Chapter 1: The Science of Behaviour

Question 1

psychology

Answer 1

the scientific study of behaviour and mental processes

Question 2

social psychology

Answer 2

examines people’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour pertaining to the social world

Question 3

science

Answer 3

a process that involves gathering and evaluating empirical evidence to answer questions and test beliefs about the natural world

Question 4

empirical evidence

Answer 4

evidence gained through experience and observation

Question 5

systematic

Answer 5

performed according to a system of rules or conditions

Question 6

critical thinking

Answer 6

involves taking an active role in understanding the world around you rather than receiving information

Question 7

What are the four main goals of psychology?

Answer 7

1) to describe how people and other animals behave
2) to explain and understand the causes of these behaviours
3) to predict how people and animals will behave under certain conditions
4) to influence or control behaviour through knowledge

Question 8

How do the goals of basic research and applied research differ?

Answer 8

The goals of basic research are to describe how people behave and identify the factors that cause this type of behaviour, and the goals of applied research are to use principles discovered through basic research to solve practical problems.

Question 9

mind-body interactions

Answer 9

the relations between mental processes in the brain and the functioning of other bodily systems

Question 10

perspective

Answer 10

different ways of viewing people

Question 11

mind-body dualism

Answer 11

the belief that the mind is a spiritual entity not subject to physical laws that govern the body

Question 12

monism

Answer 12

holds that the mind and body are one

Question 13

structuralism

Answer 13

the analysis of the mind in terms of its basic elements

Question 14

functionalism

Answer 14

psychology should study the functions of consciousness rather than its structure

(e.g. consider your hands. A structuralist would try to explain the movement of muscles, tendons, etc. A functionalist would ask, “why do we have hands?”)

Question 15

psychoanalysis

Answer 15

the analysis of internal and primary unconscious psychological forces

Question 16

behavioural perspective

Answer 16

focuses on the role of the environment in governing our actions

Question 17

behaviourism

Answer 17

theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviours are acquired through conditioning

Question 18

humanistic perspective

Answer 18

perspective that emphasizes free will, personal growth and the attempt to find meaning in one’s existence

Question 19

positive psychology movement

Answer 19

emphasizes the study of human strengths, fulfillment and optimal living

Question 20

cognitive perspective

Answer 20

examines the nature of the mind and how mental processes influence behaviour

Question 21

cognitive psychology

Answer 21

focuses on the study of mental processes

Question 22

sociocultural perspective

Answer 22

examines how the social environment and cultural learning influence our behaviour, thoughts and feelings

Question 23

culture

Answer 23

refers to the enduring values, beliefs, behaviours and traditions that are shared by a large group of people

Question 24

norm

Answer 24

rules that specify what behaviour is acceptable and expected for members of that group (i.e. how to dress, how to act, etc.)

Question 25

biological perspective

Answer 25

perspective that examines how brain processes and other bodily functions regulate behaviour

Question 26

What are the three causal factors that biological perspective focuses on?

Answer 26

1) behavioural neuroscience (examines brain processes that underlie our behaviour, sensory experiences, emotions and thoughts)
2) behaviour genetics (the study of how behavioural tendencies are influenced by genetic factors)
3) evolutionary psychology (seeks to explain how evolution shaped modern human behaviour)

Question 27

natural selection

Answer 27

survival of the fittest. A theory of evolution by Charles Darwin.