Unit 1: History and Approaches

Question 1

empiricism

Answer 1

the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science shold, therefore, rely on observations and experimentation

Question 2

structuralism

Answer 2

engages people in self-reflective introspective (looking inward), introduced by Edward Bradford Titchener, explores structural elements of the human mind

Question 3

functionalism

Answer 3

a school of psychology that focused on how our mental-behavioral processes function– how they enable us to adapt, survive, and flourish

Question 4

experimental psychology

Answer 4

the study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

Question 5

psychology

Answer 5

the scientific study of observable behavior and mental processes

Question 6

behaviorism

Answer 6

the view that psychology:

1. should be an objective science that
2. studies behavior without reference

Question 7

humanistic psychology

Answer 7

historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people and the individual’s potential for personal growth

Question 8

cognitive neuroscience

Answer 8

the interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition (including psychology, thinking, memory and language)

Question 9

mental processes

Answer 9

internal, subjective experiences we infer from behavior (sensations, perception, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, feelings)

Question 10

nature vs nuture issue

Answer 10

controversy over the relative contributions of biology and experience

Question 11

natural selection

Answer 11

the principle, that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those contributing to reproduction and survival will be most likely to be passed on

*nurture works on what nature dissolves

Question 12

levels of analysis

Answer 12

the different complementary view, from biological to psychological to social/cultural, for analyzing any given phenomenon

Question 13

biopsychosocial approach

Answer 13

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis

Question 14

biological psych

Answer 14

branch of Y that studies the links between biological (including neuroscience and behavior genetics) and psychological processes

EX. how heredity affects an individual’s temperament

Question 15

evolutionary psych

Answer 15

study of the roots of behavior & mental processes using the principles of natural selection

EX. how anger helped our ancestors’ genes survive

Question 16

psychodynamic psych

Answer 16

branch of Y that studies how unconscious drives/conflicts influence behavior
(Freud)

EX. use that info to treat Y-ological disorders

Question 17

behavior psych

Answer 17

scientific study of observable behavior

EX. what stimuli triggers aggressive response

Question 18

cognitive psych

Answer 18

scientific study of all mental activites connected w/ thinking, knowing, remembering, & communicating

EX. how anger affects our thinking

Question 19

humanisitc perspective

Answer 19

historically important approach

EX. understanding how anger affects a person’s personal fulfillment

Question 20

social cultural psych

Answer 20

study of how situations & cultures affect behavior and thinking

EX. study anger as an expression across many cultures

Question 21

psychometrics

Answer 21

scientific study of measurement of human abilities, attitudes, & traits

Question 22

basic research

Answer 22

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

Question 23

applied research

Answer 23

aimed to solve practical problems

Question 24

industrial-organizational psych (I/O)

Answer 24

help train/select employees, boost productivity, implement systems, design products

Question 25

human factors psych

Answer 25

interaction of perople, machines, and physical environments

Question 26

counseling psychologists

Answer 26

help patients cope with crises

use tests, provide therapy, conduct research

Question 27

clinical psychologists

Answer 27

diagnose and treat mental, emotional, & behavior disorders

use tests, provide therapy, conduct research

Question 28

psychiatrists

Answer 28

medical doctors licensed to prescribe drugs and treat pshysical cashes of disorders, sometimes provide psychotherapy