Chapter 1 Flashcards
psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
behavior
everything we do that can be directly observed
mental processes
thoughts, feelings, and motives that cannot be observed directly
critical thinking
thinking deeply and actively, asking questions, and evaluating evidence
empirical method
gaining knowledge by observing events, collecting data, and reasoning logically
wundt, structuralism
identifying the elemental parts or structures of the human mind (introspection)
james, functionalism
probed the functions or purposes of the mind and behavior in the individuals adaptation to the environment (understand purpose of thoughts)
darwin, natural selection
an evolutionary process in which organisms that are best adapted to their environment will survive and reproduce
freud
most human behavior is cause by unconscious impulses pressing for expression
biological approach
focus on the body (brain and nervous system)
neuroscience
structure, function, development, genetics and biochemistry of the nervous system
behavioral approach
emphasizes scientific study of observable behaviors and their environmental determinants
psychodynamic (freud)
unconscious thought and the conflict between biological drive and societies demands
humanistic approach
emphasizes positive qualities and the capacity for positive growth
cognitive approach
emphasizes mental processes involved in knowing how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think, and solve problems
sociocultural approach
examines the influences of social and cultural environments on behavior
culture
the shared knowledge, practices, and attitudes of groups of people
biopsychosocial approach
behavior is influenced by biological factors, psychological factors, and sociocultural factors
psychology scientific method
observe a phenomenon, formulate a hypothesis, that through empirical research, draw and evaluate conclusions
variable
anything that can change
theory
a broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempt to explain observations
hypothesis
a testable prediction that derives logically from a theory
operational definition
provides obective description of how a variable is going to be measured and observed
descriptive research
finding out the basic dimensions of some variable
case study
in-depth look at a single individual
correlational research
discovering relationships between variables
experiment
carefully regulated procedure in which the researcher manipulates one or more variables
random assignment
assign groups by chance
placebo effect
when the participants expectations, rather than the treatment, produce an outcome
placebo
harmless substance that has no physiological effect
population
entire group in which conclusions are drawn
sample
population chosen to study
random sample
every member of the population has an equal chance to be selected
naturalistic observation
observing behavior in a real world setting
