neural center located in the limbic system that helps process explicit memories for storage. (You'd remember a hippo on campus)
• Thalamus

  the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
• Hypothalamus


  A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.
• Broca's area

  Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech. (Boca means mouth in spanish or Broca-broken speech)
• Wenicke's area


  controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe. (Wernicke is what?)
• cerebral cortex

  The intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells covering the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information-processing center.
• occipital lobe


  A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information.
• frontal lobe


  A region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
• parietal lobe


  A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch. Located at top.
• temporal lobe


  A region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language. Located by your temples (and your ears!)