Chapter 1 Terms

Question 1

Adaptation

Answer 1

A trait of an organism that has a role in the survival and reproduction of the individual.

Question 2

Behaviorism

Answer 2

A theory that focuses on controlling and observing the behavior of people.

Question 3

Biopsychology

Answer 3

A branch of psychology that explores how biology influences our behavior.

Question 4

Biopsychosocial Model

Answer 4

An approach to help us better understand that biology, psychology, and social factors interact to determine an individual’s overall health.

Question 5

Clinical Psychology

Answer 5

A branch of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other difficult patterns of behavior.

Question 6

Cognitive Psychology

Answer 6

A branch of psychology that studies cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationships with a person’s actions and experiences.

Question 7

Counselling Psychology

Answer 7

A branch of psychology that focuses on improving one’s emotional, social, and vocational well-being, and other aspects of the lives of psychologically healthy people.

Question 8

Developmental Psychology

Answer 8

A branch of psychology that studies development across one’s lifespan, specifically focusing on changes that occur through an individual reaching adulthood.

Question 9

Dissertation

Answer 9

A long research paper about research that was conducted as a part of a student’s doctoral training.

Question 10

Empirical Method

Answer 10

A method in psychology that is used for acquiring knowledge based on observation and experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical arguments.

Question 11

Forensic Psychology

Answer 11

A branch of psychology that applies the practice of psychology into context within and related to the justice system.

Question 12

Functionalism

Answer 12

An idea that is focused on how mental behaviors and activities help an individual adapt to an environment.

Question 13

Humanism

Answer 13

An idea within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good in all human beings.

Question 14

Introspection

Answer 14

A theory where someone examines their own mind (self-reflection) to break it into its components.

Question 15

Gestalt Principle

Answer 15

An idea in psychology where instead of seeing something for its individual parts, we see it as an entirety (as a whole).

Question 16

Natural Selection

Answer 16

A theory that explains that all human cultures must express a behavior if it is genetically caused since genetic differences between humans are very small.

Question 17

Personality Psychology

Answer 17

A branch of psychology that studies the patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make all of us unique.

Question 18

Personality Trait

Answer 18

A consistent pattern of thought and behavior.

Question 19

PhD

Answer 19

A doctoral degree conferred in many disciplinary perspectives.

Question 20

Postdoctoral Training Program

Answer 20

A program that allows future researchers to broaden their research skills under the supervision of other professionals in the field.

Question 21

Psychoanalytic Theory

Answer 21

A theory that focuses on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior.

Question 22

Psychology

Answer 22

The scientific study of the mind and behavior.

Question 23

PsyD

Answer 23

A doctoral degree that places less emphasis on research-oriented skills and focuses more on psychological principles in a clinical setting.

Question 24

Sport and Exercise Psychology

Answer 24

A branch of psychology that focuses on the psychological areas of sports, like motivation, performance anxiety, and the impact that professional sports on one’s mental health.

Question 25

Structuralism

Answer 25

A theory of consciousness that analyzes the elements of mental experiences (sensations, emotions, mental images).