Chapter 1 - Adjusting to Modern Life Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the paradox of progress?

A

Modern technology has provided us with an abundance of time saving devices yet we complain about not having enough time

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2
Q

What is the cost of having a greater available range of life choices?

A

Too many choices creates mental dilemmas, creating stress

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3
Q

What is the cost of modern technology providing us with more control of the world than before?

A

This creates a negative impact on the environment

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4
Q

What are we not, despite progress?

A

Healthier or happier

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5
Q

Of a total four explanations, what is the first explanation for this fact?

A

Traditional sources of emotional security, such as family, community, and religion have been lost

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6
Q

What is the second explanation?

A

We are overwhelmed by rapid cultural change

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7
Q

What is the third explanation?

A

Mental demands of modern life have become too complex

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8
Q

What is the fourth explanation?

A

Excessive materialism has weakened social ties, makes us insecure, and undermines our sense of well-being

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9
Q

What is the greatest challenge in modern life?

A

The search for meaning in life or a sense of direction

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10
Q

What do people do in desperation to find a sense of direction?

A

Turn to many ineffective and/or self-destructive sources for enlightenment (e.g. radio personalities, cults)

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11
Q

What is the most prominent source of information of the meaning of life or a sense of direction?

A

Self-help books

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12
Q

What are some ways in which self-help books are not effective (first way)?

A

Their message is too vague to be useful

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13
Q

What is the second way?

A

They are not based on solid, scientific research

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14
Q

What is the third way?

A

They don’t provide explicit directions for changing behaviour

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15
Q

What is the fourth way?

A

They encourage a narcissistic (self-centred) approach to life

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16
Q

What are the 6 things to look for in a good self-help book (1)?

A

Clarity in communication

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17
Q

(2):

A

Books that are realistic, that don’t promise too much change too soon

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18
Q

(3):

A

Books by authors with good credentials

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19
Q

(4):

A

Books with theoretical or research basis

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20
Q

(5):

A

Books that provide detailed, explicit directions about how to alter your behaviour

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21
Q

(6):

A

Books that focus on a particular kind of problem or behaviour

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22
Q

What are the four approaches of this textbook (1)?

A

This text is based on the premise that accurate knowledge about the principles of psychology can be of value to you in everyday life

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23
Q

(2):

A

This text attempts to foster a critical attitude about psychological issues and to enhance your critical thinking skills

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24
Q

(3):

A

This text should open doors

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25
Q

(4):

A

This text assumes that the key to effective adjustment is to take charge of your own life

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26
Q

What are the two facets of psychology (1)?

A

The science that studies behaviour and the physiological and mental processes that underlie it

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27
Q

(2)

A

The profession that applied the accumulated knowledge of this science to practical problems

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28
Q

What is “behaviour” considered?

A

An overt (observable) response

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29
Q

What is meant by the term adjustment?

A

The psychological processes through which people manage or cope with the demands and challenges of everyday life

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30
Q

What is empiricism?

A

The premise that knowledge should be acquired through observation

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31
Q

What are the conclusions of scientific psychology based on, with the idea of empiricism?

A

Careful, systemic observation rather than speculation or common sense

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32
Q

What are the two advantages of the scientific approach to behaviour (1)?

A

Clarity and precision - empiricism demands that scientists state exactly what they are referring to in their hypothesis

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33
Q

(2)

A

Relative intolerance for error - scientists ideas are subjected to empirical tests, their ideas and research are scrutinized by other scientists

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34
Q

What is an experiment?

A

A research method in which the investigator manipulates one (independent) variable under carefully controlled conditions, and observes whether any changes occur in a second (dependent) variable as a result

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35
Q

What is an independent variable?

A

A condition or event that an experimenter varies in order to see its impact on another variable - or the variable the researcher manipulates in the experiment

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36
Q

What is a dependent variable?

A

The variable that is thought to be affected by the manipulations of the independent variable - usually a measurement of behaviour

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37
Q

What is the experimental group?

A

Consists of subjects who receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable

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38
Q

What is the control group?

A

Consists of similar subjects who do not receive the special treatment given to the experimental group

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39
Q

What occurred in Schacter’s study?

A

The experimental group was told the shocks will be painful, to initiate anxiety while the control group was told the choose would not be painful. Desire to affiliate was tested between these groups

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40
Q

How is cause and effect determined in experiments?

A

If the experimental and control groups are alike in every way except for the treatment from the independent variable AND if a difference in the dependent variable is found THEN the difference in their response must be due to the independent variable

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41
Q

How is the cause and effect shown in the Schacter experiment?

A

Everything was the same except some knew the shock would be painful AND there was a difference in desire to affiliate between groups THEN fear of the painful shock in some but not others should be due to the independent variable

42
Q

What is the advantage of using experiments?

A

Precise control allows cause and effect conclusions to be drawn

43
Q

What is the disadvantage of using experiments?

A

There are some variables of interest that cannot be ethical reasons, be manipulated in an experiment

44
Q

When does a correlation exist?

A

When two variables are related to each other

45
Q

What is a correlation coefficient?

A

A numerical index of the degree of relationship that exists between two variables

46
Q

What two pieces of information does the correlation coefficient provide?

A
  1. How strongly related to variables are and 2. the direction (positive or negative) of the relationship
47
Q

Positive correlations indicate…

A

That two variables covary in the same direction

48
Q

How could you model a positive correlation using “x” and “y”?

A

High scores on variable x are related to high scores on variable y, low scores on variable x are related to low scores on variable y

49
Q

Negative correlations indicate…

A

That two variables covary in the opposite direction

50
Q

How could you model a negative correlation using “x” and “y”?

A

High scores on variable x are related to low scores on variable y

51
Q

What is an example of a positive correlation?

A

High school GPA and college GPA

52
Q

What is an example of a negative correlation?

A

Exam scores and frequency of absences

53
Q

What is the strength of the correlation indicated by?

A

The size of the correlation coefficient

54
Q

What values can correlation coefficients range from?

A

0 to +1.00 if positive and 0 to -1.00 if negative

55
Q

What do coefficients near 0 indicate?

A

There is no association between the variables

56
Q

What do coefficients near +1.00 or -1.00 indicate?

A

Strong associations

57
Q

What are three common methods of finding correlations between variables (1)?

A

Naturalistic observation - careful observation of behaviour without intervening directly with the subjects

58
Q

(2)

A

Case studies - in depth investigation of an individual participant

59
Q

(3)

A

Surveys - structured questionnaires designed to solicit information about specific aspects of participants behaviour

60
Q

What are the advantages of using correlations?

A

They allow us to explore variables not suitable for/or ethical to manipulate in experimental research (e..g the effect of psychological trauma on males versus females)

61
Q

What does correlations therefore allow for?

A

Investigation of a broader array of psychological phenomenon than is possible in experimental research

62
Q

What are the disadvantages of using correlations?

A

Correlations only tell us that two variables are related, not how the two variables are related, so cause and effect cannot be determined from correlations alone

63
Q

How can this disadvantage be described, using “x” and “y”?

A

X could be causing changes in y, y could be causing changes in x, or z a this variable could be causing changes in x and y

64
Q

What six factors are not very important in determining happiness (1)?

A

Money - the correlation between income and happiness is very weak (between .12 and .20) in the US

65
Q

(2)

A

Age - is unrelated to global estimates of happiness, however young adults and the elderly a a bit happier than middle-aged adults

66
Q

(3)

A

Gender - also accounts for less than 1% of variation in reported happiness

67
Q

(4)

A

Parenthood - good and bas aspects of parenthood offset each other

68
Q

(5)

A

Intelligence - there is no association between IQ and happiness

69
Q

(6)

A

Physical attractiveness - attractive people people enjoy many advantages in society, but the relationship with happiness is very weak

70
Q

What four factors are somewhat important in determining happiness (1)?

A

Health - health and happiness have a positive correlation of .32

71
Q

(2)

A

Social activity - people who are satisfied with their friendships and are socially active report above average levels of happiness

72
Q

(3)

A

Religion - people with sincere religious convictions are more likely to be happy

73
Q

(4)

A

Culture - more affluent nations are more likely to be happy

74
Q

What three factors are very important in determining happiness (1)?

A

Love, marriage and relationship satisfaction - across cultures, for men and women, married people are happier than people who are single or divorced

75
Q

(2)

A

Work - job satisfaction is strongly related to happiness

76
Q

(3)

A

Genetics and personality - extraversion (or positive emotionality) is a strong predictor of happiness, while neuroticism (an anxious temperament) is negatively correlated with happiness

77
Q

What are four conclusions that can be made about happiness (1)?

A

Subjective feelings of happiness are more important than objective measures

78
Q

(2)

A

Happiness is relative - we evaluate our happiness relative to what others have around us, and we evaluate our happiness relative to our own expectations

79
Q

(3)

A

It is hard for people to predict what will make them happy

80
Q

(4)

A

People adapt to their own circumstances

81
Q

When does hedonic adaptation occur?

A

When the mental scale that people use to judge the pleasantness-unpleasantess of their experiences shifts so that their neutral point, or baseline for comparison is changed

82
Q

What are the three steps to developing sound study habits (1)?

A

Set up a schedule for studying

83
Q

(2)

A

Find a place to study where you can concentrate

84
Q

(3)

A

Reward your studying

85
Q

What five ways can you improve your reading (1)?

A

Preview reading assignments section by section

86
Q

(2)

A

Actively process the meaning of the information

87
Q

(3)

A

Identify the key ideas of each paragraph

88
Q

(4)

A

Carefully review key ideas after each section

89
Q

(5)

A

Use text chapter outlines, summaries and learning objectives

90
Q

What five tips are there for getting more out of your lectures (1)?

A

Use active listening procedures

91
Q

(2)

A

Prepare for lectures by reading ahead

92
Q

(3)

A

Write down the lecturer’s thoughts in your own words

93
Q

(4)

A

Look for subtle cues about what the instructor thinks is important

94
Q

(5)

A

Ask questions during lectures

95
Q

What five strategies are there to aid memory (1)?

A

Engage in adequate practice - use over learning (continued rehearsal of material after you have first appeared to master it)

96
Q

(2)

A

Use distributed practice - breaking up studying is more effective than cramming

97
Q

(3)

A

Organize information - outline material from your text to enhance retention

98
Q

(4)

A

Emphasize deep processing - try to make material personally meaningful

99
Q

(5)

A

Use mnemonic devices (memory strategies) - use verbal mnemonics such as acrostics or acronyms, or visual mnemonics such as the Link Method or the Method of Loci

100
Q

What is the Link Method?

A

Forming a mental image of items to be remembered in a way that links them together

101
Q

What is the Method of Loci?

A

Taking an imaginary walk along a familiar path where you have associated images of items you want to remember with certain locations