1) Introduction to Psychology

Question 1

What is psychology?

Answer 1

Scientific study of human behaviour

Question 2

What question does psychology answer?

Answer 2

• Why?
• Why do we do the things we do?
• How do we account for human actions? (ex: why do we fall in love? Why do react violently?)

Question 3

How has evolution influenced our behavior today?

Answer 3

We act to survive (losing our temper, preferring sweets over bitter foods)

Question 4

Define psychosis.

Answer 4

Loss of attachment to reality

Question 5

What is schizophrenia?

Answer 5

split between reality and the person’s thinking

Question 6

Differentiate psychology and psychiatry.

Answer 6

Psychology: examines “normal” human behaviour and issues
Psychiatry: examines psychosis, pathology, and uses drugs as treatment

Question 7

What are the three aspects that define normal?

Answer 7

1) Influenced by culture (ethnicity)
2) “Crossing the line”
3) Popular Psychology

Question 8

What does “crossing the line” mean?

Answer 8

○ Normality: drinking one glass of wine
○ Abnormality: drinking 12 beers
○ The behaviour is not abnormal, but the quantity can “cross the line”

Question 9

What is the problem with popular psychology?

Answer 9

Lacks research and empiricism (evidence)

Question 10

What is empiricism?

Answer 10

• Data-based knowledge

- Finding out how we know for sure

Question 11

Give examples of major sub-fields of psychology.

Answer 11

• Clinical Psychology (counselling)
• Development Psychology
• Cognitive and Learning Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Sport Psychology
• Neuro-Science (connects neurology to behaviour)

Question 12

What is social psychology?

Answer 12

Study of how people’s thoughts, behaviours, and feelings are influenced by the presence of others

Question 13

What is forensic psychology?

Answer 13

• Intersection between psychology and the justice system

- Behaviours leave fingerprints in scenes of crime

Question 14

What are the two major forces in psychology?

Answer 14

• Genetics and Environment

- They interact (ex: eating disorders)

Question 15

How many chromosomes do humans provide? How many do mothers and fathers provide?

Answer 15

• 46 chromosomes total
• 23 from mom (haploid)
• 23 from dad (haploid)

Question 16

Who determines gender, male or female?

Answer 16

• Male: provides XY

- Female: provides XX

Question 17

Differentiate monozygotic and dizygotic twins.

Answer 17

Monozygotic: one cell; identical twins
Dizygotic: woman has multiple ovulations; two cells; fraternal twins

Question 18

Do genes control behaviour directly? If so, how? If not, how?

Answer 18

• Do NOT control behaviour directly

- Neurochemistry of the individuals are important

Question 19

What is polygenetic inheritance?

Answer 19

When the outcome is determined by multiple genes; can produce an intermediary outcome compared to both parents

Question 20

What are dominant and recessive genes?

Answer 20

• If a dominant gene is present, it will outcompete a recessive gene
• A recessive gene can only be represented if two of them are present (Recessive + Recessive)

Question 21

Does the environment force take into account the pre-natal environment?

Answer 21

Yes

Question 22

What is applied psychology? Give an example.

Answer 22

• Use of psychological methods and findings of scientific psychology to solve PRACTICAL, SPECIFIC problems of human behaviour and experience
• ex: Pilots are tired after they fly overseas. You need to find a way to reduce their stress.

Question 23

What kind of psychology is this: business productivity is decreasing; a psychologist is needed to find a way to increase it.

Answer 23

Applied psychology

Question 24

What is clinical psychology?

Answer 24

• Deals with personal issues (depression, phobias, divorce)
• Psychologist works one on one with their patient
• Changing an individual’s thinking to promote subjective well-being and personal development

Question 25

What is research psychology?

Answer 25

• Knowledge base; to further understanding on human behaviour
• Often in an university setting

Question 26

What are the five domains that can be used to describe the person?

Answer 26

• Physical
• Motor/Movement (gross and fine motor)
• Social
• Intellectual
• Emotional