Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behaviour and the mind.
Define Behaviour
Refers to actions and responses that we can directly observe.
Define mind
Refers to internal states and processes, such as thoughts and feelings, that cannot be seen directly and that must be inferred from observabl, measurable responses
What is Clinical Psychology?
The study and treatment of mental disorders.
What is Cognitive Psychology?
specializes in the field of mental processes, especially from a model that views the mind as an information processor
How does Psychology overlap with other domains?
Science is…
A process that involves systematically gathering and evaluating emperical evidence to answer questions and test beliefs about the natural world.
Empircal Evidence is…
Evidence gained through experience and observation, which includes evidence that is manipulated and tinkered with.
Define systematic
Done according to a fixed plan.
Why do observations in science need to be systematic?
To make them as objective and precise as possible.
What are some misconceptions that arise about human behaviour from our own faulty thinking?
- Taking mental shortcuts when making judgements
- We sometimes fail to think of alternative explanations
- Fail to test established beliefs further - confirmation bias.
Define confirmation bias
only paying attention to information that supports ones already established beliefs or downplaying other information that is inconsistent with already established beliefs.
What is a strength of science?
self-correcting process.
Define scientific progress
Evolution of knowledge.
What does critical thinking involve?
Taking an active role in actually understanding the world around you Instead of just receiving information and doing nothing with it.
It also means to evaluate factualizations set before
What questions should you ask to evaluate a claim?
- What exactly is the claim?
- Who is making the claim? Are the trustworthy/ credible?
- How good is the evidence?
- Are other explanations possible? can they be evaluated?
- What is the most appropriate conclusion?
What are the 4 central goals of Psychology?
- Describe behaviour
- Explain and understand the causes
- Predict behaviour under certain conditions
- Influence or control behaviour through knowledge and control of its causes to enhance human wellfare
Define levels of analysis
Behaviours can be examined at different levels:
- biological level
- psychological level
- environmental level
Define mind-body interactions
The relationship between mental processes of the brain and bodily functions
Define perspective
A theoretical vantage point from which to analyze behaviour and its cause
Define mind-body dualism
deduces that the mind and body are separate entities that cannot be related. The body is physical but the mind is is not subject to the same physical laws.
How was the mind and body first thought to interact? Who developed this theory?
through the pineal gland by Rene Descartes
Define monoism
opposite to dualism, this theory hold that mind and body are one and the mind is not a separate spiritual entity.
Who advocated monism?
Thomas Hobbes
Define British empiricism. Who coined this?
That knowledge and ideas are gained through the sense emperically. Observation is more valid than reason because reason could prove wrong.
John Lock
Define Psychophysics
How brain processes can be determined/ experienced through physical stimuli.
Define structuralism
Analysis of the mind in terms of its basic structure
Who founded structuralism?
Wilhelm Wundt & Edward Titchener
Define introspection
Looking within
Define functionalism
Study of the functions of conciousness rather than the structure.
Who is a leader in the functionalist movement?
William James
How does functionalism endure in two modern day fields?
- Cognitive psychology
- Evolutionary pyscology