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304 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
Naturalistic
Method used by researchers to unobtrusively study the behaviors of organisms in their natural environment.
Associationism
Theory developed by John Watson that seeks to identify the ways in which people learn through interactions with their environment.
Biopsychosocial Orientation
Professional stance of many modern psychologists that supposes people and their behavior must be considered in the context of biological systems, psychological processes, and social influences.
Empiricism
The concept that all knowledge stems from our senses.
Functionalists
Psychologists who study the ways in which psychological processes help humans adapt to their environment, survive, and prosper.
Gestalt Theory
Theory created by Max Wertheimer and further developed by Friedrich Perls that dictates that experience is a function of patterns of the whole being, rather than simply a sum of parts.
Mental Measurement
Field that analyzes various aspects of human functioning and measures differences in functioning between individuals.
Psychoanalysis
Practice developed by Sigmund Freud that focuses on unconscious conflicts and their resolutions to explain human behavior.
Structuralism
Theory created by Wilhelm Wundt that considers the most basic elements of ideas and how they conbine to form complex notions.
Applied Research
Research that involves the active study and/or resolution of existing problems.
Basic Research
Research that is geared toward gaining knowledge and clarifying concepts with limited emphasis toward the applicability of the findings.
Case Studies
A detailed investigation of a single subject or topic from which the findings are generalized; this type of study is often conducted by clinicians, is rich in clinical information, and provides researchers with hypotheses about the interaction of problems and other factors.
Correlational Studies
Studies that show how two phenomena or situations correspond to one another
Cross-validation
Method of checking data against other researchers' findings in order to reduce possible bias.
Dependent Variable
An experimental variable whose value depends on that of the independent variable
Descriptive Studies
Studies that describe a phenomenon or situation
Epidemiological Research
Type of research that focuses on the prevalence and incidence of events.
Experimental Studies
Studies that test the likelihood that one variable causes a change in another variable
Experimenter Bias
Threat to research validity that develops when the involved researchers skew the interpretations of their results due to factors such as personal beliefs, drive to succeed, occupational pressure to publish research and the corresponding reluctance of journal editors to publish negative or inconclusive findings.
Hindsight Bias
Threat to research validity that develops if a person examines a situation that is already in existence or an event that has already occurred and then generates an explanations for the elements of the situation or event.
Incidence
An epidemiological term that refers to the number of new cases of a disorder in a given period.
Independent Variable
An experimental variable manipulated by researchers to see whether any change results in the experiments other variables.
Inferential Studies
Studies that use statistical techniques to make inferences about the larger population based on a relatively small sample
Lifetime Prevalence
An epidemiological term that refers to the percentage of the population who will have a specific disorder at some time during their lives.
Meta-Analysis
Research method that involved compiling the results of numerous studies on a particular phenomenon and analyzing the compiled data.
Prevalence
An epidemiological term that refers to the percentage of individuals who have a certain disorder during a certain period of time.
Random Assignment
The use of chance procedures in psychology experiments to ensure each participant has the same opportunity to be assigned to any given group.
Survey
A type of research in which questionnaires are completed by a large group of individuals.
Correlation Coefficient
A statistic describing the correspondence between scores/ratings on two different variables, ranging from -1 to +1
Descriptive Statistics
Statistics that summarize data by describing their general trends or characteristics.
Frequency Distribution
A table that shows the number of subjects falling into several subdivisions of a larger group on a variable of interest.
Histogram
A graphic representation of the data in a frequency distribution.
Inferential Statistics
Statistics that allow researchers to determine how likely it is that the results found in a particular study reflect real-world differences instead of simply differences between the relatively few subjects in the research sample.
Outliers
Any data results that exist far removed from a main cluster of data.
Population
The entire group of potential research subjects.
Range
An entire set of data, from the lowest number to the highest number.
Reliability
The consistency with which something is measured
Representative Sample
A research sample whose traits are reflective of those of the population as a whole.
Sample
A set of subjects chosen from the overall population who will be used in research efforts.
Statistical Significance
The degree to which research results have not occurred by chance.
Validity
The ability to accurately measure or predict the logical correctness of some proposition or conclusion.
Action potential
The change in electrical charge of a neuron that occurs when the neuron has been activated by a stimulus.
Afferent neurons
Sensory neurons
Agonists
Drugs that produce the same effect as a specific neurotransmitter by causing neurons to fire.
Antagonists
Drugs that inhibit the effects of a neurotransmitter.
Axon
The single fiber that conducts action potentials away from a neurons cell body.
Cell body
The part of a neuron that contains the nucleus and upon which dendrites converge.
Central nervous system
Consists of nerves in the brain and spinal cord
Dendrites
A network of filaments at one end of a neuron that carry info to the neurons cell body.
Efferent neurons
Motor neurons
Glial cell
Special cells that, along with neurons, form the complex network of the nervous system.
Inter neurons
Neurons that carry info from one neuron to another
Motor neurons
Carry info from brain to muscles
Myelin
A fatty material that forms a protective sheath over the axons of neurons and speeds up the conduction of action potentials.
Neurons
Nerve cells which are the basic building blocks of nervous system.
Nodes of ranvier
The gaps within the myelin sheath that covers the axon of neuron.
Peripheral nervous system
All nerves beyond CNS
Resting potential
The electric charge across the cell membrane of a neuron at rest
Sensory neurons
Carry info from various sense organs to the brain
Synapse
The gap between nerve cells
Adrenal gland
Structures in endocrine system that release adrenaline, sending the body into highly aroused state so that actions may be quickly performed in threatening situations.
Amygdala
Part of the limbic system that produces rage when stimulated.
Autonomic nervous system
Part of the PNS that connects the CNS to parts of the body over which we have little voluntary control such as heart and lungs.
Brain stem
portion of the CNS at which the brain intersects with the spinal cord; contains the medulla and the pons.
Cerebellum
The region of the brain that involved the coordination of movement and muscle development.
Cerebral cortex
The center for higher brain functions, such as language, perception, cognitive functioning, and voluntary movements.
Corpus callosum
A bundle of nerves that transmits info between the two hemispheres of the brain.
Endocrine system
A system of glands throughout the body that influence the number of processes, including metabolism, emotional state, and sexual development and reproduction.
Frontal lobes
Parts of the brain that primarily are responsible for language, planning, and conceptualization skills, and motor functions.
Hemispheric specialization
The concept that each hemisphere of the brain primarily controls different functions.
Hippocampus
The part of the limbic system that appears to be responsible for processing new info into long term memory.
Hypothalamus
Brain structure that seems to be important for critical bodily functions, such as thirst, temp, and hunger. It is also likely involved in motivation and influencing aggressive and sexual impulses.
Left hemisphere
The left side of the cerebral cortex, which controls the right half of the body and is responsible for cognitive functions.
Limbic system
The portion of the midbrain that includes the septum, amygdala, and hippocampus and that handles much of the basic emotional functioning of the brain.
Medial forebrain bundle
Major pressure point of brain.
Medulla
The part of the brain that directly connects the spinal cord; this structure monitors reflex functions and controls involuntary reflexes.
Midbrain
The part of the brain that primarily consists of the cerebellum and limbic system.
Occipital lobes
The brains primary areas for handling visual info.
Pancreas
Produces insulin to control metabolism of sugar
Parasympathetic nervous system
A portion of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for restoration of energy.
Parathyroid
Along w the thyroid, one of the glands within the endocrine system that controls metabolism rates.
Parietal lobes
The brains primary areas for sensation of touch.
Pituitary gland
Controls various other glands in the endocrine system through release of hormones. It also regulates the activity of the male and female reproductive organs, and the production of milk in females, and uterine contractions during childbirth.
Plasticity
The brains ability to compensate for certain injuries or malformations.
Pons
A relay station in the brain stem that sorts out and redirects individual nerve impulses and also influences the sleep-wake cycle.
Reticular activating system RAS
A bundle of nerve fibers within the pons that appear to be responsible for arousal from sleep.
Reward pathway
A group of medial forebrain structures that perceive pleasure when the neurons running through them are stimulated.
Right hemisphere
The right side of the cerebral cortex, which controls the left half of the body, is credited with more creative functions, is thought to be more visually and spatially oriented, and provides the ability to perceive a whole as a sum of parts.
Septal rage
A condition of angry, aggressive, and violent behavior that may occur when an animals septum is damaged.
Septum
The structure within brain that controls amygdala.
Somatic nervous system
The portion of the peripheral nervous system that connects the CNS to voluntary muscles.
Sympathetic nervous system
The portion of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for energy expenditure.
Temporal lobes
Parts of the brain that specialize in auditory info processing.
Thalamus
Brain structure that serves to integrate and organize nerve impulses passing between parts of the cerebral cortex.
Absolute threshold
The point at which humans can perceive an external stimulus.
Difference threshold
The minimal difference that must exist between two stimuli in order for humans to distinguish a difference between the two.
Feature detectors
Nerve cells of the brain that respond to specific features of a stimulus, such as shape or movement.
Information processing theory
One way in which theorists conceptualize the interactions between sensation and perception. According to this theory, info enters the body (sensation), and then we interpret this info (perception).
Just noticeable difference JND
Difference threshold
Sensory adaptation
Bodily adaptation that involves diminishing sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus as our nerve cells begin to fire less frequently after constant exposure to a stimulus.
Synesthesia
A neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to autonomic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.
Transduction
The process by which external energy becomes neural impulses.
Webers law
Law stating that two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum proportion for a person to perceive the difference.
Amplitude
The height of a sound wave which produces loudness
Cones
Short, fat photoreceptors that taper to a pointed tip; they are responsible for color perception.
Cornea
Clear, curved, outer membrane covering the eye
Fovea
Center point of the retina, where images are focused.
Frequency
The number of times a sound wave repeats itself in a given period of time.
Frequency theory
Theory suggesting that the firing rate of nerve cells matches the frequency of a sound wave which triggers impulses to the brain at the same frequency as the sound wave.
Gate control theory
Theory proposing that the spinal cord contains a neurological gate that either blocks pain or allows pain signals to pass on to the brain to be perceived.
Herings opponent process theory
Theory contending that there are two additional color processes beyond red, blue, and green perception. One responsible for red versus green perception, and one responsible for yellow versus blue perception.
Iris
The ring shaped muscle in the middle of the front of the eye that opens and closes, allowing sunlight to pass through the pupil.
Kinesthesia
The sense of position and movement of body parts in relation to each other.
Lens
A clear structure located behind pupil, which helps focus images by changing shape depending in how far away a viewed object is.
Negative afterimage
Phenomenon that occurs when one stares at a color image and then sees the same image in the opposite colors after shifting ones eyes.
Pheromones
Chemicals produced by an organism as a method of communication through odor to attract other organisms.
Place theory
Theory proposing that we hear different pitches because sound waves trigger different places along the cochlear basilar membrane inside the ear.
Pure sound
Sound that is dominated by single-frequency waves.
Retina
The interior lining of the rear part of the eye, which contains the photoreceptors.
Rods
Slender, elongated, cylinder-shaped photoreceptors that are sensitive to changes in light waves. They are responsible for peripheral vision and night vision.
Timbre
The sharpness of sound.
Young-helm holt theory
Theory suggests that the retina has three types of color receptors. Red, green, and blue.
Binocular cues
Processes of vision that require both eyes.
Bottleneck model
Asserting that we have biological limitations caused by the physical or structural characteristics of our nervous system that control the amount of stimulation we can process.
Capacity model
Operating on the principle that we have psychological limitations that determine the amount if stimulation we can attend.
Clairvoyance
Perception of remote events in time or space, a type of extra sensory perception.
Color constancy
The notion that if we are aware of an objects color, then we will continue to perceive the object as that color despite actual changes in lighting that cause the object to appear a different color.
Connectedness
Perceiving spots, lines, or areas as a single unit when they are uniform and linked in some way.
Continuity
Perceiving smooth continuous patterns rather than discontinuous ones.
Contrast
Ability to differentiate something from the other stimuli around it.
Convergence
A muscular cue that determines the extent to which the eyes turn inward.
Depth perception
Ability to see objects in three dementions. Which allows us to estimate their distance from us.
Mental set
Predisposed way in which we perceive something.
Monocular cues
Process of vision that are obtained by each eye separately.
Orientation
An element of attention through which we position our sense organs to maximize our ability to process stimuli.
Parapsychology
The field that attempts to use scientific methods to study extra sensory perception and additional ways in which human consciousness is claimed to be able to interact with the physical world.
Perception
Processing sensations so that they are understood cognitively.
Perceptual constancy
The ability to see objects as unchanging, even if illumination and retinal image change.
Perceptual set
The phenomenon that occurs when a persons belief or expectation influences his or her perception.
Precognition
Perception of future events, a type of extraordinary perception.
Proximity
Grouping nearby figures together.
Relative size
The assumption that if two objects are similar in size, we perceive the one that casts the smaller image in the retina as farther away.
Retinal disparity
Binocular cue that allows us to determine the distance of an object by the difference in images produced by each eye.
Activation synthesis theory
Snuggest so that random firing of nerves in the brain stem activates part of the cerebral cortex. The cortex then interprets the firings based on stored memories, attempting to make sense do the pattern of neuron firings.
Alpha waves
The type of brain waves that begin during the awake but drowsy stage of sleep cycle.
Automatic processing
Another name for unconscious processing
Conscious processing
The processing of events one at a time, with each receiving our undivided attention.
Controlled processing
Another name for conscious processing
Delta waves
Type of brain waves that increase during stage 3 and become prominent in stage 4 of the sleep cycle.
Dissociation
A state in which two parts of thbrain are functioning concurrently but separately and are not sharing information with one another.
Dyssomnias
Problems related to the amount, time, or quality of sleep.
Activation synthesis theory
The theory suggesting that random firing of nerves in the brain stem activates parts of the cerebral cortex; the cortex then interprets the firings based on stored memories, attempting to make sense of the pattern of neuron firings.
Alpha waves
Brain waves that begin during the awake but drowsy stage of the sleep cycle
Conscious processing
The processing of events one at a time, with each receiving our undivided attention.
Delta waves
Type of brain waves that increase during stage 3 and become prominent in stage 4 of the sleep cycle.
Dissociation
A state in which two parts of the brain are functioning concurrently but separately and aren't sharing info w each other.
Dream anxiety disorder
A sleep disorder marked by frequent and disruptive nightmares
Dyssomnias
Problems related to the amount, time, and quality of sleep.
Night terrors
Episodes of screaming or talking incoherently that occur during the first few hours of sleep, typically during stage 4 sleep.
Parasomnias
Abnormal events that occur during sleep
REM sleep
Stage in sleep in which brain waves and breathing are rapid, significant eye movement occurs, and the body is essentially paralyzed and difficult to arouse.
Unconscious processing
Processing large amounts of info simultaneously, without awareness.
Anhedonia
The feeling that nothing is enjoyable
Cannabinoids
Psychoactive substances that provide mild euphoria, heightened receptive sense of humor, increased appetite, distorted sense of time, and disruptions in logical thinking. Marijuana and hashish.
CNS depressants
Psychoactive substances that slows a persons heart rate, relax muscles, promote sleep, cause social disinhibition, and reduce consciousness. Alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.
De automatization
The process of increasing an individual's awareness of cognitive processes.
Endorphins
Opioid-like substances that exist naturally in the body.
Half life
The rate of breakdown for a substance
Hallucinogens
Psychoactive substances that can increase an individual's awareness of cognitive processes, trigger sensory illusions, and cause synesthesia. LSD and mushrooms.
Korsokoffs syndrome
A disorder similar to Alzheimer's but is caused by long term heavy drinking.
Opiates
Psychoactive substances derived from the poppy plant that reduce pain and the sense of urgency related to biological needs. Heroin, opium, and morphine.
Opioids
Synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of opiates. Methadone.
Solvents
Readily available psychoactive substances that are inhaled to reach an altered state of consciousness. Glue and gasoline
Stimulant
Psychoactive substances that provide energy, exhilaration, talkativeness, and mood elevation and reduced fatigue and appetite. Amphetamines, cocaine, nicotine, and caffeine.
Acquisition
The initial learning of a stimulus-response pattern in response to reinforcement.
Chaining
Several related responses are learned through operant conditioning.
Classical conditioning
The type of learning that occurs when a neutral stimulus us paired with one that elicits an automatic response. Over time, the neutral stimulus comes to elicit the automatic response by itself as the person learns the association.
Conditioned response
The learned response that an organism exhibits in response to a conditioned stimulus.
Conditioned stimulus
A neutral stimulus that is paired with an unconditioned stimulus so that it will eventually produce the same response as the stimulus.
Fixed interval schedule
Reinforcement is provided after a specific period of time.
Fixed ratio schedule
Reinforcement is provided after a specific number of responses
Generalization
the expanding of a stimulus-response pattern to include stimuli that are similar to the initial stimulus
Habituation
A simple form of learning that arises from repeated exposure to a stimulus.
Instinctive drift
When animal reverts back to biologically predisposed patterns after learning patterns that aren't naturally adopted behaviors.
Interval schedule
Reinforcement schedules in which reinforcement is applied after a certain amount of time.
Learning
A durable change in behavior that results from experience
Negative reinforcement
Operant conditioning in which the removal of an adverse stimulus increases the likelihood that an individual will repeat that behavior
Operant conditioning
Type of learning that involves associating behaviors with their consequences and perceiving these consequences as either punishments or rewards
Ratio schedules
Reinforcement based on the number of times a certain behavior is performed
Reinforcer
A change that occurs in an environment following a behavior and increased the likelihood that behavior will be repeated
Shaping
Gradually guiding a person to act a certain way
Successive approximation
Reinforcing an individual for engaging in behaviors that are increasingly similar to the desired behavior.
Variable interval schedule
Reinforcement is provided after varying time periods
Variable ratio schedule
Reinforcement is provided after a fluctuating number of responses
Variable schedule
Reinforcement is provided after differing amounts of time or numbers of behaviors
auditory memory
type of sensory memory that allows us to hear echoes of sounds.
automatic processing
info processing that occurs with little or no effort, happens automatically without awareness, and requires no special attention.
context effect
the ability to recall info best in the environment in which it was learned.
declarative memory
memory that allows us to remember fact or events
echoic memory
another name for auditory memory.
effortful processing
the retention of info that requires effort and attention
encoding
the process of putting info into memory
episodic memory
type o declarative memory that involved remembering events that you experienced personally.
explicit memory
the memory of facts and xperiences that one knows consciously.
flashbulb memories
clear (though not always accurate) memories of significant events.
iconic memory
another name for visual memory
implicit memory
the retrieval of info without conscious awareness.
information processing
the activities of sensing, perceiving, learning, thinking, and remembering.
long-term memory
the nearly limitless amount of info that can be stored for an entire human life.
misinformation effect
phenomenon that occurs when people who have witnessed an event are given inaccurate info regarding the event and then incorporate elements of the misinformation into their recollection of the event.
priming
a type of implicit memory that activates related associations.
proactive interference
phenomenon that occur when previously learned info interferes with the recall of newly learned info.
procedural memory
memory that allows us to remember how to do something.
repression
the alteration or loss of painful or anxiety-provoking memories.
retrieval
the process of extracting info from memory for use.
retrieval cues
cues that provide a reminder for info that we could not access otherwise from memory.
retroactive interference
Phenomenon that occurs when newly learned info interferes with the recall of old info.
semantic memory
type of declarative memory that involves remembering bits of info.
sensory memory
our initial record of sensory info in the memory system, lasting only a very brief period of time.
serial position effect
the ability to recall the first or last piece of a group of info rather than info that is in the middle.
short-term memory
type of memory that involves info that was actively attended to and that lasts for about fifteen to thirty seconds.
spacing effect
the learning of material over time that often enables better long-term retention of info than does cramming.
state dependence
the ability to recall info more readily when we are in the same internal state as when we learned it
visual memory
type of sensor memory that allows us to see traces of images, such as when someone swings a light around in circles.
working memory
another name for short term memory.
arousal phase
the second component of the sexual response cycle, during which breathing, BP, and pulse rate increase, as does the engorgement of the genitals that began during the desire phase.
desire phase
the first component of the sexual response cycle, during which the genital areas are prepared for sex through increased blood flow and lubrication
double-depletion hypothesis
a theory that explains the biological causes o thirst as a combination of intracellular and extracellular processes.
extrinsic motivation
the seeking of achievement to receive reinforcement from others or to avoid punishment
instinct
an innate fixed pattern of behavior in living creatures.
intrinsic motivation
the internal desire for achievement of performance for its own sake or to accomplish a personal goal.
Maslows Hierarchy of needs
Theory developed by Abraham Maslow that attempts to account for various motivations and prioritize the power of needs over behavior.
resolution
the final component of he sexual response cycle, during which the body returns to normal
sensate focus
a technique used to overcome sexual dysfunction that is based on the idea that anxiety related to performance or fear of harm interferes with sexual functioning.
set point
a fixed weigt level toward whih our odies tend due to competition between two opposing processes of the hypothalamus.
Cannon-Bard Theory
proposing that our bodys response begins as we experience emotion, and that does not caused the other.
catharsis
the emotional release or venting of anger.
James-Lange Theory
states we feel emotion after we notice or bodys response
Schachters two-factor theory
stating that emotions are composed of two elements: the physical arousal and the cognitive label.
accommodation
the process of expanding ones schemas to accommodate new info
assimilation
the process of taking a new experience and incorporating it into an existing category, concept, and idea.
concrete operations stage
developmental stage from about age seven through eleven years old in which children begin to think logically about concrete events, grasp concrete analogies, and perform arithmetic operations.
conservation
the idea that a given quantity remains the same despite shape changes
formal operations stage
last stage in cognitive development, lasing from about age twelve through adulthood, which is characterized by the ability to reason abstractly.
preoperational stage
developmental stage from about age two through six years old, in which developing children represent things with words and images but lack logical reasoning.
schemas
concepts that consolidate past experiences and offer a model for understanding future experiences.
sensorimotor stage
developmental stage from birth to about age two, when humans understand their world through interactions such as looking and touching.
aptitude tests
tests that predict the ability to learn new skills
factor approach
an approach to intelligence that exists in people, underlying specific intelligences or abilities that may vary across individuals.
Intelligence Quotient IQ
A single number used to describe an individuals intelligence, origionlly computed by dividing the individuals mental age by his or her chronological age and dividing by 100.
reification
the phenomenon in which an abstract concept is eventually viewed as a reality itself.
linguistic relativity hypothesis
hypothesis put forth by bnjamin whorf that proposed that language determines thought.
morphemes
the smallest elements of language that have meaning
phonemes
a group of elementary sounds
syntax
a set of the rules of language that enable us to communicate
algorithm
a methodical, logical procedure for problem solving.
availability heuristic
heuristic in which people make decisions based upon their most available memories.
confirmation bias
the bias that occurs when humans search for info to confirm or support preconceived ideas.
heuristics
shortcuts to solving problems or "rules of thumb"
mental set
the phenomenon that occurs when a solution that has worked in the past is repeatedly attempted, despite the fact that the solution no longer works or that more efficient solutions exist.
metacogition
"thinking about thinking" in order to improve ones cognitive ability.
prototypes
idealized versions of concepts
representativeness heuristic
heuristic in which an individual relies upon his or her impressions of an ambiguous piece of info and how closely it fits a familiar defined structure.
behavior genetics
the study of how behavioral differences between people relate to biological difference
cognitive development
changes in mental ability such a learning, language, memory, thinking, and reasoning.
concordance
similarity with regard to a given trait
conventional level
the second level of moral development as proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg, during which the rightness of a behavior is determined in the reaction to the approval or disapproval of others and in regards to social conventions.
cross-sectional studies
studies that measure the differences in people at one age or at one time.
longitudinal studies
studies that measure characteristics of individuals over time to see how they change with age.
post conventional level
the third level of moral development as proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg, during which decisions are justified by internalized standards and the common good.
preconventional level
the first level of moral development as proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg during which people determine the rightness of a behavior based on its reward or punishment by society
psychosocial stages
Eight stages of development proposed by
Erik Erickson: each stage involves a specific crisis, and resolution of this crisis will allow an individual to successfully move on to the next stage and develop a new "virtue".
social-emotional development
changes in a persons style of responding, feeling, and reacting to others.
alleles
pairs of genes inherited from ones parents, with one gene coming from the father and one from the mother.
alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test
A diagnostic test in which a blood sample is taken from the mother during the sixteenth to eighteenth week of pregnancy and screened for the amount of AFP present; high amounts ma indicate the possibility of birth defects.
Authoritarian parenting
Parenting style in which parents dictate rules and expect compliance without explanation or reasoning and without encouraging open discussion of issues.
Authoritative parenting
Parenting style in which parents impose rules but explain the reasoning for them and encourage open discussion.
Crystallized Intelligence
Accumulated knowledge
embryonic stage
the period of human prenatal development from the third week to the ninth week.
Fetal stage
the period of human prenatal development from
fetoscopy
A diagnostic test in which a tiny camera lens is inserted into the uterus to visualize the fetus or take a fetal blood sample.
fluid intelligence
the ability to reason abstractly and speedily
Generativity
The process of being individually productive while simultaneously being supportive of others.
genotypes
The genetic patterns of alleles that cannot be seen.
Germinal Stage
The period of human prenatal development from conception through the second week.
heterozygous
Term describing two different alleles
Homozygous
Term describing two identical alleles
Menarche
A females menstrual period
object permanence
An awareness that object exist even when out of view.
permissive parenting
Parenting style in which parents acquiesce to their child's demands, make few requirements of the child, and rarely if ever use punishment.
phenotypes
The observable traits of a person, such as hair or eye color.
Rejecting-neglecting parenting
Parenting style in which parents are not involved in their child's life, expect little from the child, and devote little of their own time and effort to rearing the child.
teratogens
Influences, such as chemicals or viruses, that cause physical defects in developing embryo.
umbilical cord assessment
A diagnostic test in which samples of blood from the umbilical cord are taken to examine liver function and other fetal bodily functions that are not measurable by other means.
Anal Stage
Freud's second stage of psychosexual maturation, which involves the task of becoming toilet trained during the years two and three.
archetypes
spiritual symbols that appear in many different cultures.
behaviorism
branch of psychology founded on the notion that observable behavior is the only appropriate focus of psychology.
displacement
ego defense mechanism that involves shifting negative feelings to "safer" targets
electra complex
the phenomenon in human development that occurs anywhere from ages three to five when girls develop a bond with their father and develop a fear of or rivalry with their mother.
genital stage
Freud's psychosexual maturation when children begin to form adult sexual desires and interests. Sexual identity begins.
humanistic theories
theories of personality that focus on the subjective experiences of people striving for meaning and growth.
id
strives to gain immediate gratification without concern for its cost of effect on others
identification
ego defense mechanism that involves reducing moral anxiety by aligning self with a valued person, goal or cause.
introjection
ego defense mechanism that involves reducing anxiety by adopting values and standards of important others.