Chapter 1

Question 1

What is psychology?

Answer 1

Psychology is the study of mental processes and behaviors.

Question 2

What are mental processes?

Answer 2

Mental processes are activities of our brain when engaged in thinking, observing the environment, and using language.

Question 3

What is behavior?

Answer 3

Behavior refers to observable activities of an organism, often in response to environmental cues.

Question 4

What are the four goals of psychology?

Answer 4

The four goals are description, explanation, prediction, and control of mental processes and behaviors.

Question 5

What is the focus of description in psychology?

Answer 5

Psychologists seek to describe exactly what they observe.

Question 6

What is the explanation goal in psychology?

Answer 6

This goal answers the question of “Why?” by developing hypotheses and theories about various events and behaviors.

Question 7

What does prediction involve in psychology?

Answer 7

Psychologists try to figure out when certain behaviours and thoughts are likely to happen

Question 8

How does control relate to psychology?

Answer 8

We often encounter situations in which we want to limit or increase certain behaviours or mental processes of our own or of others

Question 9

What levels are analyzed in psychology?

Answer 9

The three levels are the brain, the person, and the group.

Question 10

What is analyzed at the brain level?

Answer 10

Psychologists examine brain structure, activity, and how these differ across individuals and situations.

Question 11

What does the person level focus on?

Answer 11

This level analyzes individual mental processes, such as emotions, thoughts, and personality.

Question 12

What does the group level encompass?

Answer 12

The group level looks at how social and cultural environments shape behaviors and thoughts.

Question 13

What is Gestalt Psychology?

Answer 13

A field of psychology that argues that we have inborn tendencies (we are naturally inclined to perceive things in certain patterns) to structure what we see in particular ways and to structure our perceptions into broad perceptual units.

Question 14

What is culture in psychology?

Answer 14

Culture refers to a set of shared beliefs and practices transmitted across generations.

Question 15

Why is understanding multiple levels of analysis important?

Answer 15

Recognizing that thoughts and behaviors occur at multiple levels helps provide a comprehensive understanding of psychological processes.

Question 16

What purpose do myths serve in human cultures?

Answer 16

Myths explain fundamental mysteries of life, such as natural events and human origins, common across cultures.

Question 17

What are rituals, and how do they relate to myths?

Answer 17

Rituals are solemn ceremonies tied to myths that celebrate important religious or social occasions, reflecting humanity’s need to understand the world.

Question 18

How did early Greek philosophers differ from previous belief systems?

Answer 18

They moved beyond myths and rituals to explore reality and human awareness through critical discussion, laying the groundwork for scientific methods.

Question 19

What contributions did Hippocrates make to psychology?

Answer 19

He recognized the mind-body connection, proposed that health was influenced by bodily humours, and emphasized the importance of observation and experimentation.

Question 20

What did Plato believe about knowledge?

Answer 20

Plato believed knowledge is innate, imprinted in the mind from birth, and that a healthy mind balances intellect, emotion, and desires.

Question 21

What key contributions did Aristotle make to psychology?

Answer 21

Aristotle promoted empirical investigations, theorized about sensations and learning, and categorized living things hierarchically.

Question 22

What was the impact of the Renaissance on psychology?

Answer 22

The Renaissance revived ancient Greek philosophies, fostering scientific inquiry and gradually diminishing mysticism in explanations of human nature.

Question 23

Who is considered the creator of empiricism?

Answer 23

Francis Bacon is regarded as the creator of empiricism, emphasizing that knowledge originates from experience.

Question 24

What did René Descartes contribute to modern philosophy?

Answer 24

Descartes proposed dualism, distinguishing the mind from the body, and identified the pineal gland as their point of contact.

Question 25

What is John Locke’s concept of the mind at birth?

Answer 25

Locke argued that the mind is a tabula rasa (blank slate) at birth, acquiring knowledge solely through experience.

Question 26

What is psychophysics?

Answer 26

Psychophysics studies the relationship between physical stimuli and their psychological effects, such as sensation and perception.

Question 27

Who pioneered psychophysics, and what was its focus?

Answer 27

Johannes Müller pioneered psychophysics, focusing on the connection between physical stimuli and psychological experiences.

Question 28

What did Hermann von Helmholtz discover about nerve impulses?

Answer 28

Helmholtz measured the speed of nerve impulses, showing that they occur over time, linking thought and movement.

Question 29

What significance did Gustav Fechner have in psychology?

Answer 29

Fechner is considered one of the founders of experimental psychology and demonstrated that psychology could be quantified scientifically.

Question 30

How did Wilhelm Wundt contribute to psychology?

Answer 30

Wundt worked with Helmholtz and helped establish psychology as a discipline, focusing on empirical and experimental methods.

Question 31

What theory did Charles Darwin propose in “On the Origin of Species”?

Answer 31

Darwin proposed the theory of evolution, suggesting all life is related and that humans evolved from a common ancestor through natural selection.

Question 32

What is natural selection?

Answer 32

Natural selection is the mechanism through which adaptive variations help organisms survive and reproduce, while less-adaptive variations decrease survival chances.

Question 33

When did psychology emerge as a distinct scientific field?

Answer 33

Psychology emerged as a distinct scientific field in the late nineteenth century, particularly after Wilhelm Wundt opened his lab in 1879.

Question 34

Who is considered the “father of experimental psychology”?

Answer 34

Wilhelm Wundt is considered the father of experimental psychology for establishing the first lab dedicated to psychological research.

Question 35

What method did Wundt use in his psychological experiments?

Answer 35

Wundt used a method of exposing participants to standardized situations and asking for their observations, similar to physiological studies.

Question 36

What concept did Wundt develop to describe voluntary human actions?

Answer 36

Wundt developed the concept of voluntarism, which emphasizes willful acts of decision in human behavior.

Question 37

What is introspection in psychology?

Answer 37

Introspection is a method involving careful self-observation and reflection on mental processes to study consciousness.

Question 38

What criticisms were leveled against introspection?

Answer 38

Introspection was criticized for being unreliable and subjective, as observers often disagreed, and reflecting on experiences could alter them.

Question 39

Who expanded upon Wundt’s approach and what was his theory?

Answer 39

Edward Titchener expanded upon Wundt’s approach, forming the theoretical paradigm called structuralism, focused on uncovering the structure of consciousness.

Question 40

What is structuralism?

Answer 40

A philosophical approach that studies the structure of conscious experience and breaks mental processes into basic elements

Question 41

Who was William James and what was his significant contribution?

Answer 41

William James was a psychologist who wrote “Principles of Psychology,” shifting focus from the structure of consciousness to its functions and purposes.

Question 42

What is functionalism?

Answer 42

A philosophical approach that considers how mental processes function to adapt to changing environments

Question 43

How did functionalism differ from structuralism?

Answer 43

Functionalism emphasized the purpose of mental processes and included a variety of empirical methods, while structuralism focused solely on the structure of consciousness.

Question 44

What kind of research did functionalists advocate for?

Answer 44

Functionalists advocated for research that included animals, children, and individuals with mental disorders to understand normal and abnormal psychology.

Question 45

How does functionalism differ from structuralism?

Answer 45

Functionalism focuses on the purpose and function of mental processes, while structuralism seeks to break down mental processes into their basic components.

Question 46

What is the main focus of psychoanalytic theory?

Answer 46

The influence of the unconscious mind on behavior, emphasizing that many thoughts and feelings exist beyond our awareness.

Question 47

Who is the founder of psychoanalytic theory?

Answer 47

Sigmund Freud.

Question 48

What is behaviorism?

Answer 48

A school of thought that argues psychology should study only observable behaviors, not internal mental processes.

Question 49

Who pioneered behaviorism?

Answer 49

John Watson.

Question 50

What is reinforcement in behaviorism?

Answer 50

A process that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, which can be either positive or negative.

Question 51

What is the difference between reinforcement and punishment?

Answer 51

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, while punishment decreases it.