Psych Flashcards
What is psychology?
The study of the human psyche (total mind).
What are the three major schools of thought in psychology?
Psychoanalytic theory, behaviourism, and learning theory.
What do psychologists study?
Factors that influence individual behaviour, clinical or patient-based study, experimental or research-based study, and applying individual knowledge to understand all people.
What is the conscious mind?
The active and awake mind where decisions are thought about and made.
What is the unconscious mind?
The dormant or latent mind that influences behaviours while awake and processes data/experiences while asleep.
What is the Id?
A part of the mind that seeks to meet basic physical needs and desires (e.g., food, sex, sleep).
What is the Super Ego?
A part of the mind that seeks to meet our most ideal standards, such as morality and social acceptability.
What is the Ego?
A part of the mind that acts as the balance between the Id and Super Ego.
What does ‘neurotic’ mean?
A state of mental disorder, often the result of unresolved conflicts or issues from childhood.
What is a stimulus/response?
An event that stimulates the senses and the response that follows.
What are the typical questions in psychoanalytic theory?
How does the unconscious mind affect our actions? How can we understand and unlock the unconscious mind?
What is the central approach of psychoanalytic theory?
Unlocking the unconscious mind through dream analysis, hypnosis, and understanding connections between life and unconscious manifestations.
What is a key limitation of psychoanalytic theory?
It was not scientifically researched by Freud and is a collection of ideas without proof.
Who is the main theorist of psychoanalytic theory?
Sigmund Freud.
What are the typical questions in learning theory?
How do humans learn behaviour? What mechanisms help people learn behaviour?
What is the central approach of learning theory?
By controlling how humans learn, we can influence behaviour and personality, leading to permanent behavioural changes.
Who are the main theorists of learning theory?
Watson, Skinner, and Bandura.
What is a key limitation of learning theory?
The factors that lead to learning have not been fully established, and more research is needed.
What is classical conditioning?
A process where learned associations between stimuli influence behaviour (e.g., Pavlov’s experiments).
What is operant conditioning?
A learning process where behaviour is influenced by rewards or punishments (e.g., Skinner’s experiments).
What is social learning theory?
The idea that behaviour is learned through observation (e.g., Bandura’s Bobo experiment).
What are the typical questions in behaviourism?
How can animal experiments help explain human behaviour? Do children respond better to strict or flexible rules?
What is the central approach of behaviourism?
Identifying motivations for behaviour to control or correct behaviour.
Who are the main theorists of behaviourism?
John B. Watson and Benjamin Spock.
What is a key limitation of behaviourism?
It views people as ‘tabula rasa’ (blank slates) and ignores heredity, making it difficult to apply to everyone.
What was John B. Watson’s contribution to behaviourism?
He believed behaviour could be modified and demonstrated classical conditioning in humans (e.g., Little Albert experiment).
What was Benjamin Spock’s contribution to behaviourism?
He studied psychoanalysis to understand children’s needs and family dynamics and promoted flexible and affectionate parenting.
How do psychologists conduct research?
Through clinical studies, experiments, and applying ethical research practices.
What are some ethical considerations in psychological research?
Ensuring participants are treated ethically, avoiding harm, and obtaining informed consent.
What are the differences between clinical and experimental psychology?
Clinical psychology focuses on patient-based studies, while experimental psychology focuses on research-based studies.
What is the impact of psychoanalytic theory on human behaviour?
It highlights the role of the unconscious mind and early childhood experiences in shaping behaviour.
What is the impact of learning theory on human behaviour?
It provides insights into how behaviour is learned and how it can be modified through conditioning or observation.
What is the impact of behaviourism on human behaviour?
It emphasizes the role of external stimuli and behaviour modification in shaping behaviour.
