lec 1 story of psych and critical thinking

Question 1

what is psychology defined as?

Answer 1

scientific study of behaviour and mental processes

Question 2

what is behaviour defined as?

Answer 2

observable, recordable events/actions

Question 3

what are mental processes defined as?

Answer 3

unconcious states

Question 4

what are the 3 components of a scientific attitude?

Answer 4

curiosity, skepticism and humility

Question 5

what are the 4 main goals of psychology?

Answer 5

1. describle
2. explain
3. predict
4. change

Question 6

what is the focus of each of the main goals of psych?

Answer 6

1. describle- “what” occurred
2. explain- “why” behaviour or mental process occured
3. predict- “when”- conditions under which future process/behaviour is likely to occur
4. change- prevent unwanted behaviour/ bring about wanted behaviour

Question 7

what are the two subject ‘roots’ of psych?

Answer 7

philosophy and natural science

Question 8

what did each of these roots provide?

Answer 8

philsophy- ideas about how knowledge can be aquired

natrual science- understanding nervous system, senses, etc

Question 9

What idea did Aristotle bring about? (4th century bc)

Answer 9

Empiricism- environment+upbringing shape cognitive abilities

Question 10

what was john locke’s theory? (17th century)

Answer 10

tabular rosa- blank mind. We aren’t born with inate knowledge, everything we are and become is because of sense perceptions

knowledge derived from experience

Question 11

wilhem wundt (1832-1920) is considered the ‘father of psych’ with respect to his work, what is a significant event that established psychology as a science?

Answer 11

established first psych lab in Leipzig, Germany in 1879

he added measured observations and experiment which established psych as a science

Question 12

what was the wundt experiment?

Answer 12

wundt asked participants to hit a telegraph key when they;..

a) hear a ball drop
AND
b) when they’re aware that they are hearing the ball (perceiving)

Question 13

who founded, and what was the main focus of the early approach of structuralism?

Answer 13

Edward Titchener (1867-1927)

identify basic components/structures of consious experience

Question 14

what did structuralism examine, how? what are the limitations of this approach?

Answer 14

sensation+perception via introspection (self-observation)

limitations- no independant variable
-objective observations
-many variables

Question 15

Who founded the early approach of functionalism, what was its purpose?

Answer 15

William James (1842-1927)

• focused on conciousness, NOT structure
  -interaction b/w mind and environment (adapt to world)

Question 16

What was James’ belief about mental processes?

Answer 16

thinking, feeling and cognitions due to adaptation

Question 17

What important step did James make with respect to gender equality within the field of psychology? what noteable step did the woman make?

Answer 17

Accepted Mary Caulkins into the program, despite the opposite wishes of the university.

Caulkins went on to be first female president of the American Psych Association (APA)

Question 18

who pioneered the modern behavioural approach? what was the focus of it?

Answer 18

watson via skinner (1960’s)

objective, observeable environmental influences on behaviour

Question 19

what are some limitations of the behavioural approach?

Answer 19

• can’t study conscioussness b/c can’t be directly observed

-must be able to prove claims thru observations

Question 20

what was watson’s notable experiment?

Answer 20

little albert; unethical study in mid-20th century, seen as evidence of human conditioning

white rat + loud bang repeatedly to create association between the two unrelated stimuli, little Albert began fearing the white rat without the noise.

Question 21

what was skinner’s notable experiment?

Answer 21

Project Pigeon aka Project Orcon, short for Organic Control

pigeons trained to peck at a target, and were rewarded with food when task completed correctly

Question 22

who pioneered the psychoanalytical approach? what is the focus?

Answer 22

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)

unconscious mind+effects on human behaviour

unlearned biological instincts

Question 23

who founded the humanistic approach? what is the focus?

Answer 23

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) and Carl Rogers (1902-1987)

optimistic view on human behaviour

focus:-free will
-self-actualization
-positive, growth seeking human nature

Question 24

what is the cognitive approach? what does it focus on?

Answer 24

renewed intrest in cognition + biology behind it

focus:-thought perception
-info processing

Question 25

explain the biological approach

Answer 25

behaviour explained by genetics, other biologic processes in brain and nervous system
central to understanding behaviour and emotion

Question 26

what term is defined by: power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behaviour

Answer 26

behaviour genetics

Question 26

what does the evolutionary approach focus on

Answer 26

natural selection, adaptation, evolution why behaviours are formed

Question 27

why use multiple perspectives

Answer 27

possible to view the world in more than one way
better understand complex behaviour and mental processes

Question 28

name 5 fields of psychologic research

Answer 28

biologic, cognitive, developmental, social, personality

Question 29

explain the biopsychosocial approach

Answer 29

biological, psychological, and social factors come together to form perceptions