Empirical             Theory                               Hypothesis

Replication           Statistics                           Double-Blind Design

Standard Deviation                                         Inferential Statistic

Operational Definition                                    

 1. What makes psychology a science?

 2. What were the contributions of Wundt, James, Hall, Skinner, Freud, Maslow and Rogers?

 3. How is research conducted using the scientific method?

 4. Be able to identify the independent and dependent variables, as well as experimental and control   groups in research examples.

 5. Be able to identify the different types of research, along with their strengths and weaknesses.

 6. Be able to interpret the strength and direction of a correlation.

 7. What are the basic ethical principles guiding psychological research?

 8. Be able to identify the mean, median, and mode.

 9. What is the relationship between a population and a sample in research?

10. Be familiar with potential biases in research, and ways to prevent them.

                                 

Unit II Study Guide

Phenotype/Genotype

1. Name the parts of a neuron and know the function of each part.

2. Know the process involved in an action potential, and know how a neuron fires.

3. Know the processes that occur in the synapse as neurotransmitters are released at the axons and picked up by the dendrites.

4. Know the function of each gland in the endocrine system.

5. Be familiar with the differences between MRI, CT, PET, and EEG.

6. Know the parts and function of each branch of the nervous system.

7. Know the parts and functions of each area of the brain.

8. Understand the concepts of contralateral arrangement and lateralization.

9. Be familiar with the structure of genes, and the types of research methods used to study genetic influence.

Learning                 Shaping                  Higher-order Conditioning

Law of Effect           Working Memory     Script

Schema                  Chunking                Circadian Rhythm

1. Be able to define and identify CS, UCS, CR, UCR

2. Understand the concepts of stimulus discrimination and generalization and how they apply to both classical and operant conditioning.

3. What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?

4. What are the options for arranging the CS and UCS together in time.

5. Be familiar with the key components of classical and operant conditioning, as well as observational learning.

6. How does extinction work in classical and operant conditioning?

7. Define and be able to identify positive and negative reinforcement and punishment.

8. What are the various reinforcement schedules, and their advantages and disadvantages?

9. What is the difference between primary and secondary reinforcers?

10. Identify the three main processes in memory.

11. Describe the purpose, capacity and duration for sensory, short-term, and long term memory.

12. What are the reasons for forgetting?

13. Be familiar with the levels of processing theory and how it impacts memory.

14. What is the Atkinson-Shiffrin model of memory?

15. Be familiar with each of the current theories of memory, and the proposed memory systems.

16. What factors can impact the accuracy of memory?

17. What is the difference between recall, recognition, and relearning?

18. Be familiar with Ebbinghaus’ forgetting curve.

19. Be familiar with the physiological underpinnings of memory.

Unit IV Study Guide

Important Terms:

Longitudinal research              Cross-sectional research

Primary process thinking         Secondary process thinking

Attachment                             Centration

Object Permanence                 Egocentrism

Conservation                           Reciprocal determinism       Self-efficacy

Important Concepts:

1. Be familiar with the stages of prenatal development.

2. Be familiar with the risks and effects of the various terotogens.

3. Be familiar with the principles guiding motor development, and the influence of culture on motor development.

4. Be able to identify different temperaments from examples.

5. Be able to identify different attachment styles from examples.

6. Be able to identify the major tasks of Erickson’s theory from examples.

7. Be familiar with the characteristics and age ranges of each of Piaget’s stage, and be able to identify them from examples.

8. Be familiar with the characteristics of each of Kohlberg’s stages and be able to identify them from examples.

9. Be familiar with each of the processes that can occur with identity development.

10.  Be familiar with the developmental stages of marriage.

11.  Be able to identify from examples Super’s stages of vocational development.

12.  Be familiar with changes that occur with intelligence and memory with aging.

13.  Be familiar with the components of the Big 5 personality traits.

14.  Be familiar with Freud’s theory, including id, ego, superego, defense mechanisms, and the psychosexual stages of development. Be able to identify these from examples.

15.  Be familiar with the kinds of models Bandura  states that we are most likely to learn from.

16.  Be familiar with the conditions Rogers says are related to self-actualization.

17.  Be familiar with the levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

18.  Be familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of each of the theories of personality.

19.  Be familiar with Eysenck’s theory of higher-order traits.

20.  Be familiar with current areas of study in personality theory.

21.  Be familiar with how evolution plays a role in personality development.

Unit V Study Guide

 

Important Terms:

Diagnosis                          Prognosis                                  Etiology

Prevalence                        Biological Preparedness                  Hallucination

Delusion                            Obsession                                  Compulsion

Transference

Important Concepts:

1. Be familiar with the medical model of treating mental illness, and changes that it brought in treatment; as well as Szaz’s criticism of the model.

2. Be able to identify from examples characteristics of mental illness.

3. Be familiar with common myths surrounding mental illness.

4. Be familiar with each of the axes of the DSM-IV.

5. Be familiar with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, phobic disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and dissociative disorders. Be able to identify each from examples.

6. Be familiar with the neurotransmitters most closely related to the anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia.

7. What is the role of conditioning in the development and maintenance of phobias?

8. Be familiar with the differences between unipolar and bipolar mood disorders.

9. Be familiar with the different types of unipolar and bipolar mood disorders.

10. Be familiar with the theories of depression of Seligman, and Nolen-Hoeksema.

11.  Be able to identify different subtypes of schizophrenia from examples.

12.  Be familiar with the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

13.  Be familiar with the three major groupings of personality disorders; and be able to recognize signs of antisocial, obsessive compulsive, and borderline personality disorder.

14.  Be familiar with the concepts of insanity and involuntary commitment.

15.  Be familiar with the differences between insight, behavioral, and biomedical treatments.

16.  What are the main techniques used in psychoanalytic therapy?

17.  What conditions does Rogers say are important to promoting congruence?

18.  Be familiar with the cognitive therapy approaches.

19.  Be familiar with the research on therapy effectiveness.

20.  Be familiar with behavioral therapy techniques, including systematic desensitization, aversive conditioning, as well as what disorders they are most effectively used to treat.

21.  Be familiar with common antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, their methods of action, and their side effects.

22.  Be familiar with ECT and its effects.

23.  Be familiar with issues surrounding managed care, and current trends in psychotherapy.

24.  Be familiar with deinstitutionalization, including advantages and disadvantages.

Unit VI Study Guide

Important Terms:

Biopsychosocial model                      

Frustration                                           

Conflict                                                

Pressure

Important Concepts:

1. What is the relationship between the various types of stressors and health?

2. What role does the appraisal process play in understanding the effects of stress?

3. Be familiar with the three classes of conflict and be able to identify each from examples.

4. Be familiar with Hans Selye’s model for the stress response, including all three stages he describes.

5. What parts of the brain and nervous system are involved in the stress response?

6. What chemicals and hormones are related to the stress response?

7. What is coping, and what are the best methods available for constructive, or adaptive coping?

8. Why are some diseases considered to be psychosomatic?

9. What are the typical characteristics of Type A and Type B personalities? How are these characteristics related to illness?

10.  What is the relationship between stress and immune system functioning?

11.  What role does social support play in understanding stress and health?

12.  Be familiar with the various stress moderators.

13.  Be familiar with the various types of risky behavior associated with HIV                                    transmission.

14.  What are the reasons that education is not enough to stop the transmission of  HIV?

15.  How do the studies on stress and health in this chapter relate to the themes of psychology outlined at the beginning of the course?