Origins of psychology When did it begin as a science 1879

Origins of psychology

When did it begin as a science? 1879

* • What is an empirical question?

* • Nature vs. nurture

ABC’s of Psychology – what does each letter stand for?

Historical perspectives – what are the key features of each?

* • Structuralism

* • Functionalism

* • Psychoanalytic

* • Behaviorism

Modern perspectives – what are the key features of each?

* • Humanism (Positive)

* • Cognitive

* • Biopsychological (Neuroscience)

* • Sociocultural

* • Evolutionary

Types of professionals in psychology – what are the differences?

* • Psychologist vs. psychiatrist vs. psychiatric social worker

Areas of specialization in psychology – know what each covers, in general

* • Developmental

* • Social

* • Educational

* • Health

* • Physiological

* • Experimental

* • Cognitive

* • Psychometrics

* • Abnormal

Study skills

* • What are the basics?

Critical thinking

* • What does it involve?

Scientific method

* • Why do we use it?

* • What are the five steps?

* • Know these terms:

* o Hypothesis

* o Variables

* o Operational definition

Conducting research

* o Descriptive methods – know the key features, what each is used for, its benefits and drawbacks

* o Natural observation

* Observer effect

* Participant observation

* o Laboratory observation

* o Case Study

* o Survey

* Self-report and social desirability

* Representative sample – what does this mean?

Correlations – define these terms and be ready to apply these concepts to situations

* • Positive, negative, no correlation

* • Correlation coefficient – what is the range of possible numbers?

* • What’s the big warning about correlations?

Experimental methods – understand these terms and identify them in situations

* • Variables: Independent and dependent – know the difference

* • Groups – how do they differ?

* o Experimental

* o Control

* • Problems & Solutions

* o Experimenter bias

* o Placebo effect

* o Random assignment

* o Single-blind and double-blind studies

Ethics in research – basic guidelines

* • Human subjects

* • Animals

Neuroscience is the study of what?

Neurons – what are they?

* • Name the different parts

* o How they look, what they do

* • Types – what does each type do?

* o Sensory, motor, interneurons

* • Terminology - know these

* o Resting/Action potential

* o Synapse

* o Reuptake

* o Reflex arc

Glia: the other brain cells

* • What is their role?

Neurotransmitters

* • Recognize the names

* • What do they do?

Neural communication

* • Electrical impulse travels down the neuron’s axon through a series of action potentials

* • When the impulse reaches the axon ending, the message becomes chemical

* • Neurotransmitters are released into the synapse

* • They are received through specific receptor sites in the post-synaptic neuron

* • This continues through a long string of neurons until the message reaches its destination, the brain or other organs or muscles

The Nervous System

* • Central NS (name the 2 parts)

* • Peripheral NS (covers what parts of the body?)

* o Somatic NS

* Sensory pathway

* Motor pathway

* o Autonomic NS

* Sympathetic division– handles stress

* Parasympathetic division

Endocrine system

* • Major glands (recognize the names)

* • Hormones (recognize the names)

* o How are hormones released?

* o How does this differ from neurotransmitters?

The Brain – what are its jobs?

* • Cortex

* o What are the wrinkles called?

* o Why is it wrinkly?

* • Corpus collosum – what is this?

* • Lobes – know generally where these are

* o Occipital

* o Parietal

* o Temporal

* o Frontal

* • Left and right hemispheres – what are their different responsibilities?

* • Imaging – technology allows us to see inside the living brain using non-invasive procedures

* • Concussion – define

* o What sorts of reactions do the brain and body have