Chapter 1 Flashcards
Define Psychology
The scientific study of behaviour and the mind
Define Behaviour
Actions and responses (directly observable)
Define Mind
Internal states and processes (e.g. thoughts and feelings; can’t be directly observed)
What are the 2 types of research?
Basic and Applied
What is basic research?
Research seeking knowledge for the sake or knowledge (mainly theory based)
What is applied research?
Research trying to answer a specific question (typically can see the results)
What are some of the sub-fields of psychology?
Clinical; Cognitive; Biopsychology/Neuroscience; Developmental; Industrial-Organizational; Personality; Social; Comparative; Experimental
What is clinical psychology?
The study and treatment of psych disorders (practicing & research)
What is Cognitive psychology?
The study of mental processes (Consciousness; Attention; Memory; Decision-making; Problem solving; Language)
What is Biopsychology/Neuroscience?
Focuses on the biological unpinning of behaviour (Evolutionary psychology)
What is developmental psychology?
Study of the physical, psychological, and social development across a lifespan (e.g. emotions & infants; parenting styles; mental abilities)
What is experimental psychology?
The study of learning how/why of psychology through experiments – focuses on basic processes like learning, sensory systems, perception, & motivational states
What is industry-organizational psychology?
The study of people’s behaviour in the workplace (leadership; teamwork; job satisfaction; work motivation; performance)
What is personality psychology?
The study of people’s personality
What is social psychology?
The study of thoughts, feelings, and behaviour in the social world (i.e. how ppl influence on another or in groups? How ppl form impressions and attitudes?)
What is comparative psychology?
Scientific study of the behaviour and mental processes of non-human animals (also known as: Comparative Psych; Ethology; Animal Behaviour & Cognition; Animal Psych)
What are some disciplines/fields of science that may involve psychology?
Biology; Anthropology; Economics; Sociology; Engineering; Computer Science; Medicine
What are the 6 major themes/points in psychology?
- Empirical
- Theoretically diverse
- Evolves in a sociohistorical context
- Behaviour is shaped by cultural heritage
- Behaviour is influenced by both heredity & environment
- People’s experience of the world is highly subjective
What is the Scientific Approach?
The systemic gathering and evaluation of empirical evidence
Define empirical evidence
Evidence gained through experience and observation
What does it mean to be systemic when conducting tests/experiments?
Performed according to a set of rules or conditions
What are some everyday pitfalls when studying psychology?
Info isn’t always accurate; May not be systemically obtained; May not be representative; Science isn’t the only way we learn about human behaviour (i.e. other people; personal experiences; media sources)
What are the 3 different levels of analysis?
Biological, Environmental, + Psychological
What is Mind-Body Dualism?
Belief that the mind is a spiritual entity that is not governed by the same rules as the physical body
Who was the main person that thought of mind-body dualism?
Rene Descartes
How did Rene Descartes believe the mind and body interacted?
That the mind and body interact via the pineal gland, in that the mind is a spiritual entity separate from the body
Define Dualism
The belief that no amount of studying the physical body can provide information about the non-physical mind (mind is a spiritual entity separate from our physical body)
What is Monism?
The belief that the mind and body are one
What concept was Thomas Hobbes related to?
Monism
How did Thomas Hobbes believe that the mind and body interacted?
Believed that mental events are a product of physical events (not separate from the body)
What is Empiricism?
Approach to studying the mind/body; all ideas and knowledge are gained empirically - through the senses
What concept is John Locke associated with?
Empiricism
What did John Locke believe?
Philosophy should focus on the capabilities and extent of the human mind (believed that you can measure/test the mind). Similar to Thomas Hobbes POV
Define Physiology
An area of biology that examines bodily functioning
What person is influential in the concept of evolution?
Charles Darwin
What did Charles Darwin believe when it comes to the functioning of the mind (psychology)?
That humans are not “special” i.e. other animals’ minds work in similar ways and humans are not superior to them
What is Structuralism?
Study the mind in terms of its basic elements
What did Wilhelm Wundt establish?
The first experimental psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig in Germany
What is introspection and who is this concept related to?
1.The examination or observation of one’s own mental and emotional processes
2.Wilhelm Wundt
What is Functionalism?
Study the function of consciousness, not structure; it was influenced by Darwin’s evolutionary theory
What did William James do?
Helped widen the scope of psychology to biological and mental processes, and overt behaviour
What concept is William James associated with?
Functionalism
What are some modern perspectives of psychology?
Psychodynamic; Behavioural; Humanistic; Cognitive; Sociocultural; Biological
What is the Psychodynamic Perspective?
On Exam
Searches for causes of behaviour within our personality + emphasizes the role of unconscious processes
What concept is Sigmund Freud associated with?
Psychoanalysis
What psychological perspective does Sigmund Freud have?
Psychodynamic perspective
Define psychoanalysis
Investigation of internal and mostly unconscious psychological forces
What is the behavioural perspective?
Focuses on the role of external environmental factors in determining behaviour
What psychological perspective is John Locke considered to be a part of?
Behavioural
Who are key figures associated with the behavioural perspective?
John Locke; Ivan Pavlov; Edward Thorndike; John B. Watson; B.F. Skinner
What did Ivan Pavlov believe?
Learning can occur when events are associated with each other
What is Edward Thorndike known for?
The Law of Effect
What is the behavioural perspective also known as?
Behaviourism
What is does behaviourism emphasize?
Environmental control of behaviour through learning
What does John B. Watson believe?
Humans are products of the environment we learn in (observable behaviour)
Who said the following quote? And what does it suggest?
“No account of what is happening inside the human body, no matter how complete, will explain the origins of human behaviour”
- B.F. Skinner
- Suggested that we have no account inside the body that will explain our mind (modern behaviouralist)
What does the humanistic perspective emphasize?
Emphasizes free will, personal growth, and attempting to find meaning in one’s existence.
What key person is associated with the humanistic perspective?
Abraham Maslow
What did Abraham Maslow believe?
Self-actualization is a driving force (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs) + started the positive psychology movement
What does the positive psychology movement emphasize?
Emphasizes the study of human strengths, fulfillment, and optimal living; study how we nurture ourselves rather than study conflicts (look at the good over the bad)
What does the cognitive perspective look at?
Looks at the nature of the mind and how mental processes influence behaviour (think Gestalt Psychology)
What is Gestalt psychology?
“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”
- Exams how the mind registers events as a whole rather than individually
- Looks at how the mind organizes elements of experience into a unified or “whole” perception
What is (modern) cognitive psychology?
Focuses on the study of mental processes - study reasoning, decision making, problem solving, formation of perceptions, and production and understanding of language
What is the difference between psychodynamics and cognitive psychology?
Psychodynamics - unconscious
Cognitive Psychology - conscious
What does the sociocultural perspective look at?
Looks at how the social environment and cultural learning influence our behaviour, thoughts, and feelings
In the sociocultural perspective what does the social portion refer to?
How the presence of other influences your behaviour, thoughts, and/or feelings (think physical & implied presence)
In the sociocultural perspective what does the cultural portion refer to?
Values, beliefs, behaviours, traditions passed on (societal/cultural norms)
What perspective looks at how brain and other bodily functions regulate behaviour?
Biological (brain, genes, + evolution)
What perspective is related to brain, genes, and evolution?
Biological Perspective
What is behaviour genetics?
The study of how behavioural tendencies are influenced by genetic factors
What is evolutionary psychology?
Tries to explain how evolution shaped modern human behaviour
