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General Psychology (Module 2,3,4,5) > Gen Pysch > Flashcards

Gen Pysch Flashcards

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1
Q

Psychology

A

The scientific study of overt behavior and mental processes (covert behavior).

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2
Q

Scientific observation

A

An empirical investigation structured to answer questions about the world in a systematic and intersubjective fashion (observations can be reliably confirmed by multiple observers).

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3
Q

Research method

A

A systematic approach to answering scientific questions.

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4
Q

Pseudopsychology

A

Any false and unscientific system of beliefs and practices that is offered as an explanation of behavior.

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5
Q

Uncritical acceptance

A

The tendency to believe generally positive or flattering descriptions of oneself.

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6
Q

Confirmation bias

A

The tendency to remember or notice information that fits one’s expectations, while forgetting discrepancies.

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7
Q

Barnum effect

A

The tendency to consider a personal description accurate if it is stated in general terms.

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8
Q

Scientific method

A
  1. Making observations
  2. Defining a problem
  3. Proposing a hypothesis
  4. Gathering evidence/testing the hypothesis
  5. Building a theory
  6. Publishing results
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9
Q

Operational Definition

A

Defining a scientific concept by stating the specific actions or procedures used to measure it. For example, hunger might be defined as the number of hours of food deprivation.

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10
Q

Stimulus

A

Any physical energy an organism senses.

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11
Q

Introspection

A

To look within; to examine one’s own thoughts, feelings, or sensations.

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12
Q

Structuralism

A

The school of thought concerned with analyzing sensations and personal experience into basic elements.

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13
Q

Functionalism

A

The school of psychology concerned with how behavior and mental abilities help people adapt to their environments.

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14
Q

Natural Selection

A

Darwin’s theory that evolution favors those plants and animals best suited to their living conditions.

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15
Q

Behaviorism

A

The school of psychology that emphasizes the study of overt, observable behavior

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16
Q

Response

A

Any muscular action, glandular activity, or other identifiable aspect of behavior.

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17
Q

Cognitive Behaviorism

A

An approach that combines behavioral principles with cognition (e.g. perception, thinking, anticipation) to explain behavior.

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18
Q

Gestalt Psychology

A

A school of psychology emphasizing the study of thinking, learning, and perception in whole units, not by analysis into parts. (Max Wertheimer)

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19
Q

Unconscious

A

Contents of the mind that are beyond awareness, especially impulses and desires not directly known to a person.

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20
Q

Psychoanalysis

A

A Freudian approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes exploring unconscious conflicts.

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21
Q

Neo-Freudian

A

A psychologist who accepts the broad features of Freud’s theory but has revised the theory to fit his or her own concepts.

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22
Q

Psychodynamic theory

A

Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts, motives, and unconscious forces.

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23
Q

Humanism

A

An approach to psychology that focuses on human experience, problems, potentials, and ideals.

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24
Q

Determinism

A

The idea that all behavior has prior causes that would completely explain one’s choices and actions if all such causes were known.

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25
Q

Free will

A

The idea that human beings are capable of freely making choices or decisions.

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26
Q

Self-actualization

A

The ongoing process of fully developing one’s personal potential.

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27
Q

Biological Perspective

A

The attempt to explain behavior in terms of underlying biological principles.

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28
Q

Neuroscience

A

The broader field of of biopsychologists and others who study the brain and nervous system, such as biologists and biochemists.

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29
Q

Evolutionary Psychology

A

Evolutionary psychology The study of how human evolution and genetics might explain our current behavior.

30
Q

Psychological perspective

A

The traditional view that behavior is shaped by psychological processes occurring at the level of the individual.

31
Q

Positive psychology

A

The study of human strengths, virtues, and effective functioning.

32
Q

Sociocultural perspective

A

The focus on the importance of social and cultural contexts in influencing the behavior of individuals.

33
Q

Cultural Relativity

A

The idea that behavior must be judged relative to the values of the culture in which it occurs.

34
Q

Social Norms

A

Rules that define acceptable and expected behavior for members of a group.

35
Q

Psychologist

A

A person highly trained in the methods, factual knowledge and theories of psychology.

36
Q

Animal Model

A

In research, an animal whose behavior is studied to derive principles that may apply to human behavior.

37
Q

Clinical Psychologist

A

A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of psychological and behavioral disturbances or ho does research on such disturbances.

38
Q

Counseling Psychologist

A

A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of milder emotional and behavioral disturbances.

39
Q

Psychiatrist

A

A medical doctor with additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.

40
Q

Psychoanalyst

A

A mental health professional (usually a medical doctor) trained to practice psychoanalysis.

41
Q

Counselor

A

A mental health professional who specializes in helping people with problems that do not involve serious mental disorders; for example, marriage counselors, career counselors, or school counselors.

42
Q

Psychiatric social worker

A

A mental health professional trained to apply social science principles to help patients in clinics and hospitals.

43
Q

Experiment

A

A formal trail undertaken to confirm or disconfirm a hypothesis about cause and effect.

44
Q

Experimental subjects

A

Humans (also referred to as participants) or animals whose behavior is investigated in an experiment.

45
Q

Participants

A

Humans whose behavior is investigated in an experiment.

46
Q

Variable

A

Any condition that changes or can be made to change; a measure, event, or state that may vary.

47
Q

Independent variable

A

In an experiment, the condition being investigated as a possible cause of some change in behavior. The experimenter chooses the values that this variable takes.

48
Q

Dependent variable

A

In an experiment, the condition (usually a behavior) that is affected by the independent variable.

49
Q

Extraneous variable

A

Condition or factor excluded from influencing the outcome of an experiment.

50
Q

Experimental group

A

In a controlled experiment, the group of subjects exposed to the independent variable or experimental condition.

51
Q

Control group

A

In a controlled experiment, the group of subjects exposed to all experimental conditions or variables except the independent variable.

52
Q

Random assignment

A

The use of chance (for example, flipping a coin) to assign subjects to experimental and control groups.

53
Q

Statistically significant

A

Experimental results that would rarely occur by chance alone.

54
Q

Research participant bias

A

Changes in the behavior of research participants caused by the unintended influence of their own expectations.

55
Q

Placebo effect

A

Changes in behavior due to participants’ expectations that a drug (or other treatment) will have some effect.

56
Q

Single-blind experiment

A

An arrangement in which participants remain unaware of whether they are in the experimental group or the control group.

57
Q

Researcher bias

A

Changes in participants’ behavior caused by the unintended influence of a researcher’s actions.

58
Q

Self-fulfilling prophecy

A

A prediction that prompts people to act in ways that make the prediction come true.

59
Q

Double-blind experiment

A

An arrangement in which both participants and experimenters are unaware of whether participants are in the experimental group or the control group, including who might have been administered a drug or a placebo.

60
Q

Naturalistic observation

A

Observing behavior as it unfolds in natural settings.

61
Q

Observer effect

A

Changes in an organism’s behavior brought about by an awareness of being observed.

62
Q

Observer bias

A

The tendency of an observer to distort observations or perceptions to match his or her expectations.

63
Q

Anthropomorphic error

A

The error of attributing human thoughts, feelings, or motives to animals, especially as a way to explain their behavior.

64
Q

Observational record

A

A detailed summary of observed events or a videotape of observed behavior.

65
Q

Correlation

A

The existence of a consistent, systematic relationship between two events, measures, or variables.

66
Q

Correlational study

A

A nonexperimental study designed to measure the degree of relationship (if any) between two or more events, measures, or variables.

67
Q

Coefficient of correlation

A

A statistical index ranging from −1.00 to +1.00 that indicates the direction and degree of correlation.

68
Q

Causation

A

The act of causing some effect

69
Q

Cause Study

A

An in-depth focus on all aspects of a single person.

70
Q

Survey

A

In psychology, a public polling technique used to answer psychological questions.

71
Q

Representative sample

A

A small, randomly selected part of a larger population that accurately reflects characteristics of the whole population.

72
Q

Population

A

An entire group of animals or people belonging to a particular category (for example, all college students or all married women).

General Psychology (Module 2,3,4,5) (1 decks)

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