Influential theories Flashcards
What theory did Freud develop?
Psychoanalysis theory
- Popularized the distinction between the conscious and unconscious mind.
What theory did Skinner develop?
Radical behaviorism
- Idea that behaviors are shaped by their consequences, and that positive consequences make behaviors likely, and negative consequences make them unlikely.
What is a theory?
Interconnected sets of beliefs, knowledge, and assumptions that relate to understanding a phenomenon.
What is a scientific theory?
A set of theoretically related propositions that are empirically testable.
What is the key to any scientific theory?
That they are testable, thus falsifiable.
What makes a theory influential?
- it is formally articulated
- It inspires research
- Predictions have withstood many tests.
What makes a good theory of intimate relationships?
- encompassing the full range of possible predictors
- Specify mechanisms of change
- Account for variability between couples and within couples over time.
What is evolutionary psychology?
a theory that assumes that the brain, like all organs evolved in response to specific selection pressures that led some preferences and capacities to be associated with more successful reproduction, and others associated with less successful reproduction.
What does evolutionary psychology dominated?
Selection and sexuality literature.
What is sexual selection?
Traits and characteristics that are adaptive in helping produce offspring are passed on.
What is the main issue with evolutionary psychology?
Evolution is slow, and human society is young.
in order to understand what is happening today you have to look back about 10,000 years ago.
What are Psychological mechanisms?
Broadly defined as preferences, capacities, responses, and strategies characterizing species.
What is the theory of parental investment?
Sexual selection pressures can vary based on the amount of energy and resources each parent must invest to raise offspring.
Is parental investment high or low for women? for men?
Women - High
Men - very low
Based off of evolutionary psychology what is described as successful behaviors for males?
- having a large number of sexual partners
- Engaging in aggressive behavior to help protect partners and offspring and drive away competition.
Based off of evolutionary psychology what is described as successful behaviors for females?
- attracting genetically fit partners
- providing care for offspring
- ensuring that sexual partners stay with them and defend themselves and their offspring.
- obtaining commitment.
How do the differences successful behaviors for females and males within evolutionary psychology affect partner preference?
- Women prefer string males who have the resources and intention to stay and help care for offspring.
- men prefer women who are likely to only invest in their children
Based off of evolutionary psychology what do men value in women that woman don’t value as much in men?
virginity, This is due to parental uncertainty.
What are men most likely to serve as in a relationship Based off of evolutionary psychology.
Providers, bringing home resources.
What are men more likely to be interested in Based off of evolutionary psychology
Sex, both with their relationship partner and with others.