Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
What is the empirical method?
- Gaining knowledge by observing events
- Collecting data
- Reasoning logically
What are the goals of science?
To describe, predict and explain behavior
How would we define mental processes?
Thoughts, feelings, and motives that we all experience privately, but cannot be observed by a third party
What is Philosophy?
The rational investigation of the underlying principles of being and knowledge
What is Structuralism?
The focus on identifying the elemental parts (or structures) of the human mind
What is Functionalism?
The focus on the functions or purposes of the mind and behavior in an individual’s adaptation of their environment
Who coined Functionalism?
William James
Who coined Structuralism?
Wilhelm Wundt
The humanistic approach to psychology and the behavioral approach to psychology differ in that the behavioral approach states that humans are driven by:
Environmental conditions, whereas the humanistic approach states that humans are driven by free will.
Which research method allows researchers to determine causality?
Experimental Studies
What is a case study?
A type of psychological research that observes an individual or small group
What is descriptive research?
Psychological research that answers questions about why things are happening, rather than why things are.
What is a naturalistic observation?
A psychological study that observes within a natural setting.
Correlational research vs experimental research
Correlational: strives to discover relationships between variables
Experimental: concerns establishing causal relationships between variables
What is a hypothesis?
A testable prediction that derives logically from a theory
What are the 3 levels of analysis?
- Biological
- Psychological
- Social
What are the 7 different contemporary approaches to psychology?
- Biological (neuroscience)
- Behavioral (based on observation)
- Psychodynamic (unconscious thought)
- Humanistic (altruism, free will)
- Cognitive (the mental processes involved in knowing and thinking)
- Evolutionary (how we adapt, reproduce and evolve)
- Sociocultural (how social and cultural environments influence our behavior)
4 things psychologists do, in terms of careers:
- Counseling
- Advice
- Testify
- Research
What is correlation?
When one trait or behavior tends to coincide with another. One variable does NOT cause the other
What is positive correlation?
Two things either increase together or decrease together (height and weight)
What is negative correlation?
As one thing increases, the other decreases (hours watching TV and grades)
**Inverse relationship
What is experimentation?
When one or more independent variables are manipulated to observe the effect on behavior or mental processes
What is an independent variable?
The variable that the experimenter changes to see what its effects are
What is a dependent variable?
The factor that can change in response to the changes in the independent variable
What is a confederate?
A person who is given a role to play in a study so that the social context can be manipulated.
What is an experimental group?
The participants who receive the treatment under a given study
What is a control group?
The participants who are separated from the rest of the experiment, where the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results.
What is validity?
The soundness of the conclusions drawn from an experiment.
