Chapter one Module 1

Question 1

Marshmallow experiments

Answer 1

The psychologist Walter Mischel, a Stanford University professor, conducted the marshmallow experiments, a series of studies of delayed gratification in children.

Question 2

Scientific method

Answer 2

The scientific method uses careful research procedures designed to provide reliable and verifiable evidence.

Question 3

Natural Science

Answer 3

Natural science is concerned with the description, prediction, and understanding of natural phenomena.

Question 4

Neuroscience

Answer 4

The scientific study of the nervous system is called neuroscience

Question 5

Cognitive neuroscience

Answer 5

The study of cognitive neuroscience examines the brain mechanisms that support the individual’s mental functions and subsequent behaviors

Question 6

Evolutionary science

Answer 6

The study of evolutionary science explains how large populations of organisms—plants, animals, and human beings—evolve over time.

Question 7

Behavioral economics

Answer 7

The study of the effects of individual factors on personal economic decisions is behavioral economics.

Question 8

Humanist tradition

Answer 8

Also called humanism, the humanist tradition in science emphasizes the subjective side of the individual—the sense of freedom, beauty, creativity, and moral responsibility.

Question 9

hippocampus

Answer 9

center for learning and memory

Question 10

Clinical–pathological method

Answer 10

Using the clinical–pathological method, clinical observations of a patient’s abnormal symptoms are compared with reliable data of brain pathology, most likely obtained during an autopsy.

Question 11

The frontal lobes

Answer 11

contribute to individual self-control, including the ability to control anger and other emotions that contribute to violence

Question 12

Amygdala

Answer 12

The amygdala is the almond-shaped part of the brain crucial for processing emotions.

Question 13

Neurotransmitters

Answer 13

Neurotransmitters are endogenous chemicals that enable neurotransmission between two cells. They are associated with a variety of behavioral and psychological functions, including propensity to depression, anxiety, and even social delinquency.

Question 14

Evolutionary psychology

Answer 14

The study of evolutionary psychology combines the knowledge of evolutionary science and psychology and explores the ways in which complex evolutionary factors affect human behavior, experience, and personality features.

Question 15

Self-Reflection

Answer 15

Studies show that people tend to attribute positive personality characteristics, such as kindness or high intelligence, to physically attractive individuals. Mothers tend to unintentionally treat attractive children more favorably than unattractive ones. As evolutionary psychologists maintain, a friendly face is seen as attractive and beautiful because friendliness is an important evolutionary feature

Question 16

class consciousness

Answer 16

Members of social classes possess a set of core beliefs and perceptions about their life and the world around them based on their position in society.

Question 17

Transcendental

Answer 17

Transcendental refers to the spiritual, nonphysical side of human experience.

Question 18

Categorization

Answer 18

The process of categorization entails a variety of mental shortcuts, or heuristics, that tend to reduce complex and time-consuming tasks of describing and analyzing to seemingly more simple, manageable, practical, and efficient labeling strategies.

Question 19

Nomothetic

Answer 19

A nomothetic strategy, or approach, uses the same method to compare many people or subjects to a certain average, standard, or norm. This approach focuses on comparisons and generalizations

Question 20

Idiographic

Answer 20

The idiographic approach is person-centered and focuses on many characteristics integrated in a unique person. It refers to specific features within an individual and uses various assessments and measurements.

Question 21

Observation

Answer 21

Observation is the acquisition of information about identifiable variables from a primary source.

Question 22

Observer ratings

Answer 22

Observer ratings Observer ratings are structured observations of behaviors or features that require assessment of these actions and features.

Question 23

Self-Reports

Answer 23

Written opinions, posted comments, e-mails, and private diaries may become sources of information about people even though they do not necessarily expect or plan that others will study these materials.

Question 24

Projective methods

Answer 24

require the respondent to ask questions or perform particular tasks—the results of which are expected to reveal certain meanings that are typically concealed from a direct observation
These tasks may include interpreting pictures, drawing sketches, completing stories or sentences, and so forth

Question 25

Dichotomous variables

Answer 25

are phenomena that may be divided into two mutually exclusive or contradictory categories.

Question 26

Continuous variables

Answer 26

Continuous variables consist of a theoretically infinite number of points lying between two polar opposites