Midterm Study Guide

PSY 1010

Chapter 1: Introduction to Psychology

Learning Outcomes:

1. What does the word psychology mean? What is the origin of the term?

2. Define each of the following terms:

a. Hypothesis:

Recognize how
philosophical and
physiological perspectives
b. Theory:
shaped the development of
psychological thought.

c. Experiment

c. Empirical Method:

Identify the research 1. Summarize the contributions of Wilhelm Wundt.

contributions of major
historical figures in
psychology.

2. What was structuralism?

3. What is introspection? How did Wundt use it?

4. Summarize the contributions of William James.

 5. What was functionalism?

6. Where did Sigmund Freud theorize that his patients’ problems came from?

7. How did Freud view the unconscious?

8. Define the term gestalt.

9. List the three German psychologists who introduced Gestalt Psychology to the United States.

10. Summarize the work of the following behavioral psychologists:

a. Ivan Pavlov:

b. John B. Watson:

c. B.F. Skinner:

11. What is an operant chamber (also known as a Skinner Box)?

12. Summarize the work of the following humanist psychologists:

a. Abraham Maslow:

b. Carl Rogers:

13. What area of psychology did Jean Piaget start?

Describe and compare 1. Explain each of the following approaches to psychology.

different theoretical
approaches in explaining a. Psychoanalytic Theory:
behavior
 a. Behaviorism:

b. Humanism:

c. Cognitive Psychology:

d. Biological Psychology (aka Neuroscience):

e. Evolutionary Psychology:

f. Social-Cultural Psychology (referred to as social in the text):

2. Summarize the Biopsychosocial view of psychology.

There are many ways of understanding thinking and behavior. The study of psychology
emphasizes applying theoretical approaches (behaviorism, psychoanalytic etc.) and
empiricism. In the chart below, list at least 2 strengths and 2 limitations of this approach.
Recognize the Strengths Weaknesses
strengths and limitation of
applying theories in
explaining behavior.

Distinguish the different 1. Summarize each of the domains of psychology listed below:
domains of psychology. a. Developmental Psychology:

b. Personality Psychology:

c. Industrial-Organizational Psychology:
 d. Health Psychology:

e. Sport and Exercise Psychology:

f. Clinical Psychology:

g. Forensic Psychology:

h. Feminist Psychology:

i. Multicultural Psychology:

Chapter 2: Psychological Research

Learning
Outcomes:

1. Explain how psychological scientific knowledge is empirical.

2. How should we examine claims people make about psychology?

Differentiate types of
research with regard to
purpose, strengths, and
weaknesses.

3. How do facts differ from opinions?

 4. Explain each of the following research methods used in psychology and indicate their
strengths and weaknesses.
Research Method Strengths Weaknesses
Case Studies

Naturalistic Observation

Differentiate types of
research with regard to
purpose, strengths, and
weaknesses.
(continued)

Surveys

Longitudinal Studies

Cross-Sectional Research
 Research Method Strengths Weaknesses
Correlational Research

Experiments

1. Define the term operational definition.

Discuss the value of

reliance on operational
definitions and
measurement in 2. Why is the operational definition an important part of designing a valid experiment?
behavioral research.

1. In an experiment, what is the difference between the control group and the experimental group?

Identify independent,
dependent, 2. How does a single-blind study compare with a double-blind study?
confounding, and
control variables in
experimental designs.

3. How does a double-blind study help control for experimenter bias?

4. Define each of the following terms as they relate to experimentation in psychology:

a. Independent Variable:

b. Dependent variable:

Identify independent,
dependent, c. Participants:
confounding, and
control variables in
experimental designs.
(continued)
d. Population:

e. Random Sample:

f. Random Assignment:

g. Replication:

h. Reliability:

i. Validity:
 1. Explain the scientific method.

2. What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?

Describe how research

3. How is a scientific hypothesis falsifiable?
design drives the
reasonable conclusions
that can be drawn.

4. What is a correlation coefficient? Explain the difference between a positive correlation and a
negative correlation.

5. How is correlational data usually illustrated? That is, what form does the data usually take?

Chapter 3: Biopsychology

Learning Outcomes:

1. Why do psychological researchers study genetics?

2. Define each of the following genetic terms:

a. Chromosome:

Discuss psychology’s
abiding interest in how b. DNA:
heredity, environment
 c. Genes:

d. Allele:
and evolution work
together to shape
behavior. e. Genotype:

f. Phenotype:

g. Mutation:

3. Explain the concept of genetic environmental correlation.

4. What does the field of epigenetics explore?

5. What is the difference between identical (aka monozygotic) and fraternal (aka dizygotic)
twins?

1. Explain Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

Identify key research
contributions of scientists
in the area of heredity
and environment.

2. The theory of evolution by natural selection requires variability of a given trait. Why is variability
necessary and where does it come from?
Predict how traits and
behavior can be selected
for their adaptive value.

1. What is the endocrine system?

2. Explain the function of each of the following glands and the hormones they secrete.
Gland Hormone(s) Function(s)

Hypothalamus

Pituitary
Discuss the effect of the Thyroid
endocrine system on
behavior.
Pineal

Adrenal

Pancreas

Ovaries

Testes

1. What types of cells are found in the nervous system?

2. What are the two major subdivisions of the nervous system?

3. Explain each of the following parts of the PNS:

a. Somatic Nervous System:

b. Autonomic Nervous System:

Describe the nervous

system and its c. Afferent Neurons:
subdivisions and
functions.
d. Efferent Neurons:

4. What are the different functions of the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic
nervous system?

5. What happens during the fight or flight response?

Identify basic processes 1. Explain the function of each of the following parts of a neuron.
and systems in the a. Soma:
biological bases of
behavior, including parts
of the neuron.
b. Dendrites:
c. Axon:

d. Terminal Buttons:

e. Synaptic Vesicles:

f. Myelin Sheath:

g. Nodes of Ranvier:

h. Synaptic Cleft (aka synapse):

i. Receptors:
 1. When is a neuron at resting potential?

2. What happens when a neuron reaches its threshold?

3. Describe what happens during an action potential.

4. How is an action potential an all-or-none phenomenon?

5. What happens during reuptake?

6. Explain the effects of each of the following neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitter What it is involved in?
Identify the basic process
of transmission of a Acetylcholine (ACh)
signal between neurons.

Endorphins

Dopamine

GABA

Glutamate

Norepinephrine

Serotonin

Discuss the influence of 1. Explain the difference between a drug that acts as an agonist and one that is an antagonist.
drugs on
neurotransmitters.
2. Cocaine has two effects on synaptic transmission: it impairs reuptake of dopamine and
it causes more dopamine to be released into the synaptic cleft. Would cocaine be
classified as an agonist or antagonist? Why?
 3. How do SSRIs influence reuptake of neurotransmitters?

1. What are the two parts of the Central Nervous System?

Describe the nervous

system and its
2. Explain the functions of each of the following parts of the brain.
subdivisions and
functions in the brain. a. Cerebral Cortex:

b. Corpus Collosum:

c. Frontal Lobe:

d. Prefrontal Cortex:

e. Broca’s Area:

f. Parietal Lobe:

g. Somatosensory Cortex:

h. Temporal Lobe:

i. Auditory Cortex:

j. Wernicke’s Area:

k. Thalamus:

l. Limbic System:

m. Amygdala:

n. Hippocampus:

o. Hypothalamus:

p. Reticular Formation:
 q. Medulla:

r. Pons:

s. Cerebellum:

1. Explain the contributions of the following brain researchers:

a. Paul Broca:
Identify the contributions
of key researchers to the
study of the brain.
b. Carl Wernicke:

1. Who was Phineas Gage? Why is he important to the study of the brain?

Recount historic and

contemporary research
strategies and
technologies that 2. Why is H.M. such an important case study in brain research?
support research.

1. Explain each of the following brain imaging technologies:

a. CT scan:

b. PET scan:
Identify the contributions
of key researchers to the
development of tools for c. MRI:
examining the brain.

d. fMRI:

e. EEG:

Discuss the role of 1. Define the term neuroplasticity.

neuroplasticity in
traumatic brain injury.

2. List three ways that neuroplasticity can occur.

 1. Summarize the work done by Michael Gazzaniga. (Use your class/movie notes for this one).

Identify the contributions

of key researchers to the
study of neuroplasticity.

Chapter Four States of Consciousness

Learning Outcomes:

1. What is consciousness?

2. Provide two examples of biological rhythms.

3. How does the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) influence our circadian rhythm?

4. How are the pineal gland and melatonin involved in regulating our sleep-wake cycle?
Describe various states
of consciousness and
their impact on behavior.

5. Describe two physical consequences and two psychological consequences of having a

sleep debt.

6. How would an evolutionary psychologist explain why we sleep?

7. How is sleep important to our cognitive functioning?

8. What is meditation?
 1. Define each of the class of drugs listed below:

a. Depressant:

b. Stimulant:

c. Opioid:

Identify the major

psychoactive drug
categories and classify d. Hallucinogen:
specific drugs,
including their
psychological and
physiological effects.
2. List the psychoactive drugs found in each of the categories below. Explain the
psychological and physiological effects of drugs in each category.

Class of Drug Examples Physiological Effects Psychological Effects

Stimulants

Depressants

Hallucinogen
s

Discuss drug 1. What is the difference between physical dependency on a drug and a psychological
dependence, addiction, dependency?
tolerance, and
withdrawal.

2. When does drug tolerance occur?

3. What can happen during withdrawal from a drug?

 1. How did Sigmund Freud view dreams?

Identify the
contributions of the
major figures in 2. According to Freud, what is the difference between a dream’s latent content and its
consciousness research. manifest content?

Discuss aspects of sleep 1. What is the difference between REM sleep and NREM sleep?
and dreaming.

2. Explain what happens during each of the following stages of sleep. Include the type of
brain waves found in each stage.

a. NREM 1:

b. NREM 2:

c. NREM 3:

d. REM:

3. What are sleep spindles? Which stage of sleep do they occur in?

4. Why is REM sleep often referred to paradoxical sleep?

5. What is REM rebound? When does it occur?

6. Explain the activation-synthesis theory of dreaming.

 7. Explain the symptoms of each of the following sleep disorders and how each disorder is
treated.
Sleep Disorder Symptoms Treatment

Insomnia

Somnambulism
(Sleepwalking)

REM Sleep Behavior

Disorder
(RBD)

Restless Leg Syndrome

Night Terrors

Sleep Apnea

Narcolepsy

Chapter Five: Sensation and Perception

Learning Outcomes:

1. In what ways do humans rely on our sensory systems?

2. Define each of the term s below:

a. Sensation:
Describe general principles
of organizing and
b. Absolute Threshold:
integrating sensation to
promote stable awareness
of the external world.

c. Subliminal Messages:

d. Just Noticeable Difference (JND):

e. Weber’s Law:

3. What is perception?

4. Explain the difference between top-down processing and bottom-up processing.

5. What is sensory adaptation? Provide an example from your own life of a time you
experienced it.

For the questions below you will use the last section of the chapter entitled “Gestalt Principles of
Describe general principles
of organizing and Perception.”
integrating sensation to
promote stable awareness 6. What is the focus of Gestalt Psychology?
of the external world.
(Continued)

7. Explain each of the following Gestalt Principles:

a. Figure-ground:
 b. Proximity:

c. Similarity:

d. Continuity:

e. Closure:

1. What is transduction?

Discuss basic principles of

sensory transduction.
2. Where does transduction take place? (Hint: what type of cells).

1. Explain how the Muller-Lyer illusion illustrates the influence culture can have on our
perceptual processes.

2. Use the reading at [Link] A

%20perceptual%20set%20refers%20to,situation%20while%20ignoring%20other%20details.
to answer the questions below.

a. What is a perceptual set?

Discuss how experience
and culture can influence
perceptual processes.
b. Explain how perceptual sets are a good example of top-down processing.

c. Give an example of a time a perceptual set caused you to misperceive something.

Discuss the role of 1. Explain how attention is involved in sensation and perception.
attention in behavior.
 2. Summarize the study done by Simons and Chabris. What concept were they studying?

3. What is signal detection theory?

1. What causes color deficiencies (aka color blindness)?

Use the article at [Link] to answer the two

questions below.
Explain common sensory
conditions. a. What is synesthesia?

b. Describe two of the most common types of synesthesia.

1. Take a look at the visual illusions at [Link]

Select one of the illusions on this page to analyze by answering the questions below.

a. Which illusion did you select?

b. Explain what you saw/perceived the first time you looked at the illusion.

Explain the role of top-

down processing in
producing vulnerability to
illusion. c. In your own words, explain how this visual illusion works and how it is related to top-down
processing.

Describe taste and smell 1. Why are taste and smell considered chemical senses?
processes, including the
specific nature of energy
transduction, relevant
 2. What are the five tastes?

3. What are taste buds? How are they involved in gustation?

anatomical structures, and

specialized pathways in the
brain
for taste and smell. 4. Where are the olfactory receptor cells located?

5. What is the olfactory bulb? How is it involved in our sense of smell?

1. What is the vestibular sense related to?

2. Where are the organs related to the vestibular sense located?

3, Explain the kinesthetic sense. What parts of our body are involved in it?

Describe body sensory 4. Use the article at [Link]

processes, including the sensation/the-cutaneous-skin-senses to answer the questions below.
specific nature of energy
transduction, relevant a. The skin contains receptors that respond to _______________________,
anatomical structures, and
specialized pathways in the
________________________ and ___________________________.
brain for each of the body b. Explain the different functions of the fast pathway and slow pathway for pain.
senses.

c. What is the gate-control theory of pain?

 Chapter Six: Learning Theories

Learning Outcomes:

1. How is the term learning defined in psychology?

2. Summarize the work of Ivan Pavlov. What type of learning did he study?

3. What did Garcia and Koelling discover about taste aversion?

Identify the contributions
of key researchers in the
psychology of learning.

4. What did Robert Rescorla demonstrate in his research?

5. How did John B. Watson demonstrate classical conditioning through his work with Little
Albert?

6. Summarize Edward Thorndike’s Law of Effect.

7. Summarize Edward Tolman’s contributions to psychology.

8. Summarize Albert Bandura’s Bobo Doll experiment. What did he find in this study?

9. What is an operant chamber and what is its purpose? (The operant chamber is
 commonly called a Skinner Box and was designed and used by BF Skinner).

1. What is latent learning? Give an example of latent learning from your own life.

2. What is cognitive map? How did Tolman study them?

Describe the essential

characteristics of insight
3. Read the short article at [Link] What is insight learning? Who first studied
learning, latent learning,
insight learning?
and social learning.

4. Give an example from your own life when you solved a problem with insight learning.

Apply learning principles 1. What is taste aversion? Who studied it?

to explain emotional
learning, taste aversion,
superstitious behavior,
and learned 3. Read this short article on learned helplessness [Link] Define the term
helplessness. learned helplessness? Who coined this term?

4. Summarize one of the animal studies conducted to better understand learned

helplessness.

5. Read this short article [Link] How can learning principles be used to
explain superstitious behavior?
 1. Explain the difference between reflexes and instinct.

Provide examples of
how biological
constraints create 2. Read this short article [Link] Why can’t you teach your dog to talk?
learning predispositions.

1. When does associative learning occur?

2. What are the two forms of associative learning?

Describe basic classical

conditioning 3. In general, what happens during classical conditioning?
phenomena.

4. Define each of the follow terms as they relate to classical conditioning.

a. Unconditioned Stimulus:

b. Neutral Stimulus:

c. Unconditioned Response:

d. Conditioned Stimulus:

e. Conditioned Response:

f. Acquisition:

g. Extinction:

h. Spontaneous Recovery:

i. Stimulus Generalization:

j. Stimulus Discrimination:
 1. What is observational learning?

Distinguish general
differences between
classical conditioning, 2. Individuals performing imitated behavior are known as _________________
operant
conditioning and 3. Explain social learning theory, as proposed by Albert Bandura.
observational learning.

4. In general, how is social learning theory different from the strict behaviorist view of
learning?

Distinguish general 5. Define the term vicarious learning.

differences between
classical conditioning,
operant
conditioning and 6. How can observational learning sometimes have antisocial effects?
observational learning.
(cont.)

Predict the effects of 1. In general, what do organisms learn during operant conditioning?
operant conditioning.

2. How can an operant chamber (aka Skinner Box) be used to study operant
conditioning?

3. Define each of the following terms and explain how they apply to operant conditioning.
a. Positive Reinforcement:

b. Negative Reinforcement:

c. Positive Punishment:

d. Negative Punishment:
 e. Shaping:

4. Explain the difference between a primary and secondary reinforcer.

5. Create an example of how you can use operant conditioning to train a pet.

1. Define each of the terms below and explain how they relate to operant conditioning.
a. Continuous Reinforcement:

b. Intermittent Reinforcement:

2. What is the best way to teach a person or an animal a new behavior? Why is this?

Predict how practice,

schedules of
reinforcement, other
aspects of
reinforcement, and 3. Complete the table below. Use your own word and your own examples.
motivation will influence Reinforcement Example (give one
quality of learning. Schedule Description Result of your own, not the
one in the text.

Fixed Interval

Variable Interval

Fixed Ratio

Variable Ratio

Suggest how behavior 1. Explain a time when your parent or guardian used operant conditioning to modify your
modification, behavior.
biofeedback, coping
strategies, and self-
control can be used to 2. Explain a time when you used operant conditioning on yourself to modify your own
address behavioral behavior.
problems.

Chapter 7: Cognitive Psychology

Learning Outcomes:

1. What is cognition? What processes does it involve?

2. What are concepts? Is your concept of “psychology” an abstract concept or a concrete

concept?

3. What is a prototype? How are prototypes related to concepts?

Identify problem-solving
4. What is your prototype for the concept of a car?
strategies as well as
factors that influence
their 5. Explain the difference between a natural concept and an artificial concept.
effectiveness

6. What is a schema? How do schemata allow our brains to work more efficiently?

7. List 3 things contained in your schema for “teacher.”

8. What is a problem-solving strategy?

9. Explain each of the problem solving strategies listed below AND give an example of a
time you used it.

a. Trial and Error:

b. Algorithm:

c. Heuristic:
 1. Explain how a mental set can keep you from solving a problem.

2. What is functional fixedness? Give an example of a time you were able to overcome
functional fixedness.

3. Explain each of the decision biases below and how they can keep us from successfully
solving a problem.

Identify problem-solving a. Anchoring Bias:

strategies as well as
factors that create bias
and errors in thinking
b. Confirmation Bias:

c. Hindsight Bias:

d. Representative Bias:

e. Availability Heuristic:

1. Why is it so difficult to define intelligence?

2. Explain the difference between crystalized intelligence and fluid intelligence?

Define intelligence and
list characteristics of
how psychologists
measure intelligence
3. What is emotional intelligence?

4. List and explain the three parts of Sternberg’s triarchic theory of intelligence.

5. What is multiple intelligence theory? Why is it controversial?

Define intelligence and
list characteristics of
how psychologists
measure intelligence 6. How do we generally define the term creativity? What characteristics are found
in people thought to be creative?
 7. Explain the difference between divergent thinking and convergent thinking.

1. Explain how intelligence can have different meanings in different cultures.

Discuss how culture
influences the definition
of intelligence

1. What types of things do cognitive psychologists study? (What questions do they seek
answers to?)

Compare and contrast

historic and
contemporary theories 2. Which of the many theories of intelligence presented in this chapter do you most agree
of intelligence with? Explain why.

1. What does Noam Chomsky say about how humans acquire language?

2. Summarize what Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf believed about language and
Identify the thought. What do today’s psychologists think about their theories?
contributions of key
researchers in
intelligence research
and testing
3. Explain what each of the following researchers believe(d) about intelligence.

a. Charles Spearman:

b. Raymond Cattell:

c. Robert Sternberg:

d. Howard Gardner:

e. Daniel Goleman:
 4. What is Frances Galton known for?

5. How was Alfred Binet involved in the early development of intelligence tests?

Identify the
contributions of key
researchers in 6. How did Louis Terman build upon the work of Binet?
intelligence research
and testing

7. Summarize the contributions of David Wechsler in the area of intelligence testing.

1. What does it mean to say an intelligence test has reliability?

Explain how 1. What is standardization?

psychologists design
tests, including
standardization
2. What does norming an intelligence test involve?
strategies and other
techniques to establish
reliability and validity.
3. What is the Flynn effect? What might be one explanation for the Flynn effect?

1. When used in psychology, what does the bell curve (aka normal curve) represent?

2. What is a representative sample? Why is it important to have a representative sample

when testing for intelligence?

Interpret the meaning 3. What does standard deviation describe?

of scores in terms of the
normal curve

4. Label the standardized IQ

scores on the normal to the
right. (There’s a text box for
you type the IQ scores into.)

Type your labels here.

Describe relevant labels 1. What does IQ stand for? What does it describe?
related to intelligence
testing
 2. What IQ score does a person need to score below to be considered to have an
intellectual disability? How many standard deviations below the mean is this score?

3. What IQ score does a person need to considered gifted? Haw many standard deviations
above the mean is this score?

4. How are learning disabilities different than intellectual disabilities?

Synthesize how 1. What is language?

biological, cognitive,
and cultural factors
converge to facilitate 2. Define each of the terms below as they relate to language:
acquisition,
development, and use
of language a. Grammar:

b. Phoneme:

c. Morpheme:

d. Syntax:

e. Semantics:

3. How many morphemes are in the word frogs? How many phonemes does the word
frogs have?

4. What does it mean to say there is a critical period for language acquisition?

5. Explain what happens in each of following stages of language acquisition:

a. Babbling Stage:

b. One Word Stage:

c. Overgeneralization:
 6. At what age do children generally say their first word?

7. What is linguistic determinism?

Read the article on intelligence testing at [Link]

psychology/chapter/measuring-intelligence/ and answer the questions below.

1. Why did Raymond Cattell develop the Culture-Fair Intelligence Test?

2. Explain the difference between an achievement test and an aptitude test.

3. Summarize each of the following criticisms that surrounds the use of intelligence tests.

Prediction of Social
Issue of Validity Outcomes Bias

Debate the appropriate

testing practices,
particularly in relation
to culture-fair test uses

4. Do you think intelligence tests can be culturally fair? Explain your answer.

Read the article at [Link]

1. In your own words, explain the concept of stereotype threat.

2. How can stereotype threat explain, in part, the differences in scores on intelligence tests
that are often seen between groups?