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Psychology 100 > Module 1 > Flashcards

Module 1 Flashcards

Introduction to Psychology, its ideas and its history

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1
Q

What is psychology?

A

The scientific study of behavior and mind

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2
Q

Which disciplines is psychology rooted in?

A

(2) Philosophy and physiology

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3
Q

True or False? Early philosophers thought that the mind and body were one.

A

False, early philosophers thought that the mind and body were SEPARATE.

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4
Q

Do modern philosophers believe the mind and the body to be separate?

A

No, since the mind is understood to be “what the brain does” and is therefore not separate from the body.

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5
Q

What are the 2 types of work within psychology?

A

(2) Basic and applied work

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6
Q

What is research? Is it basic or applied?

A

Research can be both basic and applied. Basic research answers questions about the fundamental principles that govern behavior and mind, while applied research is the research done in an effort to discover a new or more effective way to solve a specific practical problem.

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7
Q

What is practice? Is it basic or applied?

A

Practice is applied. It is the actual application of techniques discovered by research to solve specific practical problems, typically by influencing behavior or changing the environment to match existing behavior.

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8
Q

Name an example of applied work.

A

Clinical practice

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9
Q

What is the difference between empiricism and nativism?

A

Empiricism is the theory that knowledge must be LEARNED, while nativism is the belief that knowledge is INNATE. Both are relevant to our understanding of how people understand the world around them.

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10
Q

Which theory/concept has largely influenced the field of psychology, especially our understanding of the function of the brain?
(Hint: Darwin)

A

The theory of evolution and the concept of natural selection

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11
Q

Who initiated the formal scientific study of psychology?

A

Wilhelm Wundt

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12
Q

Where did Wilhelm Wundt found the first psychology laboratory?

A

At the University of Leipzig in Germany

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13
Q

Explain the reasoning behind the structuralist movement in psychology.

A

The structuralist movement, the first movement in psychology, uses SYSTEMATIC INTROSPECTION to attempt at breaking down immediate conscious experience, such as sensations and feelings, to their most basic elements.

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14
Q

Explain the reasoning behind the functionalist movement in psychology.

A

The functionalist movement in psychology considers psychological processes in terms of their functions. It believes that an understanding of a behavior or process’ function was critical to understanding its operation.

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15
Q

Who is is considered the father of American psychology?

A

William James

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16
Q

Was William James a structuralist or a functionalist and where did he popularize psychology?

A

William James was a functionalist and he helped to widely popularize both psychology and functionalism in North America.

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17
Q

Which movement helped refine and improve psychology as a science and how?

A

The behaviorist movement improved psychology as a science by discounting the study of the mind and mental processes in favor of analyzing only observable behavior.

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18
Q

What helped the start of the cognitive revolution in psychology and the return to studying mental processes? Explain how.

A

The computer.

Computer processing was used as a metaphor for mental processing.

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19
Q

On which aspect of the mind did Sigmund Freud focus his research on?

A

The unconscious

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20
Q

Which method did Freud use for research?

A

Psychoanalysis, a form of psychotherapy that seeks to help clients gain more insight into their unconscious thoughts, behaviors, and motivations (to treat mental disorders)

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21
Q

What is humanistic psychology?

A

An approach to psychology that emphasizes the ability of humans to make their own choices and realize their own potential.

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22
Q

Explain the difference between the humanistic view and Freud’s view of human nature.

A

While Freud focused on the unconscious and the darker aspects of human nature, the humanists believed in people becoming their best selves and focused on positive aspects of the human condition, including creativity, choice, and the potential for growth. By shifting the focus away from the unconscious mind and onto the capacity for change, humanistic psychologists aimed to give control back to their clients.

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23
Q

Name the 3 levels of explanation that are often necessary when considering psychological phenomena.

A

Ultimate, functional, and process-oriented explanations

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24
Q

What are ultimate explanations about?

A

The evolutionary purpose of a phenomenon

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25
Q

What are functional explanations about?

A

Identifying a specific problem as the cause of a psychological phenomenon

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26
Q

What are process-oriented explanations about?

A

How a specific mental or physical process explains a psychological phenomenon (the mechanistic explanations, biological or psychological mechanisms)

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27
Q

What are the perspectives under which psychologists attempt to understand behavior and mind?

A

Evolutionary, cultural, biological, and cognitive

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28
Q

What does the word “psychology” mean?

A

(Greek) The study of the psyche, or soul

PSYCHE—“breath, spirit, soul” + LOGIA—“study of”

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29
Q

Aristotle believed the mind was like a blank slate upon which our experiences are written. What is the term for this idea?

A

Tabula rasa

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30
Q

What’s empiricism?

A

Empiricism is the view that knowledge arises directly from what we observe and experience.

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31
Q

What’s dualism?

A

The philosophical position that the mind and the body are separate entities

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32
Q

Which is NOT an example of “behavior” as defined by psychologists, the electrical impulses in the brain or the subjective emotions someone feels?

A

The subjective emotions someone feels

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33
Q

French philosopher René Descartes believed that which part of the brain could the mind exert its influence over the body and is today known to regulate sleep patterns (circadian rhythms)?

A

The pineal gland

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34
Q

Because the study of psychology is empirical, through what does the field of psychology arrive at conclusions?

A

Through observation and analysis

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35
Q

To which field of basic research does
researching how depression might develop after a TRAUMATIC event
or
describing the chemical IMBALANCES in the brain that produce debilitating anxiety
belong to?

A

Abnormal

Understanding how and why unusual and maladaptive behavioral, emotional, and thought patterns develop

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36
Q

To which field of basic research does searching for GENETIC markers for autism, extraversion, or schizophrenia belong to?

A

Behavioral genetics

Linking individual differences in behavior to genetic factors

37
Q

To which field of basic research does
figuring out how people transform sensations produced by the eyes into an understandable IMAGE
or
studying how much information people can REMEMBER over the short term
belong to?

A

Cognitive

Understanding mental processes, and how people process information in general

38
Q

To which field of basic research does
testing whether a certain chemical affects eating behavior in MICE before studying it in humans
or
drawing links between addictive behavior in RATS and in humans
belong to?

A

Comparative

Studying non-human animal behavior, often (but not always) looking for commonalities with humans

39
Q

To which field of basic research does
investigating how CHILDREN learn to speak, or why memory declines in old age
or
investigating the nature of declining mental ability with AGE
belong to?

A

Developmental

Describing and understanding how and why behavior changes across the lifespan

40
Q

To which field of basic research does linking the processing of faces to a specific area of brain CORTEX belong to?

A

Behavioral neuroscience

Linking specific behavior patterns to underlying physical components or activities in the brain

41
Q

To which field of basic research does describing how some people are EXTRAVERTED, and how extraversion predicts specific behavior patterns belong to?

A

Personality

Understanding how and why people differ, and how these differences may influence behavior

42
Q

To which field of basic research does
investigating how and why people are PERSUADED by an argument or advertisement
or
determining how people compare themselves to their PEERS
belong to?

A

Social

Studying how people understand themselves and others, and how behavior can be influenced by other people

43
Q

True or False? Most research in psychology is done with clinical or special populations, such as prisoners.

A

False, most research in psychology is done with perfectly healthy people, not clinical populations.

44
Q

True or False? Attempting to understand the causes of depression is not an example of basic research.

A

False, it belongs in the Abnormal field of basic research.

45
Q

What is translational research?

A

It is research that attempts to take basic findings and turn them into solutions for practical problems.

46
Q

Which field of applied psychology do the following belong to?

Research: Investigating the effectiveness of different kinds of advertisements

Practice: Designing a product label in ways known to increase consumer interest

A

Consumer behavior

47
Q

Which field of applied psychology do the following belong to?

Research: Testing how effective online homework is in raising understanding

Practice: Designing a textbook to take advantage of research on learning

A

Educational

48
Q

Which field of applied psychology do the following belong to?

Research: Studying which keyboard layout for helicopter pilots improves efficiency and reduces errors

Practice: Designing a user interface for a computer program with the target audience in mind

A

Human factors

49
Q

Which field of applied psychology do the following belong to?

Research: Investigating the accuracy of eyewitness memory

Practice: Testifying that a defendant is competent to stand trial

A

Forensic & Legal

50
Q

Which field of applied psychology do the following belong to?

Research: Researching ways to improve patients’ adherence to a medication regimen

Practice: Creating a public health campaign that explains known strategies for reducing HIV transmission

A

Health

51
Q

Which field of applied psychology do the following belong to?

Research: Determining what kinds of job stresses lead to increased turnover rates

Practice: Consulting with a company to improve its management training program

A

Industrial & Organizational

52
Q

Which field of applied psychology do the following belong to?

Research: Figuring out what kinds of demographic factors predict how someone will vote in a given election

Practice: Using demographic information to make decisions about where a candidate should campaign

A

Political

53
Q

Which field of applied psychology do the following belong to?

Research: Researching effective ways to prevent absenteeism in high school settings

Practice: Meeting with a student’s parents to recommend a course of action for a student with anger issues

A

School

54
Q

What is the primary difference between clinical psychologists and psychiatrists?

A

The types of training they receive.
Because psychiatrists are medical doctors and do not have the same type of training as a clinical psychologist, psychiatrists typically focus on pharmacotherapy (prescribing medications) as the primary means of treating mental illness. Most clinical psychologists lack the training to prescribe medication.

55
Q

Which type of clinician does the following?

Research: Evaluating the effectiveness of different treatments for depression

Practice: Diagnosing a mental illness; helping a client learn coping strategies to overcome his social anxiety

A

Clinical psychologists

56
Q

Which type of clinician does the following?

Research: Medical research on physical causes of mental illness

Practice: Managing a patient’s psychoactive medication

A

Psychiatrists

57
Q

Which type of clinician does the following?

Research: Developing a new technique to help veterans transition back to civilian life

Practice: Helping a married couple work through a rough patch

A

Counseling psychologists

58
Q

Which degree(s) are required to qualify as a clinical psychologist?

A

Ph.D. or Psy.D.

59
Q

Which degree(s) are required to qualify as a psychiatrist?

A

M.D.

60
Q

Which degree(s) are required to qualify as a counseling psychologist?

A

Ph.D. in counseling

Ed.D.

61
Q

True or False? Translational research can be thought of as the bridge between applied research and applied practice.

A

False, translational research can be thought of as the bridge between basic research and applied practice.

62
Q

True or False? Psychologists are usually only qualified to do either basic or applied research; few do both.

A

False

63
Q

What is the logical extreme of nativism?

A

Biological determinism

64
Q

What are the 4 basic principles involved in natural selection?

A

Variations in phenotypes, heritability, the “struggle for existence”, and variations in survival and reproduction

65
Q

There are 4 basic principles involved in natural selection. Which principle describes the fact that a trait must be able to be passed down from one generation to the next in order for it to be selected?

A

Heritability

66
Q

There are 4 basic principles involved in natural selection. Which principle describes the fact that in order for selection to occur, there must be different physical traits present in the population?

A

Variations in phenotypes

67
Q

True or False? A phenotype describes one’s genetic structure, while a genotype describes one’s physical traits.

A

False, a genotype describes one’s genetic structure, while a phenotype describes one’s physical traits.

68
Q

What is phrenology?

A

The pseudoscientific study of the shape of the human skull in an attempt to associate brain areas with specific characteristics, thoughts, or abilities

69
Q

Evidence that the Ponzo illusion exists even in newly-sighted people demonstrates what?

A

Not all knowledge is a result of experience.

70
Q

What is systematic introspection?

A

One of the first strategies to make inferences about the contents of the mind by standardizing the way conscious experiences were reported so that one person’s experiences could be compared to another’s more effectively

71
Q

What is behaviorism?

A

An approach to psychology that suggests observable behavior should be the only topic of study, ignoring conscious experience

72
Q

Name 3 factors in the rise of behaviorism.

A

Increasing skepticism regarding systematic introspection, a rise in work done by studying animal behavior, and John B. Watson’s efforts to popularize the movement

73
Q

Who is B. F. Skinner?

A

One of the leading thinkers in behaviorist psychology
He is best known for his work on operant conditioning, the study of how behavior can be modified using a system of rewards and punishments.

74
Q

True or False? Cognitive science is an umbrella term.

A

True

75
Q

Name 2 important humanists and explain how they were influential.

A

Rogers: Person-centered approach to therapy refocusing the clinical environment on the needs of the client rather than the expertise of the clinician

Abraham Maslow: Emphasized the internal driving force for humans to satisfy their basic needs for survival. Once basic needs are met, he believed that people are motivated to fulfill their psychological needs and ultimately strive for self-actualization, which is an ideal state of reaching one’s fullest potential.

76
Q

What is positive psychology?

A

A branch of psychology focused on improving human functioning and the positive side of human nature

77
Q

What was largely a reaction to Freud’s psychoanalysis?

A

The humanistic movement in clinical psychology

78
Q

Who is considered the father of modern psychology?

A

Wilhelm Wundt

79
Q

True or False? Functionalism, Structuralism, the Cognitive Revolution, Behaviorism are in the correct chronological order.

A

False, the correct chronological order is Structuralism > Functionalism > Behaviorism > the Cognitive Revolution.

80
Q

What was the fundamental disagreement between the psychoanalysts and the humanists?

A

The capacity for free will and change

81
Q

What are proximate explanations about and what do they include?

A

Describing an immediate cause of a psychological phenomenon

They include functional and process-oriented explanations.

82
Q

Why are evolutionary psychologists’ claims often difficult to verify?

A

Because it is difficult to know exactly what happened over the course of evolutionary psychology

83
Q

What is an intersectional approach?

A

It is an approach to studying cultural influences that emphasizes examining how multiple social identities intersect at the level of the individual person to alter their experiences and looks at the unique experiences that result from having multiple social identities.

84
Q

True or False? Early work on cultural influences on psychological processes focused on discovering “psychological universals” that exist across cultures.

A

True

85
Q

To what level of explanation do biological influences on psychology generally point?

A

Process-oriented explanations

86
Q

True or False? Psychologists studying cognitive influences on psychology typically investigate the role of brain structures on a problem or situation.

A

False, psychologists studying cognitive influences on psychology typically investigate the role of information processing on a problem or situation.

87
Q

Which influence (evolutionary, cultural, biological, cognitive) would we most likely be studying if we tried to understand how a “sense of fairness” developed in humans compared to capuchin monkeys?

A

Evolutionary influences

88
Q

Which (evolutionary, cultural, biological, cognitive) influence would we most likely be studying if we tried to understand the hormones and neurons involved in activating a “sense of fairness?”

A

Biological influences

Psychology 100 (5 decks)

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