Unit 1: Psychology's History and Approaches

Question 1

Empiricism

Answer 1

The view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should rely on observation and experimentation

Question 2

Structuralism

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Functionalism

Answer 3

Exploration of how mental and behavioral processes function- how they enable the organism to adapt, survive and flourish

Question 4

Experimental psychology

Answer 4

The study of behavior and thinking using the experimental method

Question 5

Behaviorism

Answer 5

The view that psychology 1) should be an objective science that 2) Studies behavior without reference to mental processes. Most research psychologist agree with 1 and not 2

Question 6

Humanistic psychology

Answer 6

A historically significant perspective that emphasized the growth potential of healthy people

Question 7

Conditioning

Answer 7

The way our behavior is influenced by learning associations

Question 8

Cognitive neuroscience

Answer 8

The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition

Question 9

Psychology

Answer 9

The science of behavior and mental processes

Question 10

Nature – nurture issue

Answer 10

The controversy over the relative contributions that genes and experience make to the development of psychological traits and behaviors

Question 11

Natural selection

Answer 11

The principle that traits contributing to reproduction and survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations

Question 12

Levels of analysis

Answer 12

The differing complementary views, from that biological to psychological to social – culture for analyzing any given phenomenon

Question 13

Bipsychosocial approach

Answer 13

An integrated approach that incorporates biological, psychological, and social – cultural levels of analysis

Question 14

What are the three main levels of analysis?

Answer 14

Biological, psychological, social – culture

Question 15

Behavioral psychology

Answer 15

The scientific study of observable behavior, and it’s explanation by principles of learning

Question 16

Biological psychology

Answer 16

The scientific study of the links between biological and psychological processes

Question 17

Cognitive psychology

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Evolutionary psychology

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Psychodynamic psychology

Answer 19

A branch of psychology that studies how unconscious drives and conflicts influence behavior and use that info to treat people with psychological disorders

Question 20

Social cultural psychology

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Psychometrics

Answer 21

Scientific study of measurement of human abilities, attitudes, and traits

Question 22

Psychohistory

Answer 22

The psychological analysis of historical characters

Question 23

Psycholinguistics

Answer 23

The study of language and thinking

Question 24

Psychoceramics

Answer 24

Study of crackpots

Question 25

Basic research

Answer 25

Pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base

Question 26

Developmental psychology

Answer 26

A branch of psychology that studies physical, cognitive, and social change throughout the lifespan

Question 27

Educational psychology

Answer 27

The study of how psychological processes effect and can enhance teaching/learning

Question 28

Personality psychology

Answer 28

The study of individuals characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting

Question 29

Social psychology

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Applied research

Answer 30

Scientific study that aims to solve practical problems

Question 31

Industrial – organizational psychology

Answer 31

The application of psychological concepts to optimizing human behavior in workplace

Question 32

Human factors psychology

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Counseling psychology

Answer 33

A branch of psychology that assist people with problems in living and achieving a greater well-being

Question 34

Clinical psychology

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Psychiatry

Answer 35

A branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders. It is practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical treatments and psychological therapy

Question 36

Positive psychology

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Community psychology

Answer 37

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