Chapter One Flashcards
Bio psychological perspective
Perspective that attributes human and animal behavior to biological events occurring in the body, such as genetic influences, hormones, and the activity of the nervous system
Case study
Study of one individual in great detail
Cognitive neuroscience
Study of physical changes in the Brian and nervous system during thinking
Cognitive perspective
Modern perspective that focuses of memory, intelligence, perception, problem solving, and learning
Control group
Subjects in an experiment who are not subjected to the independent variable and who may receive a placebo treatment
Correlation
A measure of the relationship between two variables
Correlation coefficient
A number derived from the formula for measuring a correlation and indicating the strength and the direction of a correlation
Critical thinking
Making reasoned judgement about claims
Dependent variable
Variable in an experiment that represents the measurable response or behavior of the subject in the experiment
Double blind study
Study in which neither the expirementer nor the subjects know if the subjects are in the experimental or control group
Evolutionary perspective
Perspective that focuses on the biological bases of universal mental characteristics that all humans share
Experiment
A deliberate manipulation of a variable to see if corresponding changes in behavior result, allowing the determination of cause-and-effect relationships
Experimental group
Subjects in an experiment who are subjected to the independent variable
Experimenter effect
Tendency of the experimenter’s expectations for a study to unintentionally influence the results of the study
Functionalism
Early perspective in psychology associated with William James, in which the focus of the study is how the minds allows people to adapt, live, work, and play
Gestalt psychology
Early perspective in psychology focusing on perception and sensation, particularly the perception of patterns and whole figures
Humanistic perspective
Perspective that emphasizes human potential and the idea that people have the freedom to choose their own destiny
Hypothesis
Tentative explanation of a phenomenon based on observations
Independent variable
Variable in an experiment that is manipulated by the experimenter
Naturalistic observation
Study in which the researcher observes people or animals in their normal environment
Objective introspection
The process of examining and measuring one’s own thoughts and mental activities
Observer bias
Tendency of observers to see what they expect to see
Observer effect
Tendency of people or animals to behave differently from normal when they know they are being observed
Operational definition
Definitions of a variable of interest that allows it to be directly measured
Participant observation
A naturalistic observation in which the observer becomes a participant in the group being observed
Placebo effect
The phenomenon in which expectations of the participants in a study can influence their behavior
Population.
The entire group of people or animals in which the researcher is interested
Psychiatric social worker
A social worked with some training in therapy methods who focuses on the environmental conditions that can have an impact on mental disorders, such as poverty, overcrowding, stress, and drug abuse
Psychiatrist
A medical doctor who has specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders
Psychoanalysis
The theory and therapy based on the work of Sigmund Freud
Psychoanalyst
Either a psychiatrist or psychologist who has special training in the theories of Sigmund Freud and his method of psychoanalysis
Psychodynamic perspective
Modern version of psychoanalysis that is more focused on the development of a sense of self and the discovery of other motivations behind a person’s behavior than sexual motivations
Psychologist
A professional with an academic degree and specialized training in one or more areas of psychology
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Random assignment
Process of assigning subjects to the experimental or control groups randomly, so that each subject has an equal chance of being in either group
Replicate
In research, repeating a study or experiment to see if the same results will be obtained in an effort to demonstrate reliability of results
Representative sample
Randomly selected sample of subjects from a larger population is subjects
Scientific method
System of gathering data so that bias and error in measurement are reduced
Single blind study
Study in which the subjects do not know in they are in the experimental or control group
Sociocultural perspective
Perspective that focuses on the relationship between social behavior and culture
Structuralism
Early perspective in psychology associated with Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener, in which the focus of study is the structure or basic elements of mind
Survey
Study conducted by asking a series of questions to a group of people
Behaviorism
The science of behavior that focuses on observable behavior only
