Chapter 1

Question 1

What is psychological science?

Answer 1

The study, through research, of mind, brain, and behavior.

Question 2

Define “mind”

Answer 2

Mental activity like perception, thoughts, memories, and feelings

Question 3

Define “brain”

Answer 3

Mental activity that results from biological processes within the brain

Question 4

Define “behavior”

Answer 4

Observable actions

Question 5

What is research?

Answer 5

A scientific process that involves the careful collection of data

Question 6

Critical Thinking

Answer 6

Systematically questions and evaluates information using well-supported evidence

Question 7

What are some examples of bias that cloud critical thinking?

Answer 7

1. Ignoring evidence (confirmation bias)
2. Seeing casual relationships that do not exist
3. Failing to see our own inadequacies (self-serving bias)
4. Taking mental shortcuts
5. Hindsight bias (after-the-fact explanations)

Question 8

What did the study conducted by Dunning and Kruger discover?

Answer 8

People who are unaware of their weaknesses fail to make any efforts to self-improve.

Question 9

Amiable skepticism

Answer 9

Openness and wariness to new ideas

Question 10

What is the nature vs nurture debate?

Answer 10

Whether psychological characteristics are biologically innate or acquired through environmental factors.

Question 11

What is “culture”?

Answer 11

Belief, values, rules, and customs that exist within a group of people (who share a common language and environment)

Question 12

Mind/Body Problem

Answer 12

Debate whether mind and body are separate and distinct, or if the mind is the physical brain’s subjective experience

Question 13

Dualism

Answer 13

Idea that mind and body are different

Question 14

Monism

Answer 14

Mind and body (brain) are the same

Question 15

Between dualism and monism, which proposed ideology is accepted by modern psychologists?

Answer 15

Monism

Question 16

Who is Wilhelm Wundt?

Answer 16

• German physiologist/philosopher
• Established the first psychology lab and institute

Question 17

Introspection

Answer 17

Systematic examination of subjective mental experiences
(people need to inspect and report on the content of their thoughts)

Question 18

Structuralism

Answer 18

Particular elements have no absolute meaning or value–conscious experience is studied via introspection

Question 19

Who proposed the idea of structuralism?

Answer 19

Edward Titcher

Question 20

Issues with introspection?

Answer 20

• Experience is subjective
• Reporting the experience changes the experience itself

Question 21

Who proposed the idea of “functionalism” and used the phrase “stream of consciousness”?

Answer 21

William James (American philosopher, historian, and psychologist)

Question 22

What is “Functionalism”?

Answer 22

An approach to psychology: Mental states are identified by what they do rather than what they are made of; concerned with the function of the mind and behavior

Question 23

What does “stream of consciousness” mean?

Answer 23

A phrase to describe each person’s continuous series of ever-changing thoughts

Question 24

How does natural selection tie into functionalism?

Answer 24

Physical characteristics of living organisms evolved because they were functional (e.g. human brain)

Question 25

Who is Mary Whiton Calkins?

Answer 25

First woman president of the American Psychological Association, contributed to early psychology

Question 26

Evolutionary Theory

Answer 26

Studies how the human mind and behavior have evolved over time

Question 27

Natural Selection

Answer 27

Those who inherit characteristics that help them survive/adapt to their environment have a selective advantage

Question 28

Behaviorism

Answer 28

Psychological approach: Emphasizes environmental influences on observable behaviors (nurture over nature)

Question 29

Diversity and Inclusion

Answer 29

Practice of ensuring that psychological science represents the experience of all humans

Question 30

What are the seven areas of specialization?

Answer 30

1. Development 2. Cognitive 3. Clinical 4. Health 5. Social 6. Community 7. Cultural

Question 31

What do developmental psychologists focus on?

Answer 31

Changes in mental activities and behaviors across life span

Question 32

Cognitive Psychologist/Neuroscientists

Answer 32

Study the building blocks of thinking; using tools that measure specific psychological, behavioral, and neural processes

Question 33

Clinical Psychologists

Answer 33

Study disorders of the mind and their assessment/treatment

Question 34

Health Psychologists

Answer 34

Examines relationship between mental and physical health

Question 35

What are the three latest developments in psychology?

Answer 35

1. Biology 2. Computational and Data Science 3. Culture

Question 36

Neuroscience

Answer 36

Studies the nervous system

Question 37

Genetics

Answer 37

Branch of biology: Mechanisms and phenomena of heredity and inheritance

Question 38

Epigenetics

Answer 38

Study of biological or environmental influences on gene expression (not involved with inherited genes)

Question 39

Immune System

Answer 39

Body's mechanism that deals with invading microorganisms (ex: allergens, bacteria, viruses)

Question 40

Gut-Brain Axis

Answer 40

Peripheral systems in the body that have two-way communication system

Question 41

Computational Modeling

Answer 41

Use of computers to simulate and study complex systems using mathematics, physics, and computer science

Question 42

Big Data Approach

Answer 42

Using very large data sets and advanced computational methods to discover patterns that would be difficult to detect in smaller data sets

Question 43

Replicability

Answer 43

Results of a study would be similar if it were to be simulated again

Question 44

Replication Crisis

Answer 44

Less than half of studies in prominent psychology journals are replicated

Question 45

Open Science Movement

Answer 45

Movement among scientists to improve methods, increase research transparency, and promote data sharing

Question 46

Data Ethics

Answer 46

Ethical issues in data sciences such as data accessibility, sharing, identifiability, and autonomy

Question 47

Which of the following evolution occurs faster? A. Biological Evolution B. Cultural Evolution C. Neither

Answer 47

B. Cultural Evolution

Question 48

Retrieval-Based Learning

Answer 48

Learning new information by repeatedly recalling it from long-term memory (ex: Test/Exam)

Question 49

Self-explanation

Answer 49

Reflecting on your learning process and trying to make sense of new material in your own words

Question 50

Interleaved Practice

Answer 50

Switching between topics during studying

Question 51

Elaborative Interrogation

Answer 51

Learning by asking yourself why a fact is true or a process operates the way it does

Question 52

Distributed Practice

Answer 52

Learning material in several bursts over a prolonged time frame

Question 53

Biopsychosocial Model

Answer 53

Approach to psychological science: Integrates biological factors, psychological processes, and social-contextual influences in shaping human mental life and behavior