Chapter 1: What is Psychology

Question 1

psychology

Answer 1

the scientific study of behavior and mental process

Question 2

scientific

Answer 2

systematic methods

Question 3

behavior

Answer 3

what can be directly observed

Question 4

mental process

Answer 4

thoughts, feelings, motives

Question 5

science of psychology

Answer 5

critical thinking
skepticism
objectivity
curiosity

Question 6

goals of psychology

Answer 6

to describe, predict, and explain behavior. controlling & changing behavior (interventions)

Question 7

critical thinking

Answer 7

how we know something

Question 8

skepticism

Answer 8

questioning dogma, or what ‘everyone knows is true’

Question 9

objectivity

Answer 9

what does the evidence tell us

Question 10

positive psychology

Answer 10

emphasizes human strengths

Question 11

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 11

1879 - established 1st psychology lab Wundt’s Structuralism: structures of the mind and introspection: systematic, detailed and self-report

Question 12

James’ Functionalism

Answer 12

functions/purpose of the mind
mind’s interactions with outside world
stream of consciousness
why is human thought adaptive?

Question 13

Charles Darwin

Answer 13

On the Origin of Species, 1859

psychology and evolution

Question 14

natural selection

Answer 14

competition for resources
favors genetic characteristics that promote reproduction and survival
environmental changes alter course of evolution

Question 15

contemporary approaches

Answer 15

biological
behavioral
psychodynamic
humanistic
cognitive
evolutionary
sociocultural

Question 16

biological approach: neuroscience: nervous system

Answer 16

structure
function
development
genetics
biochemistry

Question 17

psychodynamic approach: psychoanalysis

Answer 17

unconscious thought
conflict between biological drives and demands of society
early childhood family experiences

Question 18

behavioral approach

Answer 18

environmental determinants of observable behavior

reject explanations referencing thoughts

Question 19

humanistic approach

Answer 19

positive human qualities/potential

free will

Question 20

cognitive approach

Answer 20

mental processes involved in knowing

information processing: how humans interpret incoming info, weigh it, store it, and apply it

Question 21

evolutionary approach

Answer 21

explanations of human behavior:
adaptation
reproduction
natural selection
notable evolutionary psychologist:
david buss

Question 22

sociocultural approach

Answer 22

social and cultural environments

differences: between ethnic and cultural groups & within and across countries

Question 23

health and wellness: mind-body connection

Answer 23

how the mind impacts the body

how the body impacts the mind