Unit 1: Psychology's History and Approaches

Question 1

critical thinking

Answer 1

thinking that doesn’t blindly accept arguments or conclusions
- rather exams assumptions, appraises the source, discerns hidden biases, evaluates evidence, and assesses conclusions

Question 2

scientific attitude

Answer 2

contains 3 key elements which support scientific inquiry
- 1. Curiosity
- 2. Skepticism (How do you know?, What do you Mean?)
- 3. Humility (Researchers must be willing to be surprised and follow new ideas)

Question 3

empiricism

Answer 3

the idea that knowledge comes from experience, and that observation and experimentation enable scientific knowledge

Question 4

structuralism (objective introspection)

Answer 4

an early school of though promoted by Wundt and Titchener; used introspection to reveal the structure of the human mind

• experiences can be broken down into emotions and sensations; How do different things make you feel?

Question 5

introspection

Answer 5

the process of looking inward in an attempt to directly observe one’s own psychological processes

Question 6

functionalism

Answer 6

an 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

• How does consciousness impact everyday life?

Question 7

behaviorism

Answer 7

the view that psychology should (1) be an objective science that (2) studies behavior without reference to mental processes

• focused solely on observable behavior

Question 8

humanistic psychology

Answer 8

a historically significant perspective that emphasized human growth potential

Maslow and Rogers

Question 9

cognitive psychology

Answer 9

the study of mental processes, such as occur when we perceive, learn, remember, think, communicate, and solve problems

Question 10

cognitive neuroscience

Answer 10

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

Question 11

psychology

Answer 11

the science of behavior and mental processes

Question 12

nature-nurture issue

Answer 12

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 13

natural selection

Answer 13

the principle that inherited traits that better enable an organism to survive and reproduce in a particular environment will (in competition with other trait variations) most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.

Question 14

evolutionary psychology

Answer 14

the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection

Question 15

behavior genetics

Answer 15

the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

Question 16

culture

Answer 16

the enduring behaviors, ideas, attributes, values, and traditions hared by a group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next

Question 17

positive psychology

Answer 17

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

Question 18

biopsychosocial approach

Answer 18

an integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social-cultural view points

Question 19

behavioral psychology

Answer 19

the scientific study of observable behavior, and its explanation by principles of learning

Question 20

biological psychology

Answer 20

the scientific study of the links between biological (genetic, neural, hormonal) and psychological processes

Question 21

biological influences (examples)

Answer 21

genetic predispositions (genetically influenced traits)
genetic mutations
natural selection of adaptive traits and behaviors passed down through generations
genes responding to the environment

Question 22

psychological influences (examples)

Answer 22

learned fears and other learned expectations
emotional responses
cognitive processing and perceptual interpretations

Question 23

social-cultural influences

Answer 23

presence of others
cultural, societal, and family expectations
peer and other group influences
compelling models (media)

Question 24

psychodynamic psychology

Answer 24

a branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior and uses that information to treat people with psychological disorders

• emphasis on development of self and relationships

Question 25

social-cultural psychology

Answer 25

the study of how situations and cultures affect our behavior and thinking

Question 26

testing effect

Answer 26

enhanced memory after retrieving, rather than simply rereading, information. Also referred to as a retrieval practice effect or test-enhanced learning

Question 27

SQ3R

Answer 27

a study method incorporating 5 steps: Survey, Question, Read, Retrieve, Review

Question 28

psychometrics

Answer 28

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

Question 29

basic research

Answer 29

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

Question 30

developmental pyschology

Answer 30

a branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the life span

Question 31

educational psychology

Answer 31

the study of how psychological processes affect and can enhance teaching and learning

Question 32

personality psychology

Answer 32

the study of individuals’ characteristic patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting

Question 33

social psychology

Answer 33

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

Question 34

applied research

Answer 34

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

Question 35

industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology

Answer 35

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

Question 36

human factors psychology

Answer 36

a field of psychology allied with I/O psychology that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be safe and easy to use

Question 37

counseling psychology

Answer 37

a branch of psychology that assists people with problems in living and achieving greater well being

Question 38

clinical psychology

Answer 38

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

Question 39

psychiatry

Answer 39

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders, practiced by physicians who are licensed to provide medical treatments as well as psychological therapy

Question 40

community psychology

Answer 40

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

Question 41

psychoanalysis

Answer 41

created by Sigmund Freud, stressed the importance of early childhood experiences

• also focused on sexual frustration as a cause of mental instability
• principles are still used today

Question 42

gestalt psychology

Answer 42

created by Max Wertheimer
- gestalt is German for “an organized whole”
- sensations and emotions cannot be broken down into smaller pieces

Question 43

scientific method

Answer 43

a system for reducing bias and error in the measurement of data

1. ask a question
2. do background research
3. construct a hypothesis
4. test your hypothesis by doing an experiment
5. analyze your data and draw a conclusion
6. report your results. was the hypothesis correct?

Question 44

observer effect