Psychological Thinking, Theories, Models

Question 1

I. Basic theories
1. What is Psychometrics?

Answer 1

we can (and should) objectively measure behavior

Question 2

I. Basic theories
2. What is Behaviorism?

Answer 2

Behaviorism: everything we do is learned, we are born as “blank slates” and we can be reprogrammed (for example for better mental health)

Question 3

I. Basic theories
3. What is Psychoanalysis?

Answer 3

Psychoanalysis: our actions are driven by unconscious desires, if we reveal these they lose their power. Many of these come from suppressed childhood memories.

Question 4

I. Basic theories
4. What is Evolutionary psychology?

Answer 4

Evolutionary psychology: some of these “unconscious desires” are in fact genetically programmed, because psychological traits are heritable and they were affected by evolution

Question 5

I. Basic theories
5. What is Humanistic psychology?

Answer 5

Humanistic psychology: everybody is different, individual approaches to patients are necessary

Question 6

History of Psychometrics (late 19th-early 20th century onward)

Question 7

History of Psychometrics (late 19th-early 20th century onward)

Answer 7

• Let’s measure human behavior, and figure out some tendencies!
• Francis Galton (1822-1911): polymath, measured everything, invented/discovered meteorological maps, the standard deviation, the heritability of intelligence and the dog whistle! 
• Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920): the father of experimental psychology, studied psychological effects in a laboratory for the first time

Question 8

What is the The general cognitive ability?

Answer 8

Question 9

What is the best way to Measuring g?

Question 10

What is the best way to Measuring g? (general cognitive ability)

Answer 10

The best way: matrix reasoning and vocabulary

Question 11

The personality traits most often measured – Big5
=> Explain

Answer 11

Question 12

People with certain personality traits die earlier
=> Why?

Answer 12

Largest effect for conscientiousness: do these people take medical checkups and doctor’s advice more seriously?

Question 13

What are the basic ideas of Behaviorism (~1910s-1960s)?

Answer 13

Question 14

Explain Pavlov’s experiment?

Answer 14

Question 15

Explain Skinner’s experiments

Answer 15

Question 16

What are the 3 concepts in conditioning?

Answer 16

Question 17

What is response generalization?

Answer 17

we generalize our response to all similar situations (e.g: we had a bad experience with a doctor so now we are afraid of all doctors

Question 18

What is Response discrimination?

Answer 18

we learn to only show the reponse in a certain setting, not others (we had a bad experience with a doctor, but we are only afraid of him and not others)

Question 19

What is shaping?

Answer 19

• In operant conditioning, if we want a behavior that is never normally shown, we start reinforcing similar behavior in small steps to make it more similar to what we want.
• Often used in the training of circus animals which normally never jump through flaming hoops.

Question 20

What do we know about Behaviorism a hundred years later?

Answer 20

Question 21

What is Psychoanalysis (1900-?

Answer 21

Question 22

What are Some famous ideas from Freud?

Answer 22

Question 23

What are features Psychotherapy?

Answer 23

Question 24

Explain Evolutionary psychology (recent)

Answer 24

Question 25

Explain Evolutionary psychology (recent)

Answer 25

Question 26

What are Some of the best findings of psychologists

Answer 26