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General Psychology 1001: Final Mind Map Amel Perovic EMPLID:24554183 -…
General Psychology 1001: Final Mind Map Amel Perovic EMPLID:24554183
Learning
Classical Conditioning (Pavlov): Associating neutral stimulus with a meaningful one (e.g., a bell predicting food), leading to a learned response.
Operant Conditioning (Skinner): Behavior shaped by reinforcement (rewards) and punishment. Positive reinforcement increases a behavior; punishment decreases it.
Observational Learning (Bandura): We learn by watching others, especially if they’re rewarded — demonstrated in the Bobo doll experiment.
Research Methods
Independent vs. Dependent Variables: The independent variable is what the researcher changes; the dependent variable is the outcome measured.
Correlation vs. Causation: Correlation shows a relationship between two variables but doesn't prove one causes the other. For example, ice cream sales and drowning rates may correlate, but hot weather is the real cause influencing both.
Experimental Design: Involves manipulating one variable (independent variable) to observe its effect on another (dependent variable). For example, testing how sleep affects memory recall.
Control Groups & Random Assignment: Crucial to reduce bias and ensure valid results.
Perception
Depth & Motion Perception: Binocular cues (like retinal disparity) and monocular cues (like linear perspective) help us judge distance and movement.
Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Processing: Top-down uses expectations/experience to interpret sensory data; bottom-up builds perception from raw input.
Perceptual Organization: Gestalt principles explain how we group visual information — proximity, similarity, closure, continuity.
Social Psychology
Conformity (Asch Study): People will conform to group pressure, even if the group is clearly wrong.
Obedience (Milgram Study): People follow authority, even to disturbing extents.
Social Roles (Zimbardo Prison Study): People adapt to roles quickly; behavior can be shaped by situational demands more than personality.
Implicit Bias: Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect understanding, actions, and decisions.
Memory
Encoding, Storage, Retrieval: Memory involves getting info in (encoding), saving it (storage), and bringing it back out (retrieval).
Types of Memory: Sensory Memory: Very short, immediate info (like sights/sounds). Working Memory: Active use of short-term memory.Long-Term Memory: Stores info over time — includes semantic (facts), episodic (personal events), and procedural (how to do things).
Forgetting & Biases: Forgetting can result from decay, interference, or retrieval failure. False memories and memory distortion (e.g., misinformation effect) show memory is reconstructive, not like a video recorder.
Seeing Learning as More Fluid
Classical and operant conditioning were lessons on how I build habits — not so much with willpower, but with repeated connections and reinforcement. I've used these principles to build better study habits and even a healthier lifestyle.
Viewing Behavior Through a Contextual Lens
The social psychology ideas I learned changed the manner in which I perceive people's behavior — I no longer assume that everyone functions from ingrained personality traits. I look at the pressures or social context that are driving their behaviors, and I am more empathetic as a result.
Accepting My Memory’s Limits
I used to get frustrated when I couldn't remember things correctly or when other people remembered differently. Now I understand that memory is reconstructive and imperfect. I've become more understanding and accepting of other people's perspectives.
Being More Critical of How I Consume Research
Before taking this class, I used to take news accounts or statistics on face value. Now, I catch myself thinking about things like "How did they do that study?" or "Was there a control group?" I'm more skeptical and more careful reading scientific claims.
Realizing My Perception Isn’t Perfect
Learning about top-down processing and perceptual illusions was an eye-opener for me that what I see isn't always the entire picture. I've found myself misinterpreting people's tone or intentions, and now I pause before I reply.