Chapter 1 Flashcards
What are the subfields of psychology?
Industrial/Organizational Development Biopsychology/Neuroscience Experimental/Behavioral Neuroscience Clinical Cognitive Cultural Social Personality
What is the scientific approach?
Make observation Think of interesting questions Formulate hypothesis Develop testable predictions Gather data to test predictions Refine, alter, expand or reject hypothesis Develop general theories
How do you take an active role using critical thought?
- What’s the claim?
- Is the source credible?
- What’s the evidence?
- Are there other explanations?
- What’s the appropriate conclusion?
What is basic research?
seeking knowledge for knowledge sake
What is applied research?
using knowledge to solve real-world problems
What is the environmental level of analysis?
our past or current physical/social behaviors
What is the psychological level of analysis?
thoughts, feelings, motive
What is the biological level of analysis?
brain processes, genetic influences
What is Mind-Body Dualism?
Rene Descartes
mind = spiritual entity
not subject to physical laws
cannot be studied
What is Monism?
John Locke, School of British Empiricism
mental events are a product of physical events
can be studied
chemical reactions in brain produce emotions/decisions
What is Structuralism?
Wundt and E.B. Titchener
uses introspection to identify basic elements or “structures” of experience
emphasis on the importance of systematic observation to the study of conscious experience
What are the issues with structuralism?
measures are too subjective
what about the parts of psychology that lie outside our consciousness
What is Functionalism?
study function of consciousness, not it’s structure
influenced by Darwin’s evolutionary theory
adaptations improve survival rates and reproductive success
to understand the functions or adaptive purposes of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
What is Psychoanalysis (Psychodynamic Perspective)?
looks for causes of our behavior with our personalities
emphasized the role of childhood experiences
inborn sexual and aggressive drives, repression protects from these drives
Freud
uncover the role of unconscious psychological processes and early life experiences in behavior
What is the Modern Psychodynamic Theory?
explores unconscious and conscious aspects of how personality influences behavior
downplay the role of sex and aggression
focus on early relationships with family/caregivers as they can influence future relationships throughout life
What is Behavourism?
focuses of the role of the external environment in shaping our actions
behaviors are determined by prior life habits and current stimuli in environment
to uncover the general principles of learning that explain all behaviors, focus is largely on observable behavior
Who was Pavlov?
Early 1900s
pair a neutral event with an event that naturally produces some outcome
after many pairings, the neutral event now also produces the outcome
Who was Thorndike?
1910s
learning through consequences of actions
law of effect: actions more likely to recur following satisfaction, less likely to occur following dissatisfaction
Who was Watson?
1920s
proper subject matter of psychology = observable behavior
can only describe the behavior, not the mental state attached
humans are products of their learning
Who was Skinner?
radical behaviorist
a person does not act upon the world, the world acts upon them
through “social engineering” society could use the environment to change societal behaviors in a positive manner
challenged psychodynamic view of mental illness
What is Cognitive Behaviorism?
humans are “thinking” creatures
do not just react to environment
learn new behaviors by observing actions of others
environment influences us, we influence environment
What is the Humanistic Perspective?
emphasizes free will, personal growth, finding meaning in existence
reject psychodynamic theory, we are not under unconscious control
reject behaviorist theory, we are not merely reacting to the environment
What is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
belief in inborn force towards self-actualization
reaching one’s potential
supportive environment leads to positive inner nature
misery/pathology occur when we are held back from achieving self-actualization
importance of personal choice, responsibility, growth, and self-worth
What is Gestalt Psychology?
how do we make sense of world around us?
research in the area of perception
whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts
What is Cognitive Psychology?
study of mental processes
attention/consciousness, memory, language, reason, decision making, problem solving
cognitive neuroscience
records neural activity during cognitive tasks
What is the Sociocultural Perspective?
how the social environment influences behavior
how presence of others influences behaviors, thoughts and feelings
What is the Cultural Perspective in psychology?
culture: shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and traditions passed on across generations
have their own social norms
What is the biological perspective?
how brain processes and bodily functions regulate behaviour
What is Evolutionary Psychology?
how evolution shaped modern human behaviors
mental abilities and behavioral tendencies evolved
living in social groups
importance of thinking, communicating, learning, and solving problems grew
What is sociobiology?
complex social behaviors are product of evolution
genetic survival is more important than one’s own physical survival
What are the criticisms of sociobiology?
overemphasizes innate biological factors
downplays cultural or social learning factors
