Chapter 1

Question 1

define psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of the brain, behavior, and mental processes.

Question 2

explain 3 features of modern psychology

Answer 2

1. Modern psychology is a science
2. The foundation of modern psychology is the natural sciences.
3. Modern psychology is interdisciplinary

Question 3

correct 3 common misconceptions related to the brain

Answer 3

1. We only use 10% of our brain power
2. The left and right hemispheres have distinct and separate functions.
3. Our brains don’t change after infancy.

Question 4

Nativist ideas of Plato VS Empiricist thoughts of Aristotle

Answer 4

Nativist Plato: 1. knowledge and truth can be discovered by self-reflection. 2. Everything we know comes from within ourselves. 3. The mind is separate from the body.

Empiricist Aristotle: 1. Knowledge and truth in the world outside of him. 2. Knowledge is acquired. 3. The mind and body are a single entity.

Question 5

explain modern understanding of the nature-nuture “debate”

Answer 5

Both innate characteristics and external experiences play a role in shaping all behavior.

Question 6

Define “scientific theory”

Answer 6

An assertion about the existence of physical, chemical, or biological patterns and processes. Theories should be supported by numerous observations and experiments.

Question 7

Describe the 5 major theoretical perspectives that have shaped modern psychology

Answer 7

1. Structuralism: Identify the most fundamental elements of psychological experience.
2. Functionalism: Understand the adaptive purposes of psychological characteristics.
3. Behaviorism： Uncovering the general laws of learning by focusing on external observable elements
4. Cognitivism： Understand mental processes underlying thinking (memory, attention, intelligence) in a variety of contexts.
5. Psychoanalysis: Uncover internal processes we are unaware of.

Question 8

Explain the concept of pseudoscience

Answer 8

Set of claims that seem scientific but lack defenses from bias.

Question 9

Describe 5 reasons we remain susceptible to pseudoscience.

Answer 9

1. Naive realism: “Seeing is believing”.
2. Patternicity: Tendency to detect meaningful patterns in random stimuli
3. Terror Management Theory: To manage the existential anxiety of our mortality, we seek straightforward worldviews that provide meaning and purpose.
4. Biases: (1) Confirmation bias: Tendency to seek out evidence that supports our hypothesis and neglect contrary evidence. (2) Belief Perseverance: Tendency to stick to our initial beliefs even when evidence is contradictory.
5. Logical fallacies: (1) Bandwagon Fallacy: claiming that something is true because everyone believes it. (2) Naturalistic Fallacy: define good in terms of natural entities, or properties. (3) Gambler’s Fallacy: A certain random event is less likely or more likely to happen based on the outcome of a previous event or series of events.

Question 10

Describe the features of skepticism and critical thinking

Answer 10

Skepticism: 1. Keep an open mind to all claims 2. Accept claims only after researchers have subjected them to careful scientific tests.

Critical thinking: Exercising thorough judgment or observation; analyzing

Question 11

Explain the 6 major principles of scientific thinking

Answer 11

1. Ruling out rival hypotheses
2. Correlation VS Causation
3. Falsifiability (if can be proven wrong)
4. Replicability
5. Extraordinary claims (convincing evidence)
6. Occam’s razor (any simpler explanation?)