Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is the scientific attitude in psychology?
Curiosity + skepticism + humility
This attitude prepares us to think harder and smarter.
Define critical thinking.
Thinking that does not automatically accept arguments and conclusions
It examines assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions.
What are the three key elements of the scientific attitude?
- Curiosity
- Skepticism
- Humility
How does curiosity contribute to scientific inquiry?
It prompts questions about whether predictions can be confirmed.
What role does skepticism play in the scientific attitude?
It helps sift reality from fantasy and prevents gullibility.
Explain the importance of humility in scientific research.
Researchers must be willing to be surprised and follow new ideas.
True or False: A scientific attitude is characterized by cynicism.
False
Fill in the blank: The empirical approach is an _______ method that draws on observation and experimentation.
[evidence-based]
What is the motto reflecting humility in psychology?
‘The rat is always right.’
What does critical thinking help us evaluate when reading research reports?
Evidence and conclusions.
According to the text, what common mistake do critical thinkers wince at?
Making factual claims based on gut feelings.
What is the consequence of failing to apply a scientific attitude?
Beliefs may be based on anecdote rather than evidence.
What did the nine-country study reveal about teens and math concepts?
Teens often claimed familiarity with fake terms, indicating a lack of self-awareness.
What is the significance of the phrase ‘I could be wrong’ in democratic citizenship?
It encourages critical questioning and revising opinions based on evidence.
What does skepticism prevent us from being?
Gullible
How does critical thinking contribute to smarter thinking in everyday life?
It encourages examination of assumptions and evaluation of evidence.
Fill in the blank: A healthy skepticism is an attitude that is not _______ or _______.
[cynical, gullible]
What is structuralism?
An early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener that used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind.
What is functionalism?
An early school of thought promoted by James, influenced by Darwin, exploring how mental and behavioral processes function to enable adaptation and survival.
Who established the first psychology laboratory?
Wilhelm Wundt at the University of Leipzig, Germany in 1879.
What technique did Titchener use in structuralism?
Introspection, which involved self-reflective observation of one’s own conscious experience.
What did William James focus on in functionalism?
The evolved functions of mental processes and how they enable adaptation and survival.
True or False: Introspection was a reliable technique for studying the mind.
False
What did James believe about consciousness?
It serves a function that enables us to consider the past, adjust to the present, and plan for the future.
Who was the first female president of the American Psychological Association?
Mary Whiton Calkins.
What significant achievement did Margaret Floy Washburn accomplish?
She was the first woman to receive a psychology Ph.D. and wrote The Animal Mind.
Fill in the blank: Critical inquiry can debunk popular _______.
[presumptions]
What is a key outcome of critical thinking in psychology?
It can identify effective policies and challenge common practices.
What was a significant contribution of Carl Sagan regarding human curiosity?
He suggested that curiosity and intelligence are gifts from a god, emphasizing the importance of exploration.
What does the testing effect reveal about memory retention?
We retain information better if we actively retrieve it through self-testing and rehearsal.
Who mentored Mary Whiton Calkins?
William James.
What was the focus of psychological scientists as indicated in the text?
Learning what is not widely believed about human behavior and mental processes.
True or False: High self-esteem is always beneficial.
False
What historical context influenced the development of psychology as a discipline?
The philosophical inquiries of thinkers like Aristotle and the establishment of experimental methods.
What did Wundt measure in his first psychology laboratory?
The time it took for people to press a telegraph key after hearing a sound.
What was a common issue with the introspection method?
Its results varied significantly from person to person and experience to experience.
Fill in the blank: The first psychology laboratory was established in _______.
[Leipzig, Germany]
What is the relationship between psychology and critical thinking?
Psychology employs critical thinking to evaluate popular beliefs and derive empirical facts.
