Chapter 1 (Sections 1.1,1.2,1.3)

psychology is what kind of science?

social science

An empirical method for acquiring knowledge is one based on what?

observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities.

what does the greek word psyche mean?

soul

What is the definition of psychology?

the scientific study of behavior and the mind

what does ology mean?

the study of

What does behaviorism focus on as a means of understanding people?

-Watson was a major proponent of shifting the focus of psychology from the mind to behavior, and this approach of observing and controlling behavior came to be known as behaviorism. -A major object of study by behaviorists was learned behavior and its interaction with inborn qualities of the organism. -Behaviorism commonly used animals in experiments under the assumption that what was learned using animal models could, to some degree, be applied to human behavior. -Behaviorism is largely responsible for establishing psychology as a scientific discipline through its objective(unbiased) methods and especially experimentation. -it sees human behavior as entirely determined by a combination of genetics and environment.

5 scientific perspectives in psychology: Bio Psychology

-biological structures (brain,etc.) and biological processes affect behavior -ex: chemical imbalance, hormones

what are some causes of depression?

-genetics -failure -trauma -stressful environment -chemical imbalance in the brain -thoughts about self

What are the four goals of psychology? (in class)

1.) Description 2.) Prediction 3.) Explanation 4.) Change

What are the two non-scientific perspectives?

1.) Psychoanalytic Theory 2.) Humanism

What are the 5 scientific perspectives in psychology? (basically these perspectives answer the question: what causes behavior?)

1.)Behaviorism 2.)Cognitive Psychology 3.)Bio psychology 4.)Evolutionary Perspective 5.)Social Perspective (Social Psychology)

what does psychology refer to?

scientific study of the mind, and behavior .

How does the cognitive perspective (cognitive psychology) explain behavior?

-Behaviorism's emphasis on objectivity and focus on external behavior had pulled psychologists' attention away from the mind for a prolonged period of time. The early work of the humanistic psychologists redirected attention to the individual human as a whole, and as a conscious and self-aware being. By the 1950s, new disciplinary perspectives in linguistics, neuroscience, and computer science were emerging, and these areas revived interest in the mind as a focus of scientific inquiry. This particular perspective has come to be known as the cognitive revolution -psychology's focus on behavior was short-sighted and that the field had to re-incorporate mental functioning into its purview if it were to offer any meaningful contributions to understanding behavior -the cognitive revolution helped reestablish lines of communication between European psychologists and their American counterparts. Furthermore, psychologists began to cooperate with scientists in other fields, like anthropology, linguistics, computer science, and neuroscience, among others. This interdisciplinary approach often was referred to as the cognitive sciences, and the influence and prominence of this particular perspective resonates in modern-day psychology (Miller, 2003). -ex from textbook on men vs. women behavior. they both have different minds -cultural differences cause different behavior responses due to the minds of different cultures, well being different. -men and women are different -cultures are different -children and elderly are different -these differences in the mind cause different behaviors -cognitive psychology is the area of psychology that focuses on studying cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to our experiences and our actions. Like biological psychology, cognitive psychology is broad in its scope and often involves collaborations among people from a diverse range of disciplinary backgrounds.

Distinguish clinical psychology from counseling psychology.

-Clinical psychology is the area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior. As such, it is generally considered to be a more applied area within psychology; however, some clinicians are also actively engaged in scientific research. (psychiatrist) -Counseling psychology is a similar discipline that focuses on emotional, social, vocational, and health- related outcomes in individuals who are considered psychologically healthy. (therapist)

how does the empirical method relate to psychology as a science?

-Given that any behavior is, at its roots, biological, some areas of psychology take on aspects of a natural science like biology. -science uses the empirical method to test hypothesis, and since psychology is like a natural science, it needs to use the scientific method, therefore the empirical method

What are the important factors guiding behavior according to humanism?

-Humanism is a perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate(natural/inbred) to all humans. -Maslow asserted that so long as basic needs necessary for survival were met (e.g., food, water, shelter), higher-level needs (e.g., social needs) would begin to motivate behavior. -According to Maslow, the highest-level needs relate to self-actualization, a process by which we achieve our full potential. -self actualization (inner fullfilment) -esteem (self-worth, accomplishment, confidence) -social (family, friendship,belonging,intimacy) -security (assets, safety,employment) -physiological (food, water,shelter,warmth)

According to psychoanalytic theory, what are the important things that determine behavior?

-Psychoanalytic theory focuses on the role of a person's unconscious, as well as early childhood experiences, and this particular perspective dominated clinical psychology for several decades. -The method of psychoanalysis involves the patient talking about their experiences and selves -the importance of childhood experiences in adult motivations, the role of unconscious versus conscious motivations in driving our behavior, the fact that motivations can cause conflicts that affect behavior, the effects of mental representations of ourselves and others in guiding our interactions, and the development of personality over time.

What does social psychology emphasize in explaining behavior?

-Social psychology focuses on how we interact with and relate to others. -Social psychologists conduct research on a wide variety of topics that include differences in how we explain our own behavior versus how we explain the behaviors of others, prejudice, and attraction, and how we resolve interpersonal conflicts. Social psychologists have also sought to determine how being among other people changes our own behavior and patterns of thinking.

Describe the focus of biopsychology. What is evolutionary psychology?

-biopsychology explores how our biology influences our behavior. -many biological psychologists want to understand how the structure and function of the nervous system is related to behavior -The research interests of biological psychologists span a number of domains, including but not limited to, sensory and motor systems, sleep, drug use and abuse, ingestive behavior, reproductive behavior, neurodevelopment, plasticity of the nervous system, and biological correlates of psychological disorders. -This interdisciplinary approach is often referred to as neuroscience, of which biological psychology is a component -While biopsychology typically focuses on the immediate causes of behavior based in the physiology of a human or other animal, evolutionary psychology seeks to study the ultimate biological causes of behavior. To the extent that a behavior is impacted by genetics, a behavior, like any anatomical characteristic of a human or animal, will demonstrate adaption to its surroundings. (evolutionary psychology) -One other drawback of evolutionary psychology is that the traits that we possess now evolved under environmental and social conditions far back in human history, and we have a poor understanding of what these conditions were. This makes predictions about what is adaptive for a behavior difficult. Behavioral traits need not be adaptive under current conditions, only under the conditions of the past when they evolved, about which we can only hypothesize. -There are many areas of human behavior for which evolution can make predictions. Examples include memory, mate choice, relationships between kin, friendship and cooperation, parenting, social organization, and status -Evolutionary psychologists have had success in finding experimental correspondence between observations and expectations. In one example, in a study of mate preference differences between men and women that spanned 37 cultures, Buss (1989) found that women valued earning potential factors greater than men, and men valued potential reproductive factors (youth and attractiveness) greater than women in their prospective mates. In general, the predictions were in line with the predictions of evolution, although there were deviations in some cultures.

4 Goals of Psychology: Change

-how can we make them do it , or not do it? (or think, or feel?)

5 scientific perspectives in psychology: Cognitive Psychology

-how we process information ("think") affects behavior -cognitive therapy is the most effective when it comes to depression -this is currently the dominant perspective in psychology

5 scientific perspectives in psychology: Evolutionary Perspective

-inherited, adaptive psychological traits affect behavior

Two non-scientific perspectives: Humanism

-people are basically good -opposite from psychoanalytic theory -conscious choices guide out actions (free will) -strive for "self-actualization" (to actually become yourself/inner child) -be the best YOU

5 scientific perspectives in psychology: Behaviorism

-rewards and punishments affect behavior -we learn to behave the way that we do (ex: good or bad)

what are some indicators of depression?

-sadness -isolation/loneliness -self-doubt -suicidal thoughts, etc. -sleep issues -eating issues -loss of interest in doing things (especially fun things)

5 scientific perspectives in psychology: Social Perspective (Social Psychology)

-study of how individual behavior is affected by the presence of others -cultural and social situations

Two non-scientific perspectives: Psychoanalytic Theory

-the unconscious mind guides behavior (through unconscious motives) -unconscious is like the subconscious (fears,desires,memories). -it's "hidden" from you. You can't be aware of it. -basically saying " your life is controlled by the unconscious and there's nothing you can do about it. -there's no way to test this idea -childhood experiences strongly affect behavior -no evidence to hold up this theory from Freud. -basically Freud is saying that "people are bad"

4 Goals of Psychology: Description

-what did they do? (or think, or feel....?) -describe characteristics

4 Goals of Psychology: Prediction

-when will they do it? (or think it, or feel it....?) -under what conditions will it likely occur?

4 Goals of Psychology: Explanation

-why did they do it? (or think it, or feel it......?) -THIS IS THE ULTIMATE GOAL

which of the 4 goals of psychology is the "ULTIMATE" goal?

Explanation (why did they do it or think it or feel it?)

the scientific method is also a form of what?

empiricism

psychology became accepted as its own academic discipline when?

in the late 1800s