Final Exam Flashcards
define psychology
scientific study of mental processes and behaviour
define mental processes
activities of our brain when thinking, observing or using language
internal
historically considered taboo due to subjectivity
define behavior
observable activities of an organism
external
define the 3 levels of psychological analysis
brain = brain structures, functions and biological activity
person = thoughts and feelings, how mental processes form/influence behavior
group = family, friends, culture and influence of social environmental factors
what are the four goals of psychology
describe
explain
predict
control
explain psychology’s roots in philosophy
study of the meaning of life, 400 BCE
contemplate the mind, developed scientific method, discovered mind and body are connected and that theories are always improving
hypocrite = humors determine personality and well being, phlegm, black bile, bile, blood
plato = balance of intellect, emotion, desires and appetite creates a healthy mind
- nativist = believed mind already knows
everything it needs to
aristotle = sensations, dreams, sleep and learning. promoted empirical thinking and hierarchy of humans/animals
explain psychology’s roots in physiology
linked human mind/soul to brain/mind-body dualism, 1600s
increased number of dissections
francis bacon = empiricism = the view that all knowledge originates in experience
descartes = mind-body dualism
locke = tabula rasa, learn by experience
explain psychology’s roots in psychophysics
the relation between physical stimuli and their psychological effects, 1800s
johannes muller = need to study relationships between physical stimuli and their physiological effects
herman von helmholtz = measured speed of a nerve impulse, they occur over time 1/10th of second to switch focus
gustav fetchner = founded experimental psychology and quantified mental events
TRUE OR FALSE
g. stanley hall opened the first psychology lab in 1879 in Leipzig Germany and made psychology a science
FALSE
WILHELM WUDNT
TRUE OR FALSE
G. Stanley Hall established first psychology lab in North America and launched the first psychology journal in American and helped establish the APA
TRUE
TRUE OR FALSE
James Mark Baldwin established first psychology lab in Canada at YORK
FALSE
first psychology lab in Canada at UofT
define structrualism
EDWARD TITCHNER
attempt to understand the structure of the mind by looking at individual pieces of the mind and how they work together
structure of consciousness
used introspection
define introspection
method of study involving careful evaluation of mental processes, specifically how simple thoughts transform into complex ideas
not scientific but subjective
define functionalism
considers how mental processes function to adapt to changing environments
purpose and function of mental processes
viewed consciousness as every changing stream of mental events
used empirical study methods and led to other schools of thought
define gestalt psychology
the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
believed consciousness cannot be broken down into elements
naturally see thins as a whole
learning is tied to what we perceive
define perspectives on behavior
different vantage points for analyzing behavior and its causes
define psychoanalysis
human mental processes are influenced by the tension between unconscious issues coming to the conscious mind
FREUD
focus on the unconscious and early childhood development
define unconscious
drives, wishes, needs and desires we are not aware of
define behaviorism
focused on relationship between stimuli and responses
JOHN B WATSON
phobias can be learned
only study observable behaviors
define humanistic psychology
believes in optimistic views of human nature
ABRAHAM MASLOW & CARL ROGERS
maslow = hierarchy of human needs -> self actualization
rogers = creator of client centered therapy
other methods are dehumanizing
focused on unique qualities of humans, rationality, potential freedom, and personal growth
define cognitive psychology
studies mental processes as forms of information processing or ways in which information is stored and operated mentally
ulric neisser = cognition is the process by which sensory input is transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, recovered, and used
define neuroscience
explains psychological functions by looking at biological foundations, brain structure and activity
dependent on technology
what are the two main beliefs of psychology
universe operates according to certain natural laws
laws are discoverable and testable
define the scientific method
designed to help the scientific process remain as accurate and precise as possible
explain step 1 of the scientific method
observations
begin to make observations and make a research question
explain step 2 of the scientific method
generate a prediction and make a hypothesis
define hypothesis
tentative prediction about the relationship between two or more variables
define variables
a measurable condition that is controlled or observed in a study
must be operationally defined or testable/observable
define independent variable vs dependent variable
IV = manipulated
DV = measured
explain step 3 of the scientific method
choose participants through random sampling to make a sample group
define sample group
portion of the population issued in the study
define random sampling
making sure every individual in the population has an equal chance of being included in a sample
define sampling bias
choosing a sample that doesn’t reflect/represent the population because of individual beliefs
explain step 4 of the scientific method
pick a research method
- differ in goals, samples and abilities
many different types
define descriptive research methods
demonstrates a relationship between the variables of interest without specifying a causal relationship
define case study
in depth investigation of a single participant using various data collection methods
define researcher bias
when researchers own ideas influence the study
define naturalistic observation
observe and record participant’s in their natural environments with little to no instruction or influence
define abnormal psychology
the scientific study of psychological disorders
what is the DSMMD
diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
lists and describes 22 categories of mental disorders including 350 mental disorders
first publish 1952
define comorbidity
the condition in which a person’s symptoms qualify for 2 or more diagnosis
explain the neuroscience approaches
structural biochemical malfunctions in the brain cause abnormal functions
define the psychodynamic approach
based on freuds belief that abnormal functioning is caused by unconcious conflicts rooted in childhood
define the cognitive behavioural approach
abnormal behvaiour is acquired through a tightly interwoven mix of conditioning, modeeling and cognitive principels
behavioural = conditioning
cognitvie = maladaptive thinking and beliefs
define the socio-cultural approaches
societal, cultrual, socail and family pressures of conflicts cause abnormal bheavior
define the humanistics and existential approach
distorted views of self that prevent personal growth or decision making
define developmental psychopathology approaches
abnormal bheaviour is a cause of early risk factors combined iwth poor resilience through the life stages
define equifinality vs multifinality
equifinality = children can start from different points and end up at the same outcome
multifinality = children can start from the same point and ned up at different outcomes
define depression
a persistent sad state in which life seems dark and overhwelming
define MDD
a disorder characterized by a depressed mood that is significantly disabiling and not cuased by durgs or general medical conditions
8% have it, women 2x as likely
causes of MDD
neuroscience = genetics, low activity of norepinephrine and serotionin and high cortisol
cognitive/behavioural = learned helplessness, attribution helplessness, negative thinking, conitive tirad
socio = social forces, unavilability of services, life events
define attribution helplessness
when people view events as out of their control and feel helpless to prevent it
define mania
persistent state of euphoria or frenzied energy
define bipolar disorder
a mood disorder where periods of mania alternate iwth periods of depression
affects 2%
causes = gene abnormalities, stress, biological predisposition, lifc eevents
define anxiety disorders
a synergy of disorders involving fear or nervousness that is out of proportion to the citation and is maladaptive
define GAD
people feel excessive anxiety and worry under most cirucmstances
causes of GAD
cognitive/behavioural = dysfucntional assumptions of imminent danger and intolerance of uncertainty
neuroscience = malfunctioning GABA feedback system
