Chapter One Flashcards
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Evolutionary Psychology
Considers how behavior is influenced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors
Behavioral Genetics
Focuses on the biological mechanisms such as genes and chromosomes that enable inherited behavior to unfold
Clinical Neuropsychology
Focuses on the origin of psychological disorders in biological factors.
Structuralism
Uncovering the fundamental mental components of perception, consciousness, thinking, emotions, & other kinds of mental states and activities
Functionalism
Concentrates on what the mind does and how behavior functions
Gestalt Psychology
Emphasizes how perception is organized
Neuroscience Perspective
Considers how people and nonhumans function biologically how individual nerve cells are joined together etc.
Psychodynamic Perspective
Argue that behavior is motivated by inner forces and conflicts about which we have little awareness or control
Behavioral perspective
The approach that suggests that observable, measurable behavior should be the focus of study
Cognitive Perspective
The approach that focuses on how people think, understand, and know about the world
Humanistic Perspective
The approach that suggests that all individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior
Free will
The idea that behavior is caused primarily by choices that are made freely by the individual
Determinism
The idea that people’s behavior is produced primarily by factors outside of their willful control
Scientific Method
The approach through which psychologists systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest
Theories
Broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest
Hypothesis
A prediction, stemming from a theory, stated in a way that allows it to be tested
Operational Definition
The translation of a hypothesis into specific, testable procedures that can be measured and observed
Archival Research
Research in which existing data, such as census documents, college records, online databases, and newspaper clippings, are examined to test a hypothesis
Naturalistic Observation
Research in which an investigator observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not make a change in the situation
Survey Research
Research in which people chosen to represent a larger population are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes
Case Study
An in-depth, intensive investigation of an individual or small group of people
Variables
Behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way
Correlational Research
Research in which the relationship between two sets of variables is examined to determine whether they are associated, or “correlated”
Experiment
The investigation of the relationship between two (or more) variables by deliberately producing a change in one variable in a situation and observing the effects of that change on other aspects of the situation
Experimental manipulation
The change that an experimenter deliberately produces in a situation
Treatment
The manipulation implemented by the experimenter
Experimental group
Any group participating in an experiment that receives a treatment
Independent variable
The variable that is manipulated by an experiment
Control Group
A group participating in an experiment that receives no treatment
Dependent Variable
The variable that is measured in an experiment. It is expected to change as a result of the experimenter’s manipulation of the independent variable
Random Assignment to Condition
A procedure in which participants are assigned to different experimental groups or “conditions” on the basis of chance and chance alone
Significant Outcome
Meaningful results that make it possible for researchers to feel confident that they have confirmed their hypotheses
Replicated Research
Research that is repeated, sometimes using other procedures, settings, and groups of participants, to increase confidence in prior findings.
Informed Consent
A document signed by participants affirming that they have been told the basic outlines of the study and are aware of what their participation will involve
Experimental Bias
Factors that distort how the independent variable affects the dependent variable in an experiment
Placebo
A false treatment, such as a pill, “drug,” or other substance, without any significant chemical properties or active ingredient
