PSY1010 - Module 1

Question 1

What is Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific investigation of mental processes, (such as thinking, remembering and feeling), the investigation of behaviour and the investigation of the interaction between mental processes and behaviour

Question 2

Two processes that interact and constraints within which people think, feel and act

Answer 2

Biology and Culture

Question 3

What is Biopsychology

Answer 3

• Biological boundary of psychology

* Examines the physical basis of motivation, emotion and stress

Question 4

Localisation of function

Answer 4

discrete brain regions play a significant role in discrete of mental functioning

Question 5

Cultural influences and psychology

Answer 5

influence of a membership in a larger group

Question 6

Types of Cultural Psychologists

Answer 6

PSYCHOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGISTS: study psychological phenomenon through naturalistic observation
CROSS-CULTURAL PSYCHOLOGISTS: investigate psychological hypothesis in other cultures

Question 7

Philosophical Issues of Psychology

Answer 7

• free will vs determination
• nature (biology) vs nurture (environment)
• rationalism vs empiricism
• reason vs emotion
• continuity vs discontinuity with other animals
• individualism vs relationality
• conscious vs unconscious
• mental vs physical (mind/body)

Question 8

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 8

• moved from philosophy to scientific approach

* established first experimental psychological labratory

Question 9

Edward Titchner

Answer 9

• proponent of structuralism (the structure of conscious function)
• used introspection to understand structure

Question 10

William James

Answer 10

• proponent of functionalism (the structure of what is done)
• attempt to explain, not merely describe
• psychological processes directing peoples behaviour

Question 11

Paradigms of Psychology

Answer 11

1. Psychodynamic - Freud
2. Behaviourist - Pavlov, Watson, Skinner
3. Humanistic - Rodgers, Maslow
4. Cognitive - Gestalt
5. Evolutionary - Darwin ideas

Question 12

Psychodynamic Perspective

Answer 12

*Freud
*Conscious and unconscious forces
mental processes can conflict causing anxiety
*uses speech and dream analysis

Question 13

Behaviourist Perspective

Answer 13

• Pavlov, Watson, Skinner
• Environmental stimuli control behaviour through learning
• behaviour can be understood without reference to internal states
• classical conditioning
• operant conditioning
• consequences: positive = reinforcing; negative = punishing
• relations between stimuli and behaviour

Question 14

Humanistic Perspective

Answer 14

• Rodgers, Maslow
• uniqueness of the individual
• self-actualisation
• person-centred
• unconditional positive regard

Question 15

Cognitive Perspective

Answer 15

• based on Wundt’s ideas; Gestalt
• the way people perceive, process and retrieve information
• mental processes (people are like a computer)

Question 16

Evolutionary Perspective

Answer 16

• human behaviours evolved because they helped our ancestors survive
• some behaviours biologically determined (sex, eating)
• eugenics - aims at improving genetic quality

Question 17

Contributions of the different perspectives

Answer 17

PSYCHODYNAMIC - unconscious processes, conflict, early experiences
BEHAVIOURAL - learning (modified by consequences)
HUMANISTIC - unique individual and motivation to achieve goals
COGNITIVE - thought and memory
EVOLUTIONARY - why we feel, think or behave