General Psychology - Chapter 1/Introduction Flashcards
Research
Critical Thinking, Scientific Attitude, Evaluating Evidence
Scope of Psychology
Academic and Professional Psychologists
Contemporary Perspectives
Neuropsychology, Evolutionary, Behavioral, Cognitive, Sociocultural, Psychodynamic
Define Psychology
Scientific study of human behavior and the underlying biological and mental processes of behavior as well as the applications of such research and theory to the world around us.
Psychology Definition
1) Study of human behavior 2) Study of underlying biological & mental processes of behavior 3) applications of research & theory
Science Goal of Psychology
Use the scientific method to observe behavior, hypothesize on its causes and correlates, test the hypotheses, formulate and publish the results so that others may scrutinize the work and use it in the real world.
Psychologists work in three main fields
Experimental, Teaching and Applied
Where do Experimental psychologists conduct research?
Schools, Colleges and Universities
Where do Applied Psychologists usually work?
They put research to use in the real world by treating people with mental disorders, or applying learning and motivation principles to organizational problems in business and industry and others conduct tests and develop special programs for children in schools who have emotional problems or exceptional abilities
When did the 6 Major Theoretical Perspectives emerge?
20th Century
What are the 6 Major Theoretical Perspectives also called?
Schools of thought on human behavior
What are the 6 Major Theoretical Perspectives of Psychology?
The 6 schools of thought are: 1)Neuropsychology (biological) 2) Evolutionary 3) Behavioral 4) Cognitive 5) Sociocultural 6) Psychodynamic
Name the 3 types of research methods used to study human behavior.
1) Descriptive 2) Correlational 3) Experimental
What does Descriptive Research allow us to observe?
Behavior in a systematic manner
What do Correlation Research studies determine?
The strength of the relationship between two or more variables
Experimental Research allows us to do what?
Control the situation that is being studied
What is the benefit of controlling the situation being studied in Experimental Research?
It allows the researcher to imply a cause and effect relationship
What does APA stand for?
American Psychological Association
What is the code of ethics for the APA?
It requires researchers to give sufficient information about the experiment to participants in order to respect the rights of its voluntary participants through informed consent.
Define Psychology
The scientific study of human behavior, the underlying biological and mental processes, and applications of such research and theory to the world around us.
Identify the Interests of Psychologists concerning behavior
1) How do brain processes influence consciousness and behavior? 2) What are the causes of aggression and prejudice? 3) Why do we sleep and what is the function of dreaming? 4) Are there effective methods for treating addictions? 5) What are causes of mental disorders, and how can behavior disorders be treated and/or prevented?
Describe the main forms of psychological research
Basic and applied
Recognize the basic goals of psychological research
1) Describe behavior 2) Understand its causes 3) Predict how people will behave 4) Influence behavior
Identify the characteristics of basic research and applied research
Basic research is the quest for knowledge; Applied research is a study designed to solve specific questions or problems
Recognize the philosophical and scientific roots of psychology
The roots of psychology are actually based in both philosophy and science.
Identify the characteristics of structuralism
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Identify the characteristics of functionalism
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Identify the characteristics of behaviorism
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Identify the characteristics of psychoanalysis
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Identify the characteristics of Gestalt psychology
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Identify the characteristics of humanistic psychology
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Identify the characteristics of Cognitive Revolution
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Identify the 6 major contemporary theoretical perspectives of human behavior
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Recognize the scope of psychology in terms of specialization
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Recognize the scope of psychology in terms of academic psychology
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Recognize the scope of psychology in terms of Professional Psychology
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Describe the differences between psychiatrists and psychologists
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Psychiatrists
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Psychologists
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How is critical thinking applied to psychology?
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List the stages of the scientific method?
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Identify the characteristics of the steps in conducting a research study.
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Differentiate between independent variable and dependent variable.
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Define Independent Variable
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Define Dependent Variable
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Identify the characteristics of various research methods.
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Identify the use of meta-analysis.
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Define meta-analysis
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Explain how to reduce bias in experimental research
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Recognize the ethical guidelines for research
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Explain why psychologists need a code of ethics
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Define Behavior
In general and in a broad way it is anything that an organism does, internally or externally
Define Overt Behavior
Behaviors that can be observed or seen
Define Covert Behavior
Behaviors that cannot be directly observed because they are in thoughts, feelings, images, perceptions and biological processes and hidden from view
Are Covert Behaviors easy to measure?
No because they are hidden from view
What 3 areas does psychology encompass in the human body?
1) Mind 2) Behavior 3) Body
True or False. Our study of behavior and mental processes is a science that uses research to investigate our questions about behavior?
False. It uses the scientific method to investigate
In Psychological Research what is a description based on? Can it be used by itself?
It cannot be used by itself because it is a detailed record only of behavioral observations. It fails to answer the “why” to questions
In Psychological Research when has the goal of Understanding been accomplished? Give an example.
When the event has been explained. An example: bystanders standing by and not helping in an emergency. (Bystander apathy)
What is Bystander Apathy?
People failing to help other people when other potential helpers are nearby.
Define Prediction as one of the goals of psychological research.
The ability to forecast behavior accurately.
Define Influence as one of the goals of psychological research.
Also called (Control) it is the opportunity to alter conditions that affect behavior.
William Wundt
Leipzig, Germany, 1879, set up a laboratory to study conscious experience
Elements of Psychophysics
1860, Author was Gustav Theodor Fechner (1801-1887)
What did Gustav Fechner show in his publication Elements of Psychophysics?
How physical events were related to psychological sensations and perceptions. He also described the scientific measurement of these events.
WHO was one of the first people to describe the scientific measurement of how the physical events were related to psychological sensations and perceptions?
Gustav Theodor Fechner (1801-1887) publisher of Elements of Psychophysics
WHO is considered the root Philosopher of psychology?
Aristotle (384-322 BC)
What was the book that Aristotle wrote about psychology?
Peri Psyches but he also wrote other works on behavior such as On Dreams, On Sleep and Sleeplessness, On Memory and Reminiscence, On the Senses and the Sensed
Define Nativism. Who is associated with this thought?
This is the position that humans have an inborn knowledge. Plato is credited with this thought.
Define Rationalism.
The belief that Plato had that we can gain access to the inborn knowledge of Nativism through reasoning.
WHO was of the thought that behavior was influenced by external stimulation?
Democritus (400 BC), the Greek Philosopher believed this
TRUE or FALSE. Present day philosophers debate Democritus thought that the interaction of biological and mental processes are associated with behavior
TRUE
Who is known as a great Western Theologian Philosopher?
Saint Augustine (354-430) who lived in what is known today as Algeria
What Theologian Philosopher wrote the autobiographical book called Confessions?
Saint Augustine
Who was the most important Islamic intellectual?
The Persian scientis Abu Ibn Sina (980-1037) AKA Avicenna
Who was responsible for keeping the teachings of Aristotle alive around (1000 AD)?
Abu Ibn Sina AKA Avicenna
Who was the most important authority and philosopher during the Christian and Medieval Era?
Saint Augustine
Who was the most important authority and philosopher during the Middle Ages?
Abu Ibn Sina AKA Avicenna
Who were some authorities and philosophers during the Renaissance Period?
Rene Descartes, Francis Bacon, John Locke, Immanuel Kant
What did Rene Descartes believe and what era was he alive during?
He was alive and the authority during the Renaissance Period. He believed that we should doubt anything that is not proved by our own reasoning.
WHO is known for the quote: “I think, therefore I am.”
Rene Descartes, Renaissance Period
WHO is the founder of Applied Science?
Francis Bacon (1561-1626)
Define Applied Science.
Science that seeks practical applications of research findings
Who was known as the English philosopher during the Renaissance Era?
John Locke (1632-1704)
Define Tabula Rasa
Blank slate on which is written life’s experiences according to the philosophy of John Locke.
Describe the different philosophies of John Locke vs. Rene Descartes. (Renaissance Philosophers)
Locke believed that much of our knowledge is acquired through life experiences while Descartes believed that much of our knowledge is inborn.
Nature vs. Nature controversy is the difference of what 2 sources of knowledge?
The relative importance of Heredity and Life Experience (based on differences of Locke vs. Descartes philosophies)
WHO was the Renaissance philosopher known for believing that knowledge is the product of inborn mental faculties that organize and interpret sensory information from the environment?
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)
The thought that the ability to use language is dependent on inborn brain mechanisms, but the language you speak is dependent on your experiences is credited to WHO?
Immanuel Kant
Name those credited as the Philosophical Roots of Psychology.
1) Aristotle 2) Plato 3) Democritus 4) Saint Augustine 5) Abu Ibn Sina AKA Avicenna 6) Rene Descartes 7) Francis Bacon 8) John Locke 9)Immanuel Kant
Name those credited as the Scientific Roots of Psychology.
1) Gustav Theodor Fechner 2) Charles Darwin 3) Francis Galton 4) James McKeen Cattell
When did Psychology emerge as a scientific discipline?
The later decades of the 19th Century (Benjamin, 2007)
Who is the Father of PSYCHOPHYSICS?
German born Gustav Theodor Fechner. He published his book in 1860
Define Psychophysics.
Ways in which the intensity and other physical characteristics of stimuli give rise/acceleration to our psychological experience of them.
Name one of the first fields of Psychological Research.
Psychophysics. The study of the relationship between the physical stimulation and psychological experiences.
Describe study questions of psychophysics.
1) How loud does a sound have to be to hear it? 2) How much does a sound need to change for you to detect that change?
Who is the Father of the theory of evolution?
Charles Darwin (Late 19th century) 1809-1882
What is the proposal of the theory of evolution in The Origin of the Species (Darwin, 1859)?
Natural selection is the process where physical characteristics that promote survival are likely to be passed on to offspring.
Who was cousin to Charles Darwin and had the philosophy that natural selection could account for the development of human abilities?
Francis Galton (1822-1911)
Francis Galton believed that individuals with the most highly developed abilities would be most likely to survive. TRUE or FALSE
TRUE
Which Scientist is credited with founding the field of Differential Psychology?
Francis Galton (Charles Darwin’s cousin, 1822-1911)
Define Differential Psychology.
The study of variations among people with regard to personality, physical and intellectual attributes.
Who introduced Differential Psychology to the US?
James McKeen Cattell (1860-1944)
Who is the founder of Psychological Corporation? What is the basis of what the Company does?
James McKeen Cattell. It develops tests that measure mental abilities, intelligence and personality.
WHO is credited with founding psychology as an independent science?
Wilhelm Wundt. He basically transitioned psychology from philosophy to be seen as a science.
Why is Wilhelm Wundt considered the founder of psychology as an independent science?
He established the first scientific laboratory and dedicated it to the study of psychology.
The approach known as STRUCURALISM was founded by whom? and what is the thought of this approach?
Edward Tichner, the student to Wilhelm Wundt who believed the mind could be broken down into its basic components or structures.
The Psychological Laboratory at Cornell University was established by whom?
Edward Tichner, the student who was one of Wundt’s first generation of experimental psychologists.