PY 200 Study Guide

Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW (WITH BOOK PAGE NO.)

THE SUBFIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY (Know at least 4 and what they study)
Behavioral Neuroscience 4
Study of genetic and developmental mechanisms of behavior.
Experimental Psychology 4
Utilizes scientific methods to research the mind and behavior.
Developmental Psychology 4
Scientific study of changes that occur in human beings over the course of
time.
Clinical Psychology 5
Science, theory, and practice to understand, predict, and alleviate
maladjustment, disability and discomfort as well as promote human adaption
and personal development.
Social Psychology 5
Evolutionary Psychology 6
Behavioral Genetics 6
Clinical Neuropsychology 6
A SCIENCE EVOLVES 7-15
The Roots of Psychology 8-10 (Name two influential psychologists and what they
contributed,e.g.,Wundt and introspection or Skinner and behaviorism)
Fraud Unconcious Mind, Bacon Experimental Method
Know what these perspectives cover and how they look at behavior.
The Neuroscience Perspective 11-12
Physical and biological aspects of the brain and nervous system.
The Psychodynamic Perspective 12
Behavior comes from unconscious drives
The Behavioral Perspective 12
Focuses on our observable behaviors
The Cognitive Perspective 12
How we think or encode information
The Humanistic Perspective 12-13
Focuses on positive growth

THE RESEARCH PROCESS IN PSYCHOLOGY 15-21

Be able to explain the Scientific Method 15-16
Approach used by psychologist to systematically acquire knowledge and understanding
about behavior and other areas of interest.

Know the difference between a theory and a hypothesis

Theories: Broad Explanations 16
Hypotheses: Testable Predictions 16-17
Psychological Research Methods 17 (Be able to describe at least 3 of these methods)
Descriptive Research 17
Archival Research 17
Existing data such as documents
Naturalistic Observation 17
An investigator observes naturally occurring behavior
Survey Research 17
Group of people surveryed about behavioral thoughts or attitudes
The Case Study 18
Correlational Research 18-19
Experimental Research 19
Know the difference between experimental Groups and Control Groups 19-20

CHAPTER 2
NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW (WITH BOOK PAGE NO.)

NEURONS: THE BASIC UNITS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 33-38
Describe the structure of the neuron and its parts. 33-34
Basic elements of the nervous sytem. Fibers that receive messages from
other neurons.
Describe the all-or-none law of neural transmission, the resting state, and action
potential of the neuron.
Neurons are either on or off
Negative electrical charge inside a neuron
Electrical nerve impulse that travels through axon when set off by trigger
Name two neurotransmitters 37-38
Exhitatory, Inhibitory

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: LINKING NEURONS 38-43

Know the main parts of the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems 39-41
including the central and the peripheral, the autonomic and somatic, and the
sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM: HORMONES AND GLANDS 43

Name at least three glands and what they control
Pituitary- produce hormones with diverse actions
Pineal- makes melatonin
Adrenal- makes hormones that meditate bodies response to stress

THE BRAIN 43-54

What are the parts of the Central Core: Our Old Brain 45-47
The lymbric system: Controls a variety of funtions including emotions and
self preservation. Includes amcadala, hipocomus
What are the parts of the Cerebral Cortex: Our New Brain 47-49
Cerebral Cortex: Provides ability to think and make judgements. Lobesfrontal, paretial, temporal, Occipital
What is meant by left brain/right brain? 50-51
The left and right symmetrical halves control different characteristics
Describe Biofeedback and what its used for 53
Procedure in which a person learns to control internal physcological
processes through conscious thought.