General Psychology_Midterm Study Guide
Chapter 1: Research
Overarching Themes
Attitudes
Metacognition
Attribution
Goals Of Psychology
Description
Explanation
Prediction
Control
Perspectives Of Psychology
Behaviorism
Cognitive Psychology
Sociocultural
Biopsycosocial
Evolutionary Psychology
Research Methods
Construct & Operational Definition
Naturalistic Observation
Case Study
Correlational Method
Survey Method
Experimental Method
Independent Variable
Dependent Variable
Experimental & Control Groups
Reason for causation
Placebo Effect
Chapter 5: Learning
Chapter 6: Memory
Big picture understanding of the ideas of behaviorist
theories
Definition of Memory
Levels-of-Processing Model
Classical Conditioning
General definition and understanding
Pavlov’s Famous Experiment w/dogs
UCS, UCR, CS, CR
Acquisition
Compare and contrast Classical Conditioning &
Operant Conditioning
Processes of Memory
Encoding
Storage
Retrieval
Operant Conditioning
B.F. Skinner’s contributions and research methods
Principles of Operant Conditioning
Reinforcement
Punishment
Positive, negative Punishment
Positive, negative Reinforcement
Cognitive Learning Theories
A big picture understanding of the ideas behind
cognitive learning theories
Latent Learning (Tolman)
Insight (Kohler)
Learned Helplessness (Seligman)
Information Processing Model
Sensory Memory
Iconic
Echoic
Selective Attention
Short Term Memory
Long-Term Memory
Procedural (Implicit)
Declarative (Explicit)
i) Semantic
ii) Episodic
Encoding
Chunking
Maintenance Rehearsal
Elaboration Rehearsal
Retrieval
Recall
Recognition
Encoding Specificity
Serial Position Effect
Primacy Effect
Recency Effect
Reconstruction
Constructive Processing
Misinformation Effect
Hindsight Bias
Chapter 2: Biological
Perspective
The Nervous System
General definition and understanding
Central Nervous System
Brain
Spinal Cord
Peripheral Nervous System
Autonomic
Somatic
Parasympathetic
Sympathetic
Components of the Neuron
Soma
Dendrites
Axon
Myelin
Synaptic Knob
Components of Communication
Action Potential
Neurotransmitters
Synapse
Receptor Sites
Reuptake
Brain Structure/Function
Hindbrain, Limbic System, Cortex
Medulla, Cerebellum, Frontal Lobe,
Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Occipital
Lobe, Somtosensory Cortex, Motor
Cortex, Thalamus, Hypothalamus,
Amygdala, Hippocampus
Chapter 3 : Sensation and
Perception
General understanding of what
sensation is
Understanding of what transduction is
Chemical Senses: Taste
Big picture of the sensation of taste
Taste buds/receptor cells (where they
are and how they work)
Chemical Senses: Smell
How smell works
Cilia and receptor cells
Olfactory bulbs
Explanation for why we “taste” more
when we are able to smell
Structure of the Eye
Know the function and structure of:
Cornea, Iris, Pupil, Lens, Retina, Rods
and Cones
Know the function of bipolar neurons
and ganglion cells
Know the reason for the blind spot
Perception
Definition and general understanding
Perceptual expectancy
Top-Down Processing
Bottom-Up Processing
Gestalt Psychology
Big Picture
Figure-ground, Proximity, Similarity,
Closure, Continuity
Chapter 7: Cognitive
Definition of Cognition
Tools
Mental Images
Concepts
Prototypes
Definition of Problem Solving
Facilitation of Problem Solving
Heuristics
Insight
Creativity
Convergent Thinking
Divergent Thinking
Barriers to Problem Solving
Functional Fixedness
Mental Sets
Confirmation Bias
Chapter 8 Developmental
Piaget’s Cognitive Development
Sensorimotor
o Object Permanence
Preoperational
o Centration
Concrete Operations
Formal Operations