chapter 1 Flashcards
what is psychology?
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes
what is the scientific attitude?
curiosity, skepticism, humility
what is critical thinking?
thinking that does not automatically accept arguments and conclusions. Rather, it examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
what were psychologys first schools of thought
structuralism and functionalism
what is structuralism
an early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind
what is functionalism
an early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function—how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish
what is cognitive neuroscience
the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating)
what is the nature-nurture issue?
the longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today’s science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture
what is natural selection
the principle that the inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to subsequent generations
what is evolutionary psychology
the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection
what are behavior genetics?
the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior
what is culture
shared ideas and behaviors that one generation passes on to the next
what is positive psychology
the scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive
what are the three main levels of psychological analysis
biological, psychological, social-cultural
what is the biopsychosocial approach
an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis
what are psychologys perspectives
neuroscience
evolutionary
behavior genetics
psychodynamic
behavioral
cognitive
social-cultural
what is basic research
pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.
what is applied research
scientific study that aims to solve practical problems
what is counseling psychology
a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or relationships) and in achieving greater well-being