Psychology Exam

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Question 2

Behavior

Answer 2

Everything that a person does that can be directly observed.

Question 3

Mental Processes

Answer 3

The thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us experiences privately but that cannot be observed directly.

Question 4

Biological Approach

Answer 4

Body, especially brain and nervous system, neuroscience

Question 5

Neuroscience

Answer 5

Scientific study of nervous system; structure, function, development, genetics and biochemistry

Physical basis in the brain for behavior/thought

Question 6

Behavioral Approach

Answer 6

Environmental Determinants of observational behavior
Classical conditioning

Reject explanations
Referencing thought

Notable behaviorists:
John Watson
B.F. Skinner

Question 6

Psychodynamic Approach

Answer 6

Unconscious conflicts

Childhood experiences with

Parents

Sexual Instinct

Freud

Psychoanalysis

Question 7

Humanistic Approach

Answer 7

Positive Human Qualities/Potential

Free Will / Personal Choice

Question 8

Cognitive Approach

Answer 8

Mental processes involved
in knowing and thinking

Memory, planning,
problem solving,
perceiving

Mind as active, not passive

Question 9

Evolutionary Approach

Answer 9

Explanations of Human Behavior:
* adaptation
* reproduction
* natural selection

Notable Evolutionary
Psychologist
* David Buss

Question 10

Sociocultural Approach

Answer 10

Social and Cultural Environments

Differences
* between ethnic and cultural
groups
* within and across countries

Question 11

Adaptive and Maladaptive Behavior

Answer 11

Life rarely goes as expected. When faced with an obstacle, we can adapt or not.

Question 12

Adaptive Behavior

Answer 12

Making the choice to solve a problem or minimize an unwanted outcome. You might do something you don’t want to do or find a way to work around it. You’re adjusting to circumstances.

For example, an avid reader who is losing their vision may adapt by learning braille or buying audiobooks. They find a way to continue enjoying books.

Question 13

Maladaptive Behavior

Answer 13

Refusal to adapt.

Not acknowledging vision loss or the need for change. It feels out of control and painful to think about, so no action is taken.

They end up missing out on something they enjoy.

Question 14

Maladaptive behavior example: Avoidance

Answer 14

Continually avoiding a situation that you should not

Avoidance Behaviors include:
Not making eye contact during conversations
Speaking too softly or not at all
Not asking questions when you need information

Question 15

Maladaptive behavior example: Withdrawal

Answer 15

When avoidance is your usual strategy, you are basically withdrawing from social interaction. This can result in anxiety and isolation.

Question 16

Maladaptive behavior example: Passive Aggressive behavior

Answer 16

When a person says one thing but really
meaning something else

Question 17

Maladaptive behavior example: Self harm

Answer 17

Pulling out hair, cutting, burning skin, refusal to take meds

Question 18

Maladaptive behavior example: Anger

Answer 18

Uncontrolled anger doesn’t solve problems.
It alienates others and hampers your ability to communicate effectively.

Question 19

Maladaptive behavior example: Substance abuse/ Self medication

Answer 19

Any escape from reality is temporary at best.
This behavior can lead to emotional and physical addiction, creating a whole new set of problems.

Question 20

Research method: Case Studies

Answer 20

In-depth investigation of a single individual, family, event, or other entity.

Question 21

Research method: Experiments

Answer 21

A series of observations conducted under controlled conditions to study a relationship with the purpose of drawing causal inferences about that relationship.

Question 22

Research method: Observational Study

Answer 22

Research in which the experimenter passively observes the behavior of the participants without any attempt at intervention or manipulation of the behaviors being observed.

Question 23

Research method: Surveys

Answer 23

A study in which a group of participants is selected from a population and data about or opinions from those participants are collected, measured, and analyzed.

Question 24

Research method: Content Analysis

Answer 24

A method used to analyze qualitative data (non-numerical data).

Question 25

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Answer 25

Comprised of the brain
and spinal cord.

Question 26

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Answer 26

consists of the nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body.
– The function of the PNS is to direct information to and from the brain and spinal cord.
– It also carries out the commands of the CNS.
– The PNS is comprised of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

Question 27

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 27

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movement and relays sensory information to the central nervous system

Question 28

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 28

The part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.