Download Questions and answers, Psychology Exam Review Sheet: Key Concepts and Theories and more Exercises Psychology in PDF only on Docsity!
12 Questions with answers on final-exam-
review-sheetpdf
You'll find the list of questions at the end of the document
- What is the difference between structuralism and functionalism in psychology?
Structuralism focuses on identifying the basic building blocks of mental life and how they combine to form whole experiences. Functionalism, on the other hand, emphasizes how mental and behavioral processes function to enable organisms to adapt to their environment.
- Explain the biopsychosocial model and its significance in understanding human behavior.
The biopsychosocial model proposes that human health and behavior are influenced by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Biological factors include genetics, physiology, and physical health. Psychological factors encompass thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Social factors involve cultural norms, socioeconomic status, and interpersonal relationships. This model is significant because it provides a holistic framework for understanding the complex interplay of factors that contribute to human behavior and well-being, rather than focusing solely on one aspect.
- Describe the process of action potential, detailing the roles of the axon, dendrites, myelin sheath, and terminal branches.
Action potential is the rapid sequence of changes in the voltage across a nerve cell membrane. Dendrites receive signals from other neurons, and if the signal is strong enough, it triggers an action potential in the axon. The myelin sheath, a fatty substance that surrounds the axon, speeds up the transmission of the signal. Finally, the terminal branches release neurotransmitters into the synapse to pass the message on to the next neuron.
- Differentiate between norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, highlighting their primary functions.
Norepinephrine plays a role in learning, dreaming, and waking from sleep. Epinephrine is involved in metabolism and emotional arousal. Dopamine is associated with attention and movement. Serotonin is involved in sensory perception, temperature regulation, and pain suppression. GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, reducing neuronal excitability throughout the nervous system.
- Explain the difference between sensation and perception, and provide an example of how sensory adaptation occurs.
Sensation is the initial detection of physical stimuli by sensory receptor cells, which then send a message to the brain. Perception is the brain's process of assigning meaning and interpreting what it senses. Sensory adaptation occurs when a stimulus is repeatedly presented, leading to a decreased response over time. For example, when you first enter a room with a strong odor, you notice it immediately, but after a while, you become less aware of it.
- What are the benefits and drawbacks of using naturalistic observation as a research method in psychology?
Naturalistic observation offers the benefit of observing behavior in a realistic setting, making the findings more generalizable. It is also relatively affordable and can detect patterns of behavior. However, it has drawbacks such as the inability to manipulate or control variables, making it difficult to establish cause-and-effect relationships. There is also a risk of observer bias, where the researcher's expectations can influence their observations.
- Explain the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning, providing a clear example of each.
Classical conditioning is learning by association, where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a naturally occurring stimulus, eliciting a conditioned response. An example is Pavlov's experiment, where a bell (neutral stimulus) was paired with food (naturally occurring stimulus), eventually causing the dog to salivate (conditioned response) at the sound of the bell alone. Operant conditioning, on the other hand, is learning by consequence, where behaviors are strengthened or weakened based on their outcomes. An example is giving a child a reward (positive reinforcement) for completing their homework, which increases the likelihood of them doing their homework in the future.
- Describe the four schedules of reinforcement in operant conditioning and explain how they influence behavior.
The four schedules of reinforcement are fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, and variable interval. Fixed ratio reinforcement provides reinforcement after a specific number of responses. Variable ratio reinforcement provides reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses. Fixed interval reinforcement provides reinforcement after a specific amount of time has passed. Variable interval reinforcement provides reinforcement after an unpredictable amount of time has passed. Variable ratio schedules tend to produce the highest rates of responding because the reinforcement is unpredictable, leading to persistent behavior.
- Explain the three stages of memory processing and how information flows between them.
The three stages of memory processing are encoding, storage, and retrieval. Encoding is the initial learning process where sensory input is received and transformed into a neural code. Storage involves maintaining the encoded information over time, either in short-term or long-term memory. Retrieval is the process of accessing the stored information and
12 Questions on final-exam-review-sheetpdf
What is the difference between structuralism and functionalism in psychology?
Explain the biopsychosocial model and its significance in understanding human behavior.
Describe the process of action potential, detailing the roles of the axon, dendrites, myelin sheath, and terminal branches.
Differentiate between norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, highlighting their primary functions.
Explain the difference between sensation and perception, and provide an example of how sensory adaptation occurs.
What are the benefits and drawbacks of using naturalistic observation as a research method in psychology?
Explain the difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning, providing a clear example of each.
Describe the four schedules of reinforcement in operant conditioning and explain how they influence behavior.
Explain the three stages of memory processing and how information flows between them.
What is functional fixedness, and how can it hinder problem-solving abilities? Provide an example.
What is the difference between anorexia nervosa and bulimia?
Explain panic attacks, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
