Unit 1 History & Approaches

Question 1

Functionalism

Answer 1

Early school of thought promoted by James and influenced by Darwin; explored how mental and behavioral processes function - how they enable the organism to adapt, survive, and flourish.

Question 2

Experimental psychology

Answer 2

The study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method.

Question 3

Behaviorism

Answer 3

The view that psychology (1) should be an objectives science that
(2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologists today agree with (1) but not with (2).

Question 4

Humanistic psychology

Answer 4

A historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of heathy people.

Question 5

Cognitive psychology

Answer 5

The scientific study of all the mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating.

Question 6

Psychology

Answer 6

The science of behavior and mental processes.

Question 7

Nature-nurture issue

Answer 7

The longstanding controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors. Today’s science sees traits and behaviors arising from the interaction of nature and nurture.

Question 8

Natural selection

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Biopsychosocial approach

Answer 9

An integrated approach the incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural levels of analysis.

Question 10

Structuralism

Answer 10

Early school of thought promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind.

Question 11

Behavioral perspective

Answer 11

How we learn observable responses.

Question 12

Biological perspective

Answer 12

How the body and brain enable emotions, memories, and sensory experiences; how genes combine with environment to influence individual differences.

Question 13

Cognitive perspective

Answer 13

How we encode, process, store, and retrieve information.

Question 14

Evolutionary perspective

Answer 14

How the natural selection of traits has promoted the survival of genes.

Question 15

Psychodynamic perspective

Answer 15

How behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts.

Question 16

Social-cultural perspective

Answer 16

How behavior and thinking vary across situations and cultures.

Question 17

Psychometrics

Answer 17

The scientific study of the measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits.

Question 18

Basic research

Answer 18

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

Question 19

Developmental psychology

Answer 19

A branch of psychology that studies psychical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span.

Question 20

Educational psychology

Answer 20

The study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning.

Question 21

Personality psychology

Answer 21

The study of an individual’s characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Question 22

Social psychology

Answer 22

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another.

Question 23

Applied research

Answer 23

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

Question 24

Industrial-organization psychology

Answer 24

The application of psychological concepts and methods to optimizing human behavior in workplaces.

Question 25

Human factors psychology

Answer 25

An I/O psychology sub field that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use.

Question 26

Counseling psychology

Answer 26

A branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living (often related to school, work, or marriage) and in achieving greater well-being.

Question 27

Clinical psychology

Answer 27

A branch of psychology that studies, assesses, and treats people with psychological disorders.

Question 28

Psychiatry

Answer 28

A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (for example, drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.

Question 29

Community psychology

Answer 29

A branch of psychology that studies how people interact with their social environments and how social institutions affect individuals and groups.

Question 30

Positive psychology

Answer 30

The scientific study of human functioning, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive.

Question 31

Wilhelm Wundt

Answer 31

Established the first psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig, Germany.

Question 32

G. Stanley Hall

Answer 32

Wundt’s American student whom went on to establish the first formal U.S. Psychology laboratory, at Johns Hopkins University.

Question 33

William James

Answer 33

A legendary teacher-writer who authored an important 1890 psychology text.

Question 34

Mary Whiton Calkins

Answer 34

Mentored by William James. Became a pioneering memory researcher and the first woman to be president of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Question 35

Margaret Floy Washburn

Answer 35

The first woman to receive a psychology Ph.D, Washburn synthesized animal behavior research in The Animal Mind.

Question 36

Sigmund Freud

Answer 36

The controversial ideas of this famed personality theorist and therapist have influenced humanity’s self-understanding.

Question 37

John B. Watson

Answer 37

Declared for psychology to be a science, it must limit itself to observable phenomena, not unobservable concepts such as the unconscious mind. -“Little Albert”

Question 38

B. F. Skinner

Answer 38

A leading behaviorist, skinner rejected introspection and studied how consequences shape behavior.

Question 39

Carl Rogers

Answer 39

Led the humanistic psychologists.

Question 40

Ivan Pavlov

Answer 40

Pioneered the study of learning, was a Russian physiologist.

Question 41

Jean Piaget

Answer 41

The last century’s most influential observer of children. Was a Swiss biologist.

Question 42

Charles Darwin

Answer 42

Argued that natural selection shapes behaviors as well as bodies.

Question 43

Dorothea Dix

Answer 43

“I . . . call your attention to the state of the insane Persons confined within this Commonwealth, in cages.”