Topic 1

Question 1

Psychology

Answer 1

The scientific study of behavior and mental process.

Descrives, predicts, and explains human behavior and mental process

Question 2

Psychology past and present

Answer 2

Originally considered a part of philosophy

Formally begin in late 19th century

Question 3

5 Primary schools of thought

Answer 3

Structuralism

Functionalism

Behaviorism

Cognitivism

Psychoanalysis

Question 4

Structuralism

Answer 4

Wilhelm Wundt and E.B Titchener

Wundt credidted as founder

Established 1st psychology lab

understand the structure and characteristics of the mind through introspection

Emphasized systematic observation to study consciousness

Question 5

Functionalism

Answer 5

Willam James - 1st American psych

Drew from the functionality of the cognitive process, establishing functionalism

What the mind does and how behavior functions

Perspectives influenced by the theory of natural selection

Question 6

Psychodynamic

Answer 6

Found by Sigmund Freud

Studies hysteria & neurosis

Theorized that many of his patient’s problems arose from the unconscious mind

access the unconscious mind through dream analysis

Focuses on the role of the person unconscious in early childhood experiences

Question 7

Behaviorism

Answer 7

John B. Watson (Father of behaviorism):

• believed that objective analysis of the mind was impossible
• instead focuses on observable behavior and ways to control it
• used today in behavioral therapy and CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)

B. F skinner:

• Constructed on how behavior was affected by its consequences
• studied the principles of modifying behavior through reinforcement and punishment which he saw as major factors in driving behavior

Question 8

Cognitivism

Answer 8

Piaget and Neisser

understand mental processes underlying thinking

thinking affects our behavior - not about reward or punishment but about interpretation

Question 9

How do we learn

Answer 9

Authority

Observation

Reason

Question 10

Scientific method

Answer 10

Identify question of interest

Formulate explaination

Carry out research to support/refute

Question 11

Scientific theory

Answer 11

Explantion for a large number of findings in the natural world

Testable prediction is called a hypothesis

Question 12

Bias Awareness

Answer 12

best scienttist are aware of their biases

Question 13

Confirmation Bias

Answer 13

Tendency to see out evidence that supports our hypothesis

neglecting or distorting contrary evidence

Question 14

Belief Perseverance

Answer 14

Tendency to stick to our initial belief even when evidence is contradictory

The “don’t confuse me with facts” bias

Question 15

Psychological Pseudosience

Answer 15

Set claims that seem scientific but lack defenses from bias

Imposters of science

Question 16

Pseudoscience (Warning signs)

Answer 16

use of psychobabble

Lack of self-concern

Overreliance on anecdotal evidence

Extraodinary claims without extraordinary evidence

Question 17

Our attraction to pseudoscience

Answer 17

paternity:

• Tendency to detect meaningful patterns in random stimuli

Finding comfort in our own beliefs:

• terror management theory
• we experience anxiety because we know death is inevitable
• to manage anxiety we see worldviews that provide meaning

Question 18

Antidote for Pseudoscience

Answer 18

thinking scientifucally

Separate science from pseudoscience

avoid common logical fallacies

Question 19

Common logical fallacies

Answer 19

Emotional reasoning fallacy: using emotions rather than evidence

Bandwagon fallacy: Lots of people belive it so it must be true

Not me fallacy: other people have those biases, not me

Question 20

Dangers of Pseudoscience

Answer 20

Opportunity cost: investing, time, energy …

Direct harm: sometimes do direct harm to those who receive

Blocks critical thinking: one domain spills over into other critical issues

Question 21

Critical thinking

Answer 21

set of skills to evaluate claims open-mindedly and carefully

Question 22

Six principles of scientific thinking

Answer 22

Ruling out rival hypotheses:

• Important alternate explanations should be considered

Correlation Vs Causation:

• we can’t be sure variable A causes variable B

Falsifiability:

• Can this claim be disproven
• good theories are sometimes bold and can be proven wrong

Replicability:

• is it possible to duplicate scientific findings

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence;

• is evidence as convincing as the claim

Occam’s Razor

• Does a simpler explanation for the data exist

Question 23

Modern Psycology

Answer 23

Experimental psychology:

• Research focuses

Clinical Psychology:

• treatment, assessment diagnosis
• Science practitioner model

Question 24

How psychology affects our lives

Answer 24

Basic Research:

• Examines how the mind works

Applied Research:

• Utilizes the research in everyday life to solve real-world problems