Ch1. Introduction to Psychology Flashcards
psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Psychologists
try to describe, predict, and explain human behavior and mental processes using scientific methods to find answers.
Behaviors
actions, thoughts, emotions, perceptions, reasoning processes, memories and biological activities that maintain bodily functioning
behaviorial neuroscience
study of how the brain and the nervous system, and other biological aspects of the body, determine behavior
experimental psychology
study of the processes of sense, perception, learning, and thinking.
cognitive psychology
a sub-specialty of experimental psychology focusing on higher mental processes, such as thinking, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, judging, decision making, and language.
developmental psychology
study of how people grow and change throughout life.
personality psychology
study of consistency in people’s behavior across their lives as well as traits that differentiate one person from another.
health psychology
explores the relationship between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease.
clinical psychology
the study, diagnoses, and treatment of psychological disorders.
counseling psychology
focuses primarily on educational, social, and career adjustment problems.
social psychology
study of how people’s thoughts, feelings and actions are affected by others.
cross-cultured psychology
study of the similarities and differences in psychological functioning in and across various cultures and ethnic groups.
evolutionary psychology
study of how behavior is influenced by our genetics inheritance from our ancestors. Stems from Darwin’s On the Origin of Species.
behavioral genetics
understand how we might inherit certain behavioral traits and how the environment influences whether we display such traits.
clinical neuropsychology
unites the areas of neuroscience and clinical psychology and focuses on the origin of psychological disorders in biological factors.
Structuralism
A focus on uncovering the fundamental mental components of consciousness, thinking, and other kinds of mental states and activities
introspection
A procedure used to study the structure of the mind in which subjects are asked to describe in detail what they are experiencing when they are exposed to a stimulus
Functionalism
an approach that concentrates on what the mind does and the role of behavior in allowing people to adapt to their environments. Developed by William James
Gestalt Psychology
uses a series of principles to describe how we organize bits and pieces of information into meaningful wholes
Five Major Perspectives
neuroscience, cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic
neuroscience perspective
The approach that views behavior from the perspective of the brain, then nervous system, and other biological functions
Cognitive perspective
The approach that focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world
behavioral perspective
The approach that suggests that the focus should be on external behavior that can be objectively measured with observed
humanistic perspective
Suggests that individual naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior
psychodynamic perspective
The approach based on the view that behavior is motivated by inner forces that conflicts about which we have little awareness or control
Scientific Method
an approach through which psychologists systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest.
Formulate an Explanation
Specify a theory and develop a hypothesis
Carry out research
Devise an operational definition of the hypothesis. Select a research method. Collect the data. Analyze the data
Communicate the findings
Papers, presentations, posters, other researchers: review and critique, attempt to replicate, use present research in future research
Identify questions of interest stemming from
Behavior and phenomenon requiring explanation
Prior research findings
Curiosity, creativity, insight
Theories
Broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest
Hypothesis
A prediction, stemming from a theory, stated in a way that allows it to be tested
operational definitions
the translation of a hypothesis into specific, testable procedures that can be measured and observed
Archival research
existing data are examined to test a hypothesis
+ Cheap
- the data may not be in a form that allows the researcher to test a hypothesis fully, information could be incomplete or collected haphazardly
naturalistic observation
an investigator observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in a room.
+ sample of what people do in their natural habitat
- cannot control factors of interest
survey research
people chosen to represent a larger population are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes.
+if sample is representative, make it possible to infer how a larger group would respond
- results will be largely inconsequential if the sample is not representative
- responders may be untruthful
Case study
an in-depth, intensive investigation of an individual or a small group of people
+ insights c an improve our understanding of people in general
- small samples or unique individuals make it impossible to make a valid generalization about a larger population
Correlation research
the relationship between two sets of variables in examined to determine whether they are associated or correlated.
- correlational research cannot demonstrate cause and effect relationships
Variables
behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way
correlation coefficient
a statistical index of the relationship between two things (from -1 to +1)
Experiment
the investigation of the relationship between two or more variables by deliberately producing a change in one variable in a situation and observing the effects on the seconds variable
experimental manipulation
the change that an experimenter deliberately produces in a situation
Experimental Research
research designed to discover causal relationships between various factors
+ only way psychologist can establish cause and effect relationships
- to be valid, requires careful control
Treatment
the manipulation implemented by the experimenter
experimental group
any group participating in an experiment that receives a treatment
control group
a group participating in an experiment that receives no treatment
independent variable
variable that is manipulated
dependent variable
variable that is measured
random assignment to condition
a procedure in which participants are assigned to different experimental groups or “conditions” on the basis of chance alone
significant outcome
indicates that the findings of a research study are statistically meaningful
replicated research
the repetition of research, sometimes using other procedures, settings, and groups of participants, to increase confidence in prior findings
Informed consent
a document signed by participants affirming that they have been told about the basic outlines of the study and are aware of what their participation will involve.
Debriefing: after participation in a study, participants receive an explanation of the study and the procedures that were involved
Experimental bias:
factors that distort the way the independent variables affect the dependent variable in an experiment
placebo
A false treatment, such as a pill, “drug,” or other substance, without any significant chemical properties or active ingredient.
double-blind procedure
both the experimenter and the participants are “blind” to the nature of the substance being administered
Margaret Floy Washburn
Worked on animal behavior. First woman to receive a doctorate in psychology.
Leta Stetter Hollingworth
One of the first psychologists to focus on child development and on women’s issues. Refuted the view that women’s abilities periodically declined during their menstrual cycle
Mary Calkins
Studied memory and was the first female president of the American Psychological Association
