PSY - Introduction to Psychology

Question 1

Define behaviour.

Answer 1

Any observable action made by a living person

Question 2

Define mental processes.

Answer 2

Individual’s thoughts and feelings that are personal and cannot be directly observed

Question 3

What are the links between behaviour and mental processes?

Answer 3

Mental processes often interpreted by observing behaviour

Mental processes may influence other mental processes and/or behaviours (T>F>B)

Question 4

How does a psychologist differ from a psychiatrist?

Answer 4

PSYCHOLOGIST PSYCHIATRIST
6 years study 13 years study
Not trained to perform med proced Able to perform med proced
Can’t prescribe medications Can prescribe medications
Cannot hospitalise the involuntary Can hospitalise the involuntary

Question 5

What ins the difference between basic and applied psychology?

Answer 5

Basic: knowledge for its own sake, aka ‘pure’
Applied: study to apply in practical and relevant way

Question 6

What is clinical psychology?

Answer 6

Clinical (asses diagnose and treat mental issues)

Question 7

Define psychology.

Answer 7

The scientific study of behaviour and mental processes in humans

Aims are to describe, predict, control, and explain thoughts, feelings, and behaviours

Question 8

What does the biological perspective assume?

Answer 8

That all T/F/B involve underlying bodily activities and processes

Question 9

How has the role of neurotransmitters contributed to developments in understanding the biological perspective?

Answer 9

Chemicals which travel between neurons in nervous system, found there are 100s of NTs, eg Dopamine was found to be involved w/ complex bodily movements and emotional responses (esp. pleasure) and is in meds to treat Parkinson’s, eg Seratonin is involved w/ onset of sleep, and moods, and is in meds to treat depression

Question 10

How has the role of genes contributed to developments in understanding the biological perspective?

Answer 10

2003 Human Genome project, study link b/w genes and how we T/F/B, eg memory by breeding mice w/ new genes or w/out specific gene, determine which has memory good or bad, and so > identify genes assoc w/ memory > therapies involving genetic manipulation

Question 11

How has the role of neuroimaging contributed to developments in understanding the biological perspective?

Answer 11

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scanners in late 1980s enabled scientists to conclude that certain areas of brain are active in certain processes, most active = red/yellow, least = blue, study brain areas involved w/ perception/both types of memory/conscious experience/effects of meds/brain changes assoc w/disease or illnesses

Question 12

What does the behavioural perspective assume / study / combine with?

Answer 12

Emphasise importance of studying environmental influences on behaviour

Assumes that all behaviour can be explained in terms of learning processes

Modern day: couple w/ cognition > social-learning or social-cognitive perspective

Question 13

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 13

System whereby rewards and punishments influence behaviour

Question 14

Describe Skinner’s typical experiments.

Answer 14

Study bar or lever pressing among rats and pecking by pigeons > Skinner box > Hungry animal > Accidentally press bar that would release a food pellet > Rate of bar pressing dramatically increase > evidence of positive reinforcement (consequences determine frequency of behaviour repetition)

Skinner box w/ wire grid on floor through which mild electric current can pass > when rat presses bar, shock is removed > negative reinforcement (removal of something undesirable)

Reinforcement increased likelihood, punishment decreased likelihood (shock after pressing bar for food)

Question 15

What is behaviour therapy?

Answer 15

Using learning principles to eliminate unwanted behaviour and enact positive behavioural changes

Question 16

How does the cognitive perspective explain psychology? What does it assume?

Answer 16

Assoc w/ mental processes (esp to do w/ thinking)

How we acquire, process, remember, and use info

Assumes: internal mental processes are vital in own right and important influences on observable behaviour

Question 17

What is the information processing approach to cognitive psychology?

Answer 17

Compare human brain to computer

Receive > process > store > retrieve info

Dat inputs from environment > converted into form brain can handle > stored so easily retrievable > search for info and use appropriate mental ops to get solution or output

Also explains mental processes accompanying behaviour

Question 18

How does the connectionist approach explain cognitive psychology?

Answer 18

Different parts are interconnected by neuron networks and are more or less active at the same time when processing info

Describes info being distributed throughout entire networks w/in brain rather than being located in one specific area

Eg semantic network theory: in long term memory, related info is clustered together and are spread throughout interconnected network, closer related bits of info > closer in network > whole area searched for one specific piece of info incl related bits

Question 19

What is clinical neuropsychology?

Answer 19

Clinical Neuro (assess changes in function from brain damage/irregularities, and help manage brain damage patients)

Question 20

What is community psychology?

Answer 20

Community (community health and welfare, w/ local govt or orgs)

Question 21

What is counselling psychology?

Answer 21

Counselling (aid w/ personal and relationship issues that affect mental wellbeing)

Question 22

What is educational and developmental psychology?

Answer 22

Educational and Developmental (learning and ways behaviour and mental processes change over lifespan

Question 23

What is forensic psychology?

Answer 23

Forensic (legal and criminal justice system, criminal minds, rehab, court advice as expert, risk assessment for prisoners)

Question 24

What is health psychology?

Answer 24

Health (understanding psych factors related to physical health and illness, maintain good health behaviour, treat psych based illness, analysis of healthcare system)

Question 25

What is organisational psychology?

Answer 25

Organisational (organisations to become more efficient while maintaining wellbeing of employees)

Question 26

What is sport and exercise psychology?

Answer 26

Sport and Exercise (help elite-level, pro, and amateur athletes ache e peak performance and manage stress and life adjustment

Question 27

What is biological psychology?

Answer 27

Biological (focuses on bodily structures assoc with behaviour and mental processes, brain/nervous and endocrine and immune systems and genetics)

Question 28

What is cognitive psychology?

Answer 28

Cognitive (how people acquire, process, remember, and use info)

Question 29

What is personality psychology?

Answer 29

Personality (studies ppls ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving)

Question 30

What is social psychology?

Answer 30

Social (studies how ppls T/F/B can change in varying soc situations and the influence of other ppl - real or imagined)