Chapter 1.1 Flashcards
What is Psychology?
The scientific study of behaviour and the mind
What does Behaviour refer to?
Actions and responses that we can directly observe
What does Mind refer to?
Internal states and processes that cannot be seen directly that must be inferred e.g. thoughts and feelings
What is Clinical Psychology?
The study and treatment of mental disorders
What do Clinical Psychologists do?
Many diagnose and treat people with psychological problems. Some also conduct research on the causes of mental disorders and treatments
What does Cognitive Psychology specialize in?
The study of mental processes, especially in a model that views the mind as an information processor
What topics to Cognitive Psychologists examine?
Consciousness, attention, memory, decision making, and problem solving
What does Psycholinguistics focus on?
The psychology of language
What does Biopsychology/Neuroscience examine?
How brain processes, genes, and hormones influence our actions, though and feelings
Who seeks to explain how evolution has shaped our psychological capabilities and behaviour tendencies?
Biopsychologists
What does Developmental Psychology examine?
Human physical, psychological and social development across a lifespan
What does Experimental Psychology focus on?
Basic processes as learning, sensory systems, perception and motivational states
What does Industrial-organizational psychology examine?
Peoples behaviour in the workplace, leadership, teamwork, and factors that influence employees job satisfaction , work motivation and performance
What does Personality psychology focus on?
The study of human personality and core traits and how they relate to influence and behaviour
What does Social Psychology examine?
People thoughts, feelings, and behaviour to the social world
What is Biology?
Scientific study of life processes and biological structures
What is Anthropology?
Scientific study of cultural origins, evolution, and variations
What is Economics?
Scientific study of production distribution and consumption of goods and services
What is Sociology?
The Scientific study of human social relations and systems
What is Engineering?
The application of scientific principles to designing machines, structures, and system
What is Computer Scienct?
The scientific study of information processing and manipulation of data
What is Medicines?
The scientific study of health and the causes and treatment of diseases
What is the process of Science?
Systematically gathering and evaluating empirical evidence to answer questions and test beliefs about the natural world
What is Empirical Evidence?
Evidence gained through experience and observation
Why do observations need to be systematic?
So that they will be as objective and precise as possible
What is an example of a mental shortcut?
Judging someones personality based on stereotypes
What is a Confirmation Bias?
Selectively paying attention to information that is consistent with our beliefs
What does publication enable scientists to do?
Scrutinize and challenge each others findings if they wish
What is Scientific Progress?
Changes that represent an evolution of knowledge
What is Basic Research?
The quest for knowledge purely for its own sake
What are the goals of Basic Research?
Describe how people behave and to identify the factors that influence or cause a particular behaviour
What does Applied Research do?
Uses principles discovered through basic research to solve practical problems
What are the Levels of Analysis?
The idea that behaviours can be examined at the biological level, psychological level and environmental level
What are the primary goals of psychological science?
To describe, explain, predict and influence behaviour
