3. Structuralism
Structuralism is an early
school of psychology
that uses introspection.
Introspection is
“looking inward” into
the soul, and in the
photo I am looking
inward to look at the
structure of my house.
5. Naturalistic
Observation
Bandit enjoys sitting on
the porch, watching
people walk by. Bandit
is observing walkers in
their natural
environment without
interfering with how
they behave.
Walkers
6. Case Study
Case studies are a
research method used
in one-of-a-kind cases.
This glass chicken is
one-of-a-kind, as the
box it came in
described that no two
are exactly alike.
8. Axon
An axon is a channel
that sends electrical
currents to send a
message. This person
is the action potential
that travels down the
axon and the brick
walls are the axon.
9. Myelin Sheath
The myelin sheath
surrounds an axon to
speed up neural
impulses by letting the
impulse bounce across
the axon. While
jumping on a pogo
stick, you can bounce
across the driveway
without having to step
on every part of it.
13. Cerebellum
The cerebellum is the
part of the brain that
coordinates balance.
When riding a bike, the
cerebellum maintains
balance so you don’t
fall off the bike.
14. Amygdala
The amygdala is the
part of the brain that
controls fear. I hate
bugs, especially
ants, but my house is
currently infested with
an ant population.
Whenever I see one I
get afraid, making my
amygdala active.
15. Corpus Callosum
The cream in this
cookie connects the
two halves of the Oreo.
The corpus callosum
connects the two
halves of the brain.
16. Plasticity
Plasticity is the ability
of the brain to regrow
pathways after
damage. When leaves
die in the winter (like
brain damage), new
flowers grow in the
spring (new pathways).
18. Delta Waves
Delta waves are slow
waves that occur
during deep sleep.
When the wind is
calm, the water in the
pool cover has
large, slow waves in it.
19. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is the
inability to fall/stay
asleep. Bandit has
trouble staying asleep
because he wakes up
and looks around
whenever he hears a
noise.
20. Latent Dream
Content
Latent dream content
is the underlying
meaning of a dream. In
my room, the floor is
hidden from sight
because it lays under
piles of clothes. It
remains hidden, but is
still the base of the
room (like latent
dream content is the
base of the dream).
21. Dissociation
Dissociation is the
ability of the mind to
have a split in
conscious, to think
about two things at
once. This tree is split
shows that there is one
base (like the mind)
that can have multiple
branches with different
leaves growing
(different thoughts).
23. Teratogens
Teratogens are harmful
agents that can harm a
baby in the womb.
Weeds are harmful to
the other plants
growing around
them, as the weeds can
take the nutrients that
the other plants need
for proper
development.
24. Sensorimotor
Stage
The sensorimotor stage
is a stage of
development for babies
in which babies take in
the world around them
by their movements. In
soccer, the players
must be constantly
thinking of the players
around them, and focus
on their body
movements to make a
good play.
25. Theory of Mind
A theory of mind
enables you to
understand that others
are not thinking the
same thing as you.
When playing chess, it
is important to use a
theory of mind to think
of what your
opponent’s next move
will be.
26. Imprinting
Imprinting occurs in
birds, when, after they
hatch, they will follow
the first thing they see.
Bandit’s shadow
follows him around
wherever he goes, like
birds will follow what
they imprint on.
30. Difference
Threshold
A difference threshold
is the amount of
change needed for a
difference to be
detected. In the
dimmer of the light, the
level of light was
changed enough for it
to be perceived.
31. Transduction
Transduction is the
changing of one form
of energy into another.
When making
pancakes, the batter is
changed into a
different form by
becoming a fluffy
pancake.
33. Accomodation
Accomodation is
changing the shape of
the lens to focus on
what you are looking
at. When putting on a
sock, the shape of it
changes to perfectly fit
your foot.
34. Cones
Cones are the
structures in the eye
that function in
daylight and capture
color. These sun
catchers only function
in the daylight, as they
need sun in order to
stream light into the
house. Also, cones
process the striking
blue and yellow colors.
35. Place Theory
The place theory states
that the pitch
perceived depends on
where the sound wave
hits the cochlea. When
playing the piccolo, the
keys that are pressed
likewise determine the
pitch of the note.
36. Kinesthesis
Kinesthesis is the ability
to sense body position
and movement.
Weathervanes similarly
show when it is windy
and the position that
the wind is blowing.
38. Classical
Conditioning
Classical conditioning is
a type of learning in
which one learns how
two stimuli are linked.
Bandit has been
classically conditioned
to learn that the ringing
of the doorbell means
that a visitor is here.
39. Discrimination
Discrimination is a type
of classical conditioning
in which to stimuli are
not linked. Both items
are toys, but
discrimination has
occurred when it is
learned that the orange
toy squeaks and the
football does not.
43. Fixed-Ratio
Schedule
In this
schedule, reinforcemen
t occurs after you
complete a set number
of responses. When
doing math
homework, you can be
reinforced (the
satisfaction of being
done) only when
completing the
assigned problems.
48. Proactive
Interference
In proactive
interference, old
information blocks you
from remembering new
information. When you
get a new schedule at
the beginning of the
school year, it may be
difficult to remember
because last year’s
schedule sticks out in
your head.
49. Hippocampus
The hippocampus is the
part of the brain that
puts memory into its
proper place of
storage. Fine
cabinets, like the
hippocampus, put
papers into their
proper folders and
locations where they
can remain long-term.
50. Implicit Memory
An implicit memory is a
memory that does not
need conscious
awareness to do. It is
usually a well-learned
task, such as writing.
When you are
writing, you do not
need to consciously
remember how to do it.
51. Chunking
Chunking is a memory
aid that puts
information into
meaningful groups.
When learning a phone
number, it is easier to
remember the number
if it spells out a
meaningful word rather
than random digits.
53. g
The g factor is an
underlying factor of
intelligence that all
intelligence is based on.
The insulation of a
house, like the g
factor, underlies the
entire house and is the
base of how the house
stands.
54. Factor Analysis
Factor analysis is a way
of organizing
information into
clusters on tests. On a
computer, documents
of varying subjects can
be placed together into
similar groups, like
factor analysis
combines questions
based on their subjects
and similarities..
55. Savant
Syndrome
Savant syndrome is
when a person of
limited mental ability
has one area that
stands out. In this
bouquet, all the flowers
are normal. The one
yellow flower stands
out, like the talent of a
person with this
syndrome.
56. Gardner
Gardner came up with
the theory of multiple
intelligences, 8 total.
An octave on a piano
also has 8 keys; the
octave is the
intelligence, and the
keys are the subtypes.
One of the subtypes is
musical.
58. Standardization
Standardization is the
process of defining
scores based on a
pretested group’s
scores. When creating
a handicap for golf
(average number of
strokes in 18 holes), the
player must play
multiple rounds before
coming up with the
meaningful handicap
score.
59. Content Validity
Content validity is the
extent to which a test
covers all relevant
information. When
making a peanut butter
sandwich, you want to
make sure that it
covers the entire piece
of bread (the whole
range of the topic)
rather than only one
area (one specific topic
and not including the
rest).
60. Split-Half
Reliability
This reliability states
that the scores of two
halves of a test should
be consistent.
Likewise, if one eats
half a sleeve of thin
mints, the cookies
would be reliable if the
other half tastes just as
good.
61. Test-Retest
Reliability
This reliability ensures
that if a test is taken
multiple time by the
same person, it will
give consistent results.
Recipes have test-
retest reliability
if, every time the recipe
is made, the food
comes out the same.
64. Set Point
A person’s set point is
their normal weight. A
thermostat shows the
house’s standard
temperature. When
the house gets too
cold, the thermostat
will signal for the heat
to turn on.
Likewise, when weight
gets too low, the body
gets hungry.
65. Basal Metabolic
Rate
This is the rate that the
body uses energy when
at rest. An iPhone
charger uses a certain
amount of energy
when plugged in, but
not being used.
66. Optimal Arousal
Theory
This theory states that
we satisfy the need for
a certain level of
arousal by engaging in
fun activities. I reach
optimal arousal when I
create artwork.
68. James-Lange
TOE
This theory of emotion
states that
physiological arousal
causes emotion. When
playing piano, the
stimulus of pressing a
key creates the
hammer to move up
(physiological), which
causes a sound to come
out (response).
69. Cannon-Bard
TOE
This theory of emotion
states that a stimulus
causes physiological
arousal and emotion to
occur simultaneously.
In a water filter, the
stimulus of pressing for
water makes a light
turn on and water
come out
simultaneously.
70. Schachter’s Two-
Factor TOE
This theory states that
psysiological arousal
and a cognitive label
create emotion. When
about to race, sweating
and the label “I’m
about to race!” create
an emotion of
nervousness.
71. Facial Feedback
Facial feedback is the
ability of facial
expression to influence
emotion. This effect
can be seen in a two-in-
one bottle opener.
When the shape of the
opener is changed
(facial expression), it
can perform different
actions (emotions).
73. Adaptation-Level
Phenomenon
The adaptation-level
phenomenon states
that we perceive things
based off of something
neutral. Tap water has
a neutral
temperature, which we
are accustomed to.
The ice water seems
very cold because we
compare it to the
tap, and the boiling
water is extremely hoy
compared to the tap.
74. Relative
Deprivation
When we experiences
relative deprivation, we
perceive our situation
as being worse when
compared to others. I
thought my room was
pretty clean, until I saw
the guest bedroom
which made my room
look like a mess.
75. Type A
People with type A
personalities get
agitated very easily at
little things.
Similarly, smoke alarms
will be set off because
of small traces of
smoke, such as from
burnt cookies.
76. Type B
People with type B
personalities are very
relaxed. Bandit is very
calm and does not get
mad easily. He doesn’t
even mind being blow-
dried after baths
because he is very easy-
going.
78. Id
The id is the part of the
mind that wants
gratification, even if it
is dangerous. Junk
food can give us a lot of
gratification because it
tastes so good, but it is
not good for our
health.
79. Superego
The superego is the
part of the mind that
protects us with good
judgments. Fruit is
good for us, and will
avoid harm, like the
superego does.
80. External Locus of
Control
People with this locus
of control believe that
their lived are
controlled by outside
forces. iPhones have
an external locus of
control, because their
actions are controlled
by the user (an outside
force).
81. Internal Locus of
Control
People with this locus
of control believe that
they control their own
actions and fates.
Driving a car
demonstrates
this, because your
actions determine what
way the car will move.