Psychology Exam Flashcards
Psychology
The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Behavior
Everything that a person does that can be directly observed.
Mental Processes
The thoughts, feelings, and motives that each of us experiences privately but that cannot be observed directly.
Biological Approach
Body, especially brain and nervous system, neuroscience
Neuroscience
Scientific study of nervous system; structure, function, development, genetics and biochemistry
Physical basis in the brain for behavior/thought
Behavioral Approach
Environmental Determinants of observational behavior
Classical conditioning
Reject explanations
Referencing thought
Notable behaviorists:
John Watson
B.F. Skinner
Psychodynamic Approach
Unconscious conflicts
Childhood experiences with
Parents
Sexual Instinct
Freud
Psychoanalysis
Humanistic Approach
Positive Human Qualities/Potential
Free Will / Personal Choice
Cognitive Approach
Mental processes involved
in knowing and thinking
Memory, planning,
problem solving,
perceiving
Mind as active, not passive
Evolutionary Approach
Explanations of Human Behavior:
* adaptation
* reproduction
* natural selection
Notable Evolutionary
Psychologist
* David Buss
Sociocultural Approach
Social and Cultural Environments
Differences
* between ethnic and cultural
groups
* within and across countries
Adaptive and Maladaptive Behavior
Life rarely goes as expected. When faced with an obstacle, we can adapt or not.
Adaptive Behavior
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.
Maladaptive Behavior
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.
Maladaptive behavior example: Avoidance
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
Maladaptive behavior example: Withdrawal
When avoidance is your usual strategy, you are basically withdrawing from social interaction. This can result in anxiety and isolation.
Maladaptive behavior example: Passive Aggressive behavior
When a person says one thing but really
meaning something else
Maladaptive behavior example: Self harm
Pulling out hair, cutting, burning skin, refusal to take meds
Maladaptive behavior example: Anger
Uncontrolled anger doesn’t solve problems.
It alienates others and hampers your ability to communicate effectively.
Maladaptive behavior example: Substance abuse/ Self medication
Any escape from reality is temporary at best.
This behavior can lead to emotional and physical addiction, creating a whole new set of problems.
Research method: Case Studies
In-depth investigation of a single individual, family, event, or other entity.
Research method: Experiments
A series of observations conducted under controlled conditions to study a relationship with the purpose of drawing causal inferences about that relationship.
Research method: Observational Study
Research in which the experimenter passively observes the behavior of the participants without any attempt at intervention or manipulation of the behaviors being observed.
Research method: Surveys
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.
Research method: Content Analysis
A method used to analyze qualitative data (non-numerical data).
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Comprised of the brain
and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
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.
Somatic Nervous System
The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary movement and relays sensory information to the central nervous system
Autonomic Nervous System
The part of the nervous system responsible for control of the bodily functions not consciously directed, such as breathing, the heartbeat, and digestive processes.
