PSYCH 112 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Somatic Nervous System, Patellar Reflex, Central Nervous System
Document Summary
Intelligence: the ability to adapt behaviorally to one"s environment. Adaptability: the ability of an entity to remodel itself and change its state so as to function more effectively than it did before in its environment. Cognitive niche: the core ingredient of which is our ability to respond flexibly and adaptively to challenges from out environment by changing our behavior in sophisticated ways. Mechanical effect: the result of the transmission of kinetic energy. Behavioral response as a result of a dedicated internal response system. Stimulus: an event- usually a change in an organism"s environment that triggers a response. Response: the action usually of an organism"s appendages triggered by a stimulus. Behavior: the interaction of an organism"s internal response system with environment. Principle of energetic independence: important key to behavioral flexibility, allows organism to do more than redirect incoming energy. Reason that behavior is largely limited to the living. Self-fulfilling prophecy: often resoond to things that have not actually happened yet.
