Topic 2 - Approaches Flashcards
What is psychology ?
The scientific study of the human mind and behaviour
What is a science ?
A means of acquiring knowledge through systematic and objective investigation.
What is introspection?
The process of observing and examining your own conscious thoughts or emotions. (Looking into)
What is empiricism?
All the knowledge of reality is gained from sensory experience.
What is inference?
Going beyond the immediate evidence to make assumptions about mental processes that cannot be directly observed.
What is classical conditioning?
Learning by association when 2 stimuli are repeatedly paired together- an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) and a neutral stimulus (NS). The neutral stimulus produces the same response as the UCS, now as a CR.
What is a stimulus?
Anything in the environment that causes a response.
What is a response?
Behaviour triggered by a stimulus in the environment.
What is operational conditioning?
Learning by consequence. Behaviour is acquired and maintained by its consequences (positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment).
What is reinforcement?
A consequence of behaviour that increases the likelihood that a behaviour is repeated.
What is punishment?
An unpleasant consequence that will result in the behaviour being less likely to be repeated
What is imitation?
Copying the behaviour of others.
What is a role model?
A person seen to posses similar characteristics to the observer and are admired for their achievement and have a high status.
What is identification?
When an observer associates themselves with a role model and wants to be like the role model.
What are mediations processes (ARMM) ?
These are cognitive processes that occur between a stimulus (role model’s behaviour) and a response (imitation). Attention, Retention, Motivation, Motor Reproduction.
What is direct reinforcement?
An individual’s behaviour is they are rewarded directly and are therefore more likely to repeat the behaviour.
What is vicarious/indirect reinforcement?
Reinforcement that occurs through observing someone else being rewarded for their behaviour. They are more likely to be motivated to imitate that behaviour.
What is a schema?
A mental structure which contains knowledge based on experience. This organises information and acts as a guide to behaviour.
What is a theoretical model?
A simplified and objective representation of how our minds might work.
What is an information processing computer model?
The mind is compared to a computer, suggesting there are similarities in the way information is processed and stored.
What is cognitive neuroscience?
The scientific study of brain structures, mechanisms, and chemistry that are responsible for cognitive processes.
What is evolution?
The change over successive generations of the genetic make up of a particular population.
What is natural selection?
The process by which inherited characteristics that enhance an individual’s reproductive success are passed on to the next generation and become more widespread.
What is heredity?
The passing of characteristics from one generation to the next through genes.
What is heritability?
The amount of variability in a trait within a population that can be attributed to genes.
What is a gene?
A section of a chromosome that carries information as DNA.
What is a genotype?
The genetic makeup of an individual.
What is a phenotype?
The observable characteristics of an individual. This is a consequence of the interaction of a genotype with the environment.
What is the CNS?
A connected system that processes and stores information and issues orders to muscles and glands. The spinal cord bridges the gap between the brain and peripheral nerves.
What is a neuron?
Nerve cell
What is a neurotransmitter?
A chemical that communicates information from one neuron to another.
What is neurochemistry?
The study of chemical and neural processes associated with the nervous system.
What is the peripheral nervous system?
The PNS is a connected system that transmits information to and from the CNS comprising of the somatic and autonomic nervous system.
What is nature vs nurture?
Environment vs genetics
What are defence mechanisms?
Unconscious strategies that involve a distortion of reality to protect our conscious mind from unpleasant emotions (e.g. anxiety) so we can cope with a situation
What is psychoanalysis?
The personality theory and therapy associated with Feud
What is the unconscious?
The part of the mind that contains repressed ideas that can’t be accessed by the conscious mind
What is the Tripartite personality?
Freud’s division of the kind into 3 structures - Ego, Id, SuperEgo
What are the psychosexual stages?
Freud’s stage theory which proposed that personality develops through a sequence of 5 stages which are driven by libido (need for pleasure)
What is free will?
The ability to act at one’s own discretion
What is the hierarchy of needs?
A motivational theory by Maslow (shown as the pyramid of needs). The most basic needs at the bottom of the hierarchy must be met for a person to progress to meeting the higher needs at the top.
What is self actualisation?
The desire to grow psychologically and fulfil one’s full potential.
What is self?
Our personal identity
What is congruency?
The match between how you see yourself (perceived self) and how you would like to be seen (ideal self)
What is unconditional positive regard?
When the love given by others is unconditional.
What are conditions of worth?
These are conditions that significant others put upon a person and they have to achieve these if they are to be loved.
