Chapter 1- Mind, Behavior, And Psychological Science

Question 1

What is psychology?

Answer 1

A broad field, with many specialties, but fundamentally the science of behavior and mental processes

Question 2

According to statistics, where do most psychologists work after school?

Answer 2

Universities, colleges, and medical schools

Question 3

What are the three categories of psychologists?

Answer 3

1. Research
2. Teachers
3. Applied

Question 4

What do research psychologists do?

Answer 4

Created new psychological knowledge

Question 5

What do applied psychologists do?

Answer 5

Clinical and counseling, school, industrial and organizational, sports, forensic

Question 6

How is psychology different than psychiatry?

Answer 6

Psychology is a broad field of study as opposed to being a medical speciality. It holds a PhD instead of an MD. Trained in research methods instead of treating metal problems. Most cannot prescribe medications

Question 7

Psychology is based on…

Answer 7

Objective, verifiable, and scientific evidence

Question 8

Psychology covers…

Answer 8

both internal mental processes and external, observable behaviors

Question 9

What is pseudo-psychology?

Answer 9

Erroneous assertions or practices set forth as being scientific psychology
Ex: horoscopes, palm readings, fortune telling

Question 10

What are the three types of biases?

Answer 10

1. Emotional
2. Confirmation
3. Expectancy

Question 11

Explain emotional bias.

Answer 11

Making judgements based on attitudes and feelings rather than on the basis of rational analysis of the evidence

Question 12

Explain confirmation bias.

Answer 12

Attending to evidence that complements and confirms our beliefs or expectations, while ignoring evidence that does not

Question 13

Explain expectancy bias.

Answer 13

Allowing expectations to affect perceptions of the outcome

Question 14

What are the 6 main perspectives of psychology?

Answer 14

1. Biological
2. Cognitive
3. Behavioral
4. Developmental
5. Sociocultural
6. Whole-person

Question 15

Explain the biological perspective.

Answer 15

That there is a distinction between the spiritual mind and the physical body.

Question 16

Explain the cognitive perspective.

Answer 16

That methods of science used to measure and study the natural world can be used to study the mind and body

Question 17

Explain the behavioral perspective.

Answer 17

Psychology should be limited to the study of observable behavior and environmental stimuli that shape behavior

Question 18

Explain the developmental perspective.

Answer 18

People change in predictable ways as the influences of heredity and environment unfold over time

Question 19

Explain the sociocultural perspective.

Answer 19

The social and cultural situation in which the person is embedded can sometimes overpower all other factors that influence behavior

Question 20

Explain the whole-person perspective.

Answer 20

Personality and mental disorders arise mainly from processes in the unconscious mind, outside of our awareness

Question 21

How do psychologists develop new knowledge?

Answer 21

Psychologists, like all other scientists, use the scientific method to test their ideas empirically.

Question 22

What is the scientific method?

Answer 22

A 4-step process for empirical investigation of a hypothesis under conditions designed to control biases and subjective judgements

Question 23

What is an empirical investigation?

Answer 23

An approach to research that relies on sensory experience and observation as research data

Question 24

What is a theory?

Answer 24

A testable explanation for a set of facts or observations, not just a speculation or a guess

Question 25

What are the 4 steps of the scientific method?

Answer 25

1. Developing a hypothesis.
2. Gathering objective data.
3. Analyzing the results.
4. Publishing, criticizing, and replicating the results.

Question 26

What questions can the scientific method not answer?

Answer 26

Any questions about ethics, values, morality, preferences, aesthetics, existential issues, religion, or law

Question 27

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 27

A statement predicting the outcome of a scientific study or the relationship among variables in a study

Question 28

Scientific findings are…

Answer 28

Always tentative and always subject to revision

Question 29

What are the 5 types of psychological research?

Answer 29

1. Experiments
2. Correlational studies
3. Surveys
4. Naturalistic observations
5. Case studies

Question 30

What is the only method that can determine cause-effect relationships?

Answer 30

Experiments

Question 31

What are correlational studies?

Answer 31

Studying the relationship between variables without experimentally manipulating the independent variable

Question 32

What are the three types of correlations?

Answer 32

Positive, negative, and no correlation

Question 33

TRUE OR FALSE: Correlation = Causation

Answer 33

FALSE!

Question 34

What are survey’s used for?

Answer 34

Getting people’s responses to a prepared set of verbal or written items

They’re quick and easy and inexpensive, but vulnerable to biases

Question 35

What are naturalistic observations?

Answer 35

Research assessing behavior of people or animals in their natural surroundings

Question 36

What are case studies?

Answer 36

Research involving a single individual or a few individuals