Nat 5 psychology

• Sleep


  Is a state of rest which affects the body and mind, where we are unconscious. In a healthy person this follows a circadian cycle(i.e. Daily Cycle)
• Biological Approach


  an approach to psychology focusing on the body, especially the brain and nervous system - it suggests that our behaviours are a result of our genetics and DNA.
• Circadian Rhythm


  The biological clock; regular bodily rhythms that occur on a 24-hour cycle - often referred to as the "body clock"
• Dreaming


  This is the images and emotions created by the unconscious mind during sleep
• R.E.M


  Rapid Eye Movement - Describes sleep in which vivid dreams typically occur; this type of sleep increases as the night progresses while stage 4 sleep decreases
• N.R.E.M


  Non-Rapid Eye Movement - Refers to sleep during which there is no rapid eye movement
• Sleep Cycle


  A sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes and during that time we move through five stages of sleep. The first four stages make up our non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and the fifth stage is when rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurs.
• Sleep Disorders


  Serious and consistent sleep disturbances that interfere with daytime functioning and cause subjective distress
• Conscious


  Consciousness refers to our awareness of our own mental processes, such as our thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
• Preconscious


  In Freud's theory, the level of consciousness in which thoughts and feelings are not conscious but are readily accessible to consciousness
• Unconscious


  The part of the mind which is inaccessible to the conscious mind but which affects behaviour and emotions.
• Manifest Content of Dreams

  According to Freud, the apparent story line of dreams; what our dreams appear to be about.
• Latent content of dreams

  According to Freud, the hidden meanings of dreams; what our dreams are actually about.
• Restoration Theory of Sleep (Oswald 1966)


  'Sleep enables the body and brain to recover/repair from the wear and tear that occurs during the day
• Strength of Restoration Theory

  Restoration Theory is supported by a number of other studies such as Shapiro et al. (1981) ; Ultra-marathon runners required significantly more NREM sleep.
• Limitation of Restoration Theory

  Cell repair in the body has been shown to carry on over 24 hours, and not just during sleep -although it does increase during sleep
• Dement and Kleitman (1957) - Aim


  To investigate the relationship between eye movements and dreaming.
• Dement and Kleitman (1957) - Methodology


  5 Participants were studied under laboratory conditions with an EEG to record eye movement and brain activity. At various points of during the evening participants were woken and asked to recall if they had been dreaming; and the content of their dreams.
• Dement and Kleitman (1957) - Results


  All participants showed periods of REM during sleep. Results showed that REM sleep was predominately associated with dreaming and NREM without dreaming.
• Dement and Kleitman (1957) - Strength


  Experimenters controlled the participants use of stimulants caffeine and alcohol
• Dement and Kleitman (1957) - Limitation


  The sample size for this study was very small and only included 2 females; thus the results were bias toward men.
• Psychoanalytic Approach


  Based on the belief that childhood experiences greatly influence the development of later personality traits and psychological problems; stress on unconscious fears, desires, and how they affect thought, behaviour and motivation (Oral, Anal and Phallic stages)
• Little Hans Study - Aim


  To find out why Hans had a fear of horses
• Little Hans Study - -Methodology


  Case Study whereby Freud corresponded with Little Hans's father via a series of written letters.
• Little Hans Study - Results


  Freud interpreted the images(Manifest content) in Hans's dreams and used the underlying meaning(Latent Content) to determine that Hans's was in the Oedipus Complex stage and was in fear of his father; due to his competition with him for his mothers attention.
• Little Hans Study - Strength


  Longitudinal Study - took place over an extended period of time providing good qualitative data
• Little Hans Study - Limitation


  Freud did not have direct contact with Hans; only with Han's father who was a fan of Freud's work - bias.
• Conformity


  Adjusting our behaviour or thinking to coincide with a group standard
• Normative Conformity


  The tendency to go along with the group in order to fulfil the group's expectations and gain acceptance
• Informational Conformity


  The change in opinions or behaviour that occurs when we conform to people whom we believe have accurate information
• Compliance


  Publicly acting in accord with social pressure while privately disagreeing
• Internalization


  The process of adopting as one's own the behaviours, beliefs, and standards of a group
• Individual Differences - Gender

  Men are significantly less likely to conform because of social roles.
• Individual Differences - Age


  Children, specifically teenagers; are more likely to conform.
• Collectivist Cultures


  Cultures in which the self is regarded as embedded in relationships, and harmony with one's group is prized above individual goals and wishes
• Individualistic Cultures


  Cultures that emphasise the needs and goals of the individual over the needs and goals of the group through independence and personal success
• Minority Influence


  The case where a minority of group members influences the behaviour or beliefs of the majority
• Majority Influence


  Occurs when the beliefs held by the larger number of individuals in the current social group prevail
• Asch Line Study (1951) - Aim

  Asch conducted an experiment to investigate the extent to which social pressure from a majority group could affect a person to conform.
• Asch Line Study (1951) - Methodology


  Used a laboratory to test 50 Male Participants on a line judgement task.

  Participants were placed in a room with 7 confederates who had predetermined incorrect answer for task.

  Participants were asked to read aloud their answer last in the task.