intro chapter 1 Flashcards
psychology
the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
What process do scientists use to answer questions about behavior and mental processes?
scientific method
Scientific method
The orderly systematic procedures that researchers follow as they identify a research problem, design a study to investigate the [problem, collect and analyze data, draw conclusions, and communicate their findings.
theory
A general principle or set of principles proposed to explain how a number of separate facts are related.
hypothisis
a prediction about a relationship between two or more variables
replication
the process of repeating a study with different participants and preferably a different investigator to verify research findings.
what are the goals of psychology?
To describe, explain, predict, and influence behavior and mental processes.
description
describe behavior or mental process as accurately as possible.
expanation
suggest causes for behavior or mental processes of interest
prediction
specify conditions under which behavior or mental process is likely to occur
influence
apply the results of a study to change a condition in order to bring about a desired real-world outcome or prevent an undesired real-world outcome
basic research
research conducted to seek new knowledge and explore and advance general scientific understanding.
applied research
research conducted specifically to solve practical problems and improve the quality of life.
what role did Wundt and Titchener play in the founding of psychology
Wundt was the first to use the method of introspection. study the perception of a variety of visual, tactile, and auditory stimuli, including the rhythm patterns produced by metronomes set at different speeds.
Titchener gave the name structuralism to the first formal school of thought.
structuralism
The first formal school of thought in psychology, which endeavored to analyze the basic elements, or structure, of conscious mental experience.
functionalism
an early school of psychology that was concerned with how humans and animals use mental processes in adapting to their environment
Why is functionalism important in the history of psychology?
Functionalism was concerned not with structure of consciousness, but with how mental processes function.
functionalism broadened the scope of psychology to include the study of behavior as well as mental processes. It also allowed the study of children, animals, and individuals with mental impairments, groups that could not be studied by the structuralist because they could not be
In what ways have women and minorities shaped the field of psychology, both in the past and today?
Women should rear children and homemakers, and that minorities were best for manual labor. Women and minorities over came these prejudices to make notable achievements in and contributions to the study of psychology.
Classify each of the following people and concepts as being associated with (a) Wundt, (b) structuralism and/or (c) functionalism. (hint: some items belong to more than one.)
__ (1) James
__ (2) based on Darwin’s theory of evolution
__ (3) stream of consciousness
__ (4) elements of experience
__ (5) Titchener
__ (6) introspection
__ (7) became prominent in the early 20th century
c (1) James
c (2) based on Darwin’s theory of evolution
c (3) stream of consciousness
a, b (4) elements of experience
b (5) Titchener
a, b (6) introspection
c (7) became prominent in the early 20th century
Match each of the following individuals with his or her contribution to psychology.
__ (1) Francis Cecil Sumner a. first female president of the APA
__ (2) Mary Whiton Calkins b. conducted studies on cultural bias in intelligence testing
__ (3) Kenneth Clark c. first African American to earn a Ph. D in psychology
__ (4) Christine Ladd-Franklin d. studied the harmful effects of racial segregation
__ (5) George Sanchez e. had to wait 40 years to receive a Ph. D in psychology after completing all the requirements
c (1) Francis Cecil Sumner a (2) Mary Whiton Calkins d (3) Kenneth Clark e (4) Christine Ladd-Franklin b (5) George Sanchez
behaviorism
The school of psychology founded by John B. Watson
that views observable, measurable behavior as the appropriate subject matter for psychology and emphasizws the key role of environment as a determinant of behavior.
How do behaviorists explain behavior and mental processes?
behaviorist explain behavior and mental processes by analyzing the conditions that are present before a behavior occurs and then analyzing the consequences that follow the behavior.
psychoanalysis
The term Freud used for both his theory of personality and his therapy for the treatment of psychological disorders; the unconscious is the primary focus of psychoanalytic theory.
humanistic psychology
The school of psychology that focuses on thr uniqueness of human beings and their capacity for choice, growth, and psychological health.
cognitive psychology
The school of psychology that views humans as active participants in their environment; studies mental processes such as memory, problem solving, reasoning, decision making, perception, language, and other forms of cognition.
What do psychoanalytic psychologists believe about the role of the unconscious?
Freud believed that the unconscious is the storehouse for material that threatens the conscious life of the individual– disturbing sexual and aggressive impulses as well as traumatic experiences that have been repressed, or pushed down, the the unconscious.
According to Maslow and Rogers, what motivates human behavior and mental process?
According to Maslow and Rogers, maintain that people are innately good and that they possess free will. Humanists believe that people are capable of making conscious, rational choices, which can lead to personal growth and psychological health.
What is the focus of cognitive psychology?
The focus of cognitive psychology views humans not as passive recipients who are pushed and pulled by environmental forces, but as active participants who seek out experiences, who alter and shape those experiences, and who use mental processes to transform information in the course of their own cognitive development.
gestalt psychology
The school of psychology that emphasizes that individuals perceive objects and patterns as whole units and that the perceived whole is more that the sum of its parts.
information-processing theory
An approach to the study of mental structures and processes that uses the computer as a model for human thinking.
evolutionary psychology
The school of psychology that studies how humans have adapted the behaviors required for survival in the face of environmental pressures over the long course of evolution.
biological psychology
The school of psychology that looks for links between specific behaviors and equally specific biological processes that often help explain individual differences.
neuroscience
An interdisciplinary field that combines, biochemists, medical researchers, and other in the study of the structure and function of the nervous system.
What is the main idea behind evolutionary psychology?
The main idea behind evolutionary psychology is Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Darwin’s theory asserts that individual members of a given species who possess characteristics that help them survive are the most likely to pass on the genes underlying those characteristics to subsequent generations.
How is biological psychology changing the field of psychology?
Biological psychology is changing the field of psychology by evolutionary psychology provides explanations of how certain biologically based behaviors came to be common in an entire species.
sociocultural approach
The view that social and cultural factors may be just as powerful as evolutionary and physiological factors in affecting behavior and mental processing and that these factors must be understood when interpreting the behavior of others.
What kinds of variables interest psychologist who take a sociocultural approach?
Social and cultural influences on behavior are often studied within the broader context of a systems perspective. The primary idea behind the systems approach is that multiple factors work together holistically; that is, their combined, interactive influences on behavior are greater than the sum of the individual factors that make up the system.
psychological perspectives
General points of view used for explaining people;s behavior and thinking, whether normal or abnormal
What are psychological perspectives, and how are they related to an eclectic position?
psychological perspectives are:
behavioral perspective –– environmental factors
psychoanalytic perspective –– emotions, unconscious motivations, early childhood experiences
humanistic perspective –– subjective experiences, intrinsic motivation to achieve self-actualization
cognitive perspective –– mental process
evolutionary perspective –– inherited traits that enhance adaptability
biological perspective –– biological structures, processes, heredity
sociocultural perspective –– social and cultural variables
The perspectives are related to eclectic position by using the different perspectives to help evaluate a situation.
Match the school of psychology with its major emphasis:
__ 1. the scientific study of behavior a. Gestalt psychology
__ 2. the perception of whole units or patterns b. humanistic psychology
__ 3. the study of the unconscious c. cognitive psychology
__ 4. the use of the computer as a model d. behaviorism
for human cognition
__ 5. the uniqueness of human beings and e. information- processing theory their capacity for personal growth
__ 6. the study of mental processes f. psychoanalysis
behaviorism 1. the scientific study of behavior
Gestalt 2. the perception of whole units or patterns
psychoanalysis 3. the study of the unconscious
information-processing theory 4. the use of the computer as a model for human cognition
humanistic psychology 5. the uniqueness of human beings and their capacity for personal growth
cognitive psychology 6. the study of mental processes
A(n)______ psychologist would be interested in whether attachment is a universal feature of infant-caregiver relations.
An evolutionary psychologist would be interested in whether attachment is a universal feature of infant-caregiver rations.
A(n) _______ psychologist would be interested in the relationship between hormones and aggressive behavior.
A biological psychologist would be interested in the relationship between hormones and aggressive behavior.
Which of the following statements represent an eclectic position?
a. Individual differences in aggression are genetic, but parents and teachers can teach highly aggressive children to be less so.
b. Children who are highly aggressive have not received enough punishment for their inappropriate behavior.
c. Aggressive children are probably using aggression to release pent-up feelings of frustration.
d. Going through a trauma like parental divorce may lead to increased aggression in children because they are feeling anxious.
Which of the following statements represent an eclectic postion?
a. Individual differences in aggression are genetic, but parents and teachers can teach highly aggressive children to be less so.
d. Going through a trauma like parental divorce may lead to increased aggression in children because they are feeling anxious.
