Unit 1 - Day 1 (Perspectives & Subfields in Psychology)

Question 1

What is psychology?

Answer 1

Psychology is the science that studies the behavior and cognition of an organism.

Question 2

What is the behavioral perspective?

Answer 2

The behavioral perspective emphasizes the importance of studying overt behavior and describes psychological phenomena using stimulus-response language and the environment.

Question 3

What is the psychodynamic perspective?

Answer 3

The psychodynamic perspective focuses on how conflicts from early childhood determine adult behavior and suggests that conscious, subconscious, and unconscious minds interact.

Question 4

What is the humanistic perspective?

Answer 4

The humanistic perspective emphasizes an indvidual’s unique experiences and potential for growth, suggesting that people can make choices that lead to self-actualization.

Question 5

What is the cognitive perspective?

Answer 5

The cognitive perspective focuses on thinking processes, such as how people interpret, perceive, and remember events.

Question 6

What is the biological perspective?

Answer 6

The biological perspective states that all thoughts, feelings, and behaviors have a biological cause and involves studying the brain, Genetics, hormones, and nervous system.

Question 7

What is the evolutionary perspective?

Answer 7

The evolutionary perspective disputes that human behavior is a byproduct of psychological adaptations that have evolved to solve problems that recurred in ancestral times.

Question 8

What is the social-cultural perspective?

Answer 8

The social-cultural perspective focuses on how different cultural factors influence human behavior, and requires research from participants of different backgrounds.

Question 9

What is the bi-psycho-social approach?

Answer 9

An integrated viewpoint incorporates various levels of analysis and offers a more complex picture of any given behavior or mental process.

Question 10

What is the American Psychological Association?

Answer 10

The APA’s mission is to advance that creation, communication, and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives. (Currently has around 130,000 members.)

Question 11

What is biological/psychological psychology?

Answer 11

A subfield of research that examines the influence of genetic factors on behavior and the role of the brain, nervous system, endocrine system, and bodily chemicals in the regulation of behavior.

Question 12

What is developmental psychology?

Answer 12

Studies human development by looking at the physical, cognitive, and social change throughout life span.

Question 13

What is educational psychology?

Answer 13

Studies how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning; examines curriculum design, teacher training, achievement testing, student motivation, and classroom activity.

Question 14

What is personality psychology?

Answer 14

Studies individual’s characteristics, pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting by measuring consistency of behavior, which represents personality; concerned with factors that shape personality and with personality assessment.

Question 15

What is psychometrics?

Answer 15

Concerned with the measurement of behavior and capacities, usually through the development of psychological tests. It’s involved with the design of tests to assess personality, intelligence, and a range of abilities. It also develops new techniques for statistical analysis.

Question 16

What is social psychology?

Answer 16

Study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another by focusing on interpersonal behavior and the role of social forces governing behavior.

Question 17

What is clinical psychology?

Answer 17

Concerned with evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of people with psychological disorders as well as treatment of less severe behavioral and emotional problems.

Question 18

What is counseling?

Answer 18

Helps people struggling with everyday problems of moderate severity. Often specializes in family, marital, or career counseling and overlaps with clinical psychologists in terms of interviewing, testing, and providing therapy to their clients.

Question 19

What is industrial/organizational psychology?

Answer 19

Uses psychological concepts and methods to optimize human behavior in workplaces. Tasks might include running human resource departments, working to improve staff morale and attitudes, striving to increase job satisfaction and productivity, examining organizational structures and procedures, and making recommendations on improvements.

Question 20

What is a school psychologist?

Answer 20

Strives to promote the cognitive, emotional, and social developments of students, provide testing and counseling to students having difficulties in school, and aid parents and teachers in solving school-related problems.

Question 21

What is community psychology?

Answer 21

Studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups.

Question 22

What is forensic psychology?

Answer 22

Applies psych principles to legal issues such as determining the accuracy of witnesses.

Question 23

What is health psychology?

Answer 23

Uses psych concepts to help promote health and preventing disease; concentrates on biological, psychological, and social factors involved in illness and health.

Question 24

What is positive psychology?

Answer 24

Scientific study how human functioning, with the goals of discovering and prompting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities thrive.

Question 25

What is sports psychology?

Answer 25

Helps athletes refine their focus goals, increase motivation, and deal with anxiety.

Question 26

What is a clinical psychologists?

Answer 26

Has a Ph.D. (emphasis on research), Ed.D., or Psy.D. (emphasis on clinical). Studies, assesses, and treats troubled people with psychotherapy.

Question 27

What is a psychiatrist?

Answer 27

Is a medical professional M.D. Uses treatments like drugs and psychotherapy to treat psychologically diseased patients.