Chapter 1 - What is Psychology? Flashcards

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1
Q

What is psychology?

A

Scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes and how they effect and are effected by an organisms physical and mental states and environment

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2
Q

What is science’s approach known as?

A

Positivism

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3
Q

What are the 4 goals of psychology?

A

1) description (describe the behaviour as accurately as possible
2) explanation (enables researchers to state the causes (why) of the behaviour)
3) prediction (when researchers can specify the conditions which a behavior is likely to occur)
4) control (researchers understand how to manipulate conditions to cause or prevent occurrences)

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4
Q

What is a theory?

A

General hypothesis or principle that explains how facts are related to one another

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5
Q

What are the two functions of a theory?

A

1) organizes facts systematically

2) guides scientific research

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6
Q

What do psychologists use theories?

A

Propose reasons for relationships among events

Allow us to derive explanations and predictions

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7
Q

What is critical thinking?

A

Thoughtfully analyzing and probing questions, statements, and arguments of others

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8
Q

What are the principles of critical thinking?

A

1) be skeptical
2) insist on evidence
3) examine the definitions of terms
4) examine the assumptions or premises of arguments
5) be cautious in drawing conclusions from evidence
6) consider alternative interpretations of research evidence
7) do not oversimplify
8) do not overgeneralize

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9
Q

What are the two types of research?

A

Basic (Pure)

Applied

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10
Q

What research seeks new knowledge?

A

Basic (Pure)

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11
Q

Which research is used to solve real-world problems?

A

Applied

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12
Q

Which research uses control?

A

Applied

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13
Q

Which research describes, explains and predicts?

A

Basic (Pure)

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14
Q

Who is known as the “Father of Psychology”?

A

Wilhelm Wundt

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15
Q

Who was structuralism founded by?

A

Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener

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16
Q

What was the research method used by Wundt?

A

Introspection - analyzing basic events of conscious mental experience
- proved to be subjective and inaccurate

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17
Q

What was Joseph Gall’s contribution?

A

Phrenology - talking about different components of brain

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18
Q

What do you need to remember about James Mark Baldwin?

A

1) structuralist

2) established first psychology lab in Canada

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19
Q

Who founded functionalism?

A

William James

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20
Q

What was William James theory of functionalism?

A

We adapt to our environment, and if we don’t, we die

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21
Q

Who founded Behaviorism?

A

John B. Watson

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22
Q

What does Behaviorism state?

A

Psychology should be the study of observable behavior

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23
Q

Who founded Gestalt psychology?

A

Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Kohler

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24
Q

What is Gestalt Psychology focused on?

A

Emphasizes the tendency to organize perceptual input into wholes and patterns. Suggests that insight contributes to problem solving

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25
Q

Who founded Psychoanalysis

A

Sigmund Freud

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26
Q

What did Sigmund Freud emphasize?

A

The unconscious and early childhood experiences are of primary importance

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27
Q

Who was the founder of Feminist psychology?

A

Karen Horney

28
Q

What do modern psychologists practice?

A

Biopsychosocial model - combines aspects of each broad model To explain why we behave and think the way we do

29
Q

What are current perspectives?

A

Biological, evolutionary, and sociocultural

30
Q

What is the biological perspective?

A

Study of the brain and nervous system - Seek to understand the link between physical processes and structures and behaviour and mental processes

31
Q

What is the evolutionary perspective?

A

Focusses on how humans have evolved behaviours required for survival against environmental pressures over the course of evolution

32
Q

Who has influenced the evolutionary perspective?

A

Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection

33
Q

What is the Sociocultural perspective?

A

Studies the influence of culture, ethnicity, gender, and Socioeconomic status on behaviour and mental processes

34
Q

What is cognitive psychology?

A

Specialty that studies mental processes such as memory, problem-solving, reasoning and decision-making, language, perception and other forms of cognition. Humans actively seek out experiences, alter and shape events

35
Q

What is humanistic psychology?

A

Focusses on uniqueness of human beings in their capacity for choice, growth, and psychological health. Based in the present… What do we need?

36
Q

Who suggested that we are motivated by need?

A

Abraham Maslow

37
Q

Who suggested that human beings are innately good?

A

Carl Rogers

38
Q

What is the humanistic-existential perspective?

A

Focusses on conscious awareness and subjective experience

39
Q

What is humanism?

A

Stresses the human capacity for self-awareness, self-fulfillment, and growth

40
Q

What is existentialism?

A

Stresses the importance of free will and responsibility

41
Q

What are learning perspective?

A

1) Contemporary behaviorist’s emphasize environmental influences and learning of habits to repetition and reinforcement.
2) Social-cognitive theorists suggest that people can modify and create their environment

42
Q

What is the scientific method?

A

Also known as positivism, it’s a systematic process of conducting research through and create and analysis by:

1) formulating research questions or stating hypothesis
2) Examining questions or testing hypothesis in view of evidence
3) drawing conclusions based on findings
4) Constructing or modifying a theory
5) Developing new research questions or hypothesis

43
Q

What is the case study?

A

Single individual or a small number of persons are studied in great depth over a period of time

44
Q

What is the cohort study

A

Case study over an extended period of time (e.g. street corner society)

45
Q

What is the survey?

A

Method of study in which researchers use interviews or questionnaires to gather information about the attitudes, beliefs, experiences or behaviours of a group of people

46
Q

Which method of research is most useful for a large sample of people?

A

Survey

47
Q

What is the research method in which researchers observe and record behaviour in its natural setting without attempting to influence or control it?

A

Naturalistic observation

48
Q

What is the method of research in which behaviour is studied by observation in a laboratory?

A

Laboratory observation

49
Q

What are the different sampling types?

A

Random sample and stratified sample

50
Q

What is a random sample?

A

Sample drawn so that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected to participate

51
Q

What is a stratified sample?

A

Sample drawn so that identify the sub groups in the population are proportionately represented

52
Q

What is the experimental method?

A

Six to confirm “cause-and-effect” relationships by introducing independent variables and observing their effects on dependent variables

53
Q

What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable?

A

Independent - manipulated so that its effects may be observed
Dependent - resulting behavior/outcome of the effects

54
Q

Who is the experimental group comprised of?

A

Participants who obtain the treatment

55
Q

Who belongs to the control group?

A

Participants who do not obtain the treatment and are used to compare the results of the IV on the behaviour of participants

56
Q

What is a placebo?

A

A fake treatment that has the appearance of being genuine

57
Q

What is a blind study?

A

Condition under which participants are unaware of whether or not they have received a treatment

58
Q

What is it called when both study participants and observers do not know who has received the treatment?

A

Double-blind study

59
Q

What are concerns with psychological tests?

A

Reliability (consistency in what it measures) and validity (measure what was intended)

60
Q

What is correlational research?

A

Investigate whether two variables are related

61
Q

What is the correlation coefficient?

A

Number between 1 and -1 expressing the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables
Positive correlation indicates that has one variable increases, the other does as well. Negative correlation indicates that is one variable increases, the other decreases

62
Q

What are the ethics for human research?

A
  • Participation must be voluntary
  • must be respect for confidentiality
  • participants must be informed of all risks
  • participants must be free to withdraw at any time
  • participants must be debriefed as soon as practicable
63
Q

What are the four principles for ethical decision making?

A

1) Respect for the dignity of persons and people
2) responsible caring
3) integrity in relationships
4) responsibility to society

64
Q

What are five reasons animals are used in research?

A

1) provide a simpler model for studying
2) can exercise more control over animals
3) Wide range of medical and other manipulations can be used
4) Easier to study the entire lifespan of an animal
5) Cheaper to use an available at researcher’s convenience

65
Q

What is a guideline provided by the Canadian Counsel on Animal Care for researchers working with animals?

A

Animals may be harmed only one there is no alternative and the benefits of the research justify the harm