Chapter 1 Flashcards by maggie h

Psychology

Study of behavior and mental processes (140 years old)

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Structuralism

Experiences can be broken down into emotions and sensations
Wilhelm Wundt: objective introspection- objectively examining thoughts and mental activities
Edward Titchener: brought it to America
Margaret Washburn: first female to earn PhD in psych

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Functionalism

How mind functions to survive
William James

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Gestalt psych

“An organized whole” - look at whole not just parts; seek patterns in info
Max wertheimer

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Psychoanalysis

Behavior w/ no physical cause
Sigmund Freud: unconscious mind, repressed trauma, childhood experiences affect adult behavior; driven by sexual and aggressive urges that are modified by experiences

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Behaviorism

Study of observable behavior; we are as we are conditioned
Ivan Pavlov: dogs salivating to bell; response can be condition by a new stimulus b/c we learn by association
John Watson: phobias can be learned; “little Albert”
Mary cover jones: reverse conditioning

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Seven modern perspectives

Psychodynamic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitive, sociocultural, biopsychological, evolutionary

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Psychodynamic perspective

We are as our instincts (modified by experiences) drive us
Freud: sense of self and motivation

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Behavioral

We are as we are conditioned by association, rewards, and punishments
Operant conditioning: we are conditioned by our consequences
Ivan Pavlov, John Watson, B. F. Skinner

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Humanistic

We are the consequence of our choices and aspirations
Freedom of choice, responsibility and self-actualization
Carl Rodgers and Abraham Maslow

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Cognitive

We are the product of our thought processes
We are as we construe the world
Progress when mind developed and body matures allows for such behaviors
Jean Piaget (#2) and George Kelly

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Sociocultural

We are as our surrounding social and cultural environments dictate
Walter Mitchell and Philip zimbardo: Stanford prison experiment

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Biospsychological

We are as our physiology determines
Brain, nervous system and neurotransmitter effect behavior

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Evolutionary

We are a product of our ancestral past
We have characteristics that are universally shared with all humans
Charles Darwin (natural selection)

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Psychologist

MA or PhD in psychology

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Psychiatrist

MD that can prescribe drugs

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Psychiatric Social Worker

Social worker with therapy methods that focuses on environmental impacts on people’s lives

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Basic research

Form theories about behavior
Bystander effect, attribution theory, frustration-aggression hypothesis

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Applied research

Immediate application of research/findings
Enhance learning awing COVID, increase productivity at work, enhance relational satisfaction w/ married couples

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Caveat

Basic and applied research
A good theory can be applied in many different settings
Kurt lewis: “nothing so practical as a good theory”

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Where psychologists work

Academic/medical school
Hospital
Government
Business
School psychologist

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Critical thinking

Make reasoned judgements about claims
Function to understand objective reality

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Truth

Most “truths” need to be subjective to testing
“Love is blind” and “opposites attract”
Only few don’t need testing (astrology)

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Evidence

Evidence is not all equal in quality
Analyze samples to draw conclusions
Simple random sample: all members equally likely to be selected
Stratified random sampling: poIling in presidential election

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Expert

Just because someone is an expert, doesn't mean they are right

Law of parsimony

The simplest explanation is always the best

Open mind

Critical thinking requires an open mind Balance of skepticism and willingness to consider possibility

Scientific approach

System of gathering and analyzing data so bias and errors are minimized

Goals of psychological research

Description: what is happening? Explanation: why is it happening? Prediction: when will it happen again? Control: how can it be changed?

Steps in the scientific approach

Perceive a question: "I wonder" Form a hypothesis: "I expect" - from personal hutches or outgrowth of previous research Test hypothesis: develop instruments and designs; survey or experiment Draw conclusions: analyze collected data and see if hypothesis is supported Report results/replicate: useful info and others can replicate experiment to test reliably of results

Descriptive methods

Ways of Describing a population

Naturalistic observation

Participants unaware they are subjects Pros: see participants actual behavior in environment Cons: observer bias/effect, every environment is unique so observations may not hold

Participant observation

Naturalistic observation Observer becomes participant- "undercover agent"

Laboratory observation

Experiment takes place in lab Pros: controlled environment, specialized equipment Cons: artificial environment may lead to artificial results

Case study

Intense analysis of a single subject (multiple personality disorder) Pros: immense detail and info Cons: specific to the individual

Survey

Series of questions answered by representative sample of population Pros: study covert behaviors of a large number of people Cons: courtesy bias, must ensure representative sample

Population - sample dynamic

Sample drawn from population being studied

Statistical inference

Drawing conclusions about a population from characteristics of sample

Correlational research

Measuring what is

Experiments

Manipulating variables to see if corresponding changes in behavior result Cause and effect determination

Correlation

Measure strength of relationship between two variables Knowing one can help predict other

Correlation coefficient

"r" Represents direction and strength of relationship -1 to +1

Perfect correlation

-1 or +1; very strong relation

Positive correlation

Direct relationship

Negative correlation

Indirect relationship

Strong correlation

Closer to -1 or +1

Weak correlation

Closer to 0

Zero correlation

No relationship; 0

Problems of casualty

Correlation doesn't prove causation

Clear causation

One variable effects the other variable

Ambiguous causation

Can't tell which variable affects the other variable

Selection of participants

Random selection/assignment producer best results

Independent variable

Influencing variable

Dependent variable

Influenced variable

Experimental group

Group that experiences experimental manipulation

Control group

Drop that doesn't experience experimental manipulation Placebo treatment

Placebo effect

Person benefits b/c they are getting something

Experimenter effect

Based results due to experimenter's influence

Single blind study

Participants don't know what group they are in Reduces placebo effect

Double blind study

Participants and experimenter don't know which group they are in Reduces placebo effect and experimenter bias

Ethics of psychological research

Value of study contrasted with well-being of participants Informed choice Justifiable deception Participants may withdraw Protected against risks Debriefing Confidentiality and anonymity Negative consequences must be addressed