Chapter 1

Question 1

What are the four goals of psychologists?

Answer 1

Description, Explanation, Prediction, and Control of behavior.

Question 2

What is psychology?

Answer 2

The scientific study of mental processes and behavior.

Question 3

How is behavior different from mental processes?

Answer 3

Behavior is observable, while mental processes are internal.

Question 4

What are the three levels of analysis in psychology?

Answer 4

The brain, the person, and the group.

Question 5

What is analyzed at the brain level of analysis?

Answer 5

Brain structure and neural activity.

Question 6

What is analyzed at the person level of analysis?

Answer 6

Mental processes such as thoughts, emotions, and ideas.

Question 7

What is analyzed at the group level of analysis?

Answer 7

How behavior is shaped by social and cultural environments.

Question 8

Who are considered the founding figures of philosophy that influenced psychology?

Answer 8

Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.

Question 9

What did Hippocrates argue about the brain?

Answer 9

That the brain is the organ of mental life.

Question 10

Who measured the speed of neural impulses?

Answer 10

Herman von Helmholtz.

Question 11

What theory did Charles Darwin propose?

Answer 11

The theory of evolution.

Question 12

What is natural selection?

Answer 12

The process where chance variations in genes are passed down and help an organism survive.

Question 13

What is sexual selection?

Answer 13

A type of natural selection where physical features and behaviors attract a mate.

Question 14

Who is considered the father of psychology?

Answer 14

Wilhelm Wundt.

Question 15

What is Structuralism?

Answer 15

An attempt to identify all elements of consciousness through introspection.

Question 16

What is introspection?

Answer 16

The careful observation of mental processes and how simple thoughts combine into complex ideas.

Question 17

Who developed Structuralism?

Answer 17

Edward Titchener.

Question 18

What is Functionalism?

Answer 18

A theory focusing on the functions of the mind in adapting to the environment.

Question 19

Who established the first psychology lab in the US?

Answer 19

William James.

Question 20

What concept did William James introduce?

Answer 20

The ‘stream of consciousness’ idea, where mental processes are fluid.

Question 21

What are Gestalt Psychologists known for?

Answer 21

They believed that consciousness cannot be broken down into elements and that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Question 22

What school of thought focused on observable behavior rather than mental processes?

Answer 22

Behaviorism.

Question 23

What is applied psychology?

Answer 23

A descendant of functionalism, it focuses on using psychological principles to solve real-world problems.

Question 24

What did Rene Descartes believe about the brain?

Answer 24

That it controlled the body via fluid movement in tubes.

Question 25

What does psychophysics study?

Answer 25

The relationship between physical stimuli and their psychological effects.

Question 26

Who are two key figures in psychophysics?

Answer 26

Johannes Muller and Herman von Helmholtz.

Question 27

What is a major idea of evolution that influences psychology?

Answer 27

The survival of adaptive variations.

Question 28

What do psychologists mean by ‘control’ in behavior?

Answer 28

Influencing or changing behaviors based on psychological knowledge.

Question 29

How does social media use relate to the levels of analysis?

Answer 29

It can be analyzed at the brain level (neural activity), person level (mental processes), and group level (social influence).

Question 30

What did early myths and legends aim to do in terms of human behavior?

Answer 30

They sought to describe, explain, predict, and control human behavior.

Question 31

What is the difference between structuralism and functionalism?

Answer 31

Structuralism focuses on breaking down mental processes, while functionalism focuses on the purpose of mental processes.