Gen Psy Chapter 1 Introduction

Functionalism

An early approach to psychology that concentrated on what the mind does - the functions of mental activity - and the role of behavior in allowing people to adapt to their environments. (William James)

significant outcome

Meaningful results that make it possible for researchers to feel confident that they have confirmed their hypotheses.

Theories

Broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest

Which psychologists believe that, when it comes to perception, the whole is different from the sum of its parts?

Gestalt

Structuralism

Wundt's approach, which focuses on uncovering the fundamental mental components of consciousness, thinking, and other kinds of mental states and activities. (William Wundt)

informed consent

a document signed by participants affirming that they have been told the basic outlines of the study and are aware of what their participation will involve

control group

a group participating in an experiment that receives no treatment

Unlike the treatment group, the control group might receive _________ in a study of the effect of a drug.

a placebo

psychological testing

a procedure in which a carefully designed set of questions is used to gain some insight into the personality of the individual or group

Leonard's psychologist has proposed he stop worrying about school so much in order to improve his high blood pressure. The assessment uses the theories set forth by __________.

health psychology

Each theoretical perspective has a position somewhere on the nature vs nurture debates which of the following perspectives would likely emphasize nature more than nature?

humanistic , behavioral

In an experiment, which variable is manipulated by the experimenter?

independent

Someone taking the nature side of the nature versus nurture debate is arguing for the importance of __________.

inheritance

In the observable behavior versus internal mental processes debate, which is more important from the psychodynamic perspective?

internal mental processes

In the observable behavior vs. internal mental processes debate, which is more important from the cognitive perspective?

internal mental processes

cross-cultural psychology

investigates the similarities and differences in psychological functioning in and across various cultures and ethnic groups

Nature versus nurture and conscious versus unconscious are considered ___________ issues addressed by psychologists.

key

Experiments involve ________ one variable and observing the effect on another variable.

manipulating

Like functionalism, structuralism focuses on _________.

mental processes

Dwayne is studying the environmental practices of people in his city and spends a day noting the number of people who litter on a street. He does nothing to stop this behavior though. This is an example of _____________.

naturalistic observation

PsyD (doctor of psychology)

obtained by psychologists who want to focus on the treatment of psychological disorders.

A social psychologist is interested in the impact of __________ on behavior and mental processes.

others

unlike structuralism, functionalism focuses on __________.

processes

Behavioral genetics

seeks to understand how we might inherit certain behavioral traits and how the environment influences whether we actually display such traits

If a result would have occurred by chance less than 5 times out of one hundred, the result is said to be:

significant

developmental psychology

studies how people grow and change from the moment of conception through death

Evolutionary Approach

suggests that the chemical coding of information in our cells not only determines traits such as hair color and race but also holds the key to understanding a broad variety of behaviors that helped our ancestors survive and reproduce.

psychodynamic perspective

the approach based on the view that behavior is motivated by unconscious inner forces over which the individual has little control (Sigmund Freud)

cognitive perspective

the approach that focuses on the processes that allow people to know, understand, and think about the world

Humanistic Perspective

the approach that suggests that all individuals naturally strive to grow, develop, and be in control of their lives and behavior. (Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow)

Neuroscience Perspective

the approach that views behavior from the perspective of the brain, the nervous system, and other biological functions

experimental psychology

the branch of psychology that studies the processes of sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking about the world

experimental manipulation

the change that an experimenter deliberately produces in a situation

Free will

the idea that behavior is caused primarily by choices that are made freely by the individual

treatment

the manipulation implemented by the experimenter

Psychology

the scientific study of behavior and mental processes

social psychology

the study of how people influence other people's thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others

behavioral neuroscience

the subfield of psychology that focuses on how the brain and the nervous system, as well as other biological aspects of the body, determine behavior.

operational definition

the translation of a hypothesis into specific, testable procedures that can be measured and observed

independent variable

the variable that is manipulated by an experimenter

dependent variable

the variable that is measured in an experiment. It is expected to change as a result of the experimenter's manipulation of the independent variable.

clinical psychologist

trained to diagnose and treat problems that range from the crises of everyday life, such as unhappiness over the breakup of a relationship, to more extreme conditions, such as profound, lingering depression.

correlational research

two sets of variables are examined to determine whether they are associated, or correlated.

Unlike other perspectives, the psychodynamic perspective focuses on the role of __________.

unconscious processes

Clinical Neuropsychology

unites the areas of neuroscience and clinical psychology, focuses on the origin of psychological disorders in biological factors

Of the following, where is an experimental psychologist most likely to work?

university

Introspection

a procedure used to study the structure of the mind in which subjects are asked to describe in detail what they are experiencing when they are exposed to a stimulus. people had difficulty describing some kinds of inner experiences, and it wasn't a scientific technique.

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

a research degree that requires a dissertation based on an original investigation

A counseling psychologist is most likely to help people __________.

adjust to new situations

Confederate

an actor employed by a researcher who participates in a psychological experiment, pretending to be a participant

Gestalt Psychology

an approach to psychology that focuses on the organization of perception and thinking in a "whole" sense rather than on the individual elements of perception (Hermann Ebbinghaus, Max Wertheimer, and others)

Humanistic Pyschology

an approach to understanding human nature that emphasizes the positive potential of human beings

case study

an in-depth investigation of an individual or a small group of people

experimental group

any group participating in an experiment that receives a treatment

Sport Psychology

applies psychology to athletic activity and exercise

Sheri is searching through census documents to determine if there is an increase in the amount of people living in poverty. This is an example of __________ research.

archival

The rules of the American Psychological Association allow participants to:

be deceived

Conscious and unconscious is another major question of psychologists, which concerns how much of our __________ is produced by forces of which we are not completely aware.

behavior

The field of psychology that examines how the brain and nervous system influence behavior is called __________ neuroscience.

behavioral

Variables

behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change, or vary, in some way

The neuroscience perspective focuses on the role of __________ in behavior.

biological processes

psychology of women

focuses on issues such as discrimination against women and the causes of violence against women

Forensic Psychology

focuses on legal issues, such as determining the accuracy of witness memories

personality psychology

focuses on the consistency in people's behavior over time and the traits that differentiate one person from another

Cognitive Pyschology

focuses on the study of higher mental processes

counseling psychology

focuses primarily on educational, social, and career adjustment problems

Humanistic psychology differs from other approaches in that it emphasizes __________ over biological processes

fulfillment

Placebo

A false treatment, such as a pill, "drug," or other substance, without any significant chemical properties or active ingredient.

Hypothesis

A prediction, stemming from a theory, stated in a way that allows it to be tested

random assignment to condition

A procedure in which participants are assigned to different experimental groups or "conditions" on the basis of chance and chance alone.

naturalistic observation

A research method in which subjects are observed in their natural environment.

experimental bias

Factors that distort how the independent variable affects the dependent variable in an experiment

Free will versus determinism

How much of our behavior is a matter of free will (choices made freely by an individual), and how much is subject to determinism, the notion that behavior is largely produced by factors beyond people's willful control?

Conscious versus unconscious causes of behavior

How much of our behavior is produced by forces of which we are fully aware, and how much is due to unconscious activity—mental processes that are not accessible to the conscious mind?

Nature (heredity) vs. Nurture (environment)

How much of people's behavior is due to their genetically determined nature (heredity), and how much is due to nurture, the influences of the physical and social environment in which a child is raised?

Of the following, who was associated with the gestalt movement?

Max Werthelmer

archival research

Research in which existing data, such as census documents, college records, and newspaper clippings, are examined to test a hypothesis.

survey research

Research in which people chosen to represent a larger population are asked a series of questions about their behavior, thoughts, or attitudes.

replicated research

Research that is repeated, sometimes using other procedures, settings, and groups of participants, to increase confidence in prior findings.

Observable Behavior vs. Internal Mental Processes

Should psychology concentrate solely on behavior that can be seen by outside observers, or should it focus on unseen thinking processes?

Behavioral Perspective

The approach that suggests that observable, measurable behavior should be the focus of study. (John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner)

Scientific Method

The approach through which psychologists systematically acquire knowledge and understanding about behavior and other phenomena of interest.

Determinism

The idea that people's behavior is produced primarily by factors outside of their willful control.

experiment

The investigation of the relationship between two (or more) variables by deliberately producing a change in one variable in a situation and observing the effects of that change on other aspects of the situation.

A psychologist who studies logical reasoning is likely a __________ psychologist.

cognitive

Developmental psychologists are interested in age related changes in behavior from ___________ to death.

conception

educational psychology

concerned with teaching and learning processes, such as the relationship between motivation and school performance

industrial-organizational psychology

concerned with the psychology of the workplace

evolutionary psychology

considers how behavior is influenced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors

Environmental psychology

considers the relationship between people and their physical environment

Kendra is studying the difference between cultures in their use of leisure time. She is most likely a __________ psychologist

cross-cultural

clinical psychology

deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders

In an experiment, which variable is measured by the experimenter?

dependent

School Psychology

devoted to counseling children in elementary and secondary schools who have academic or emotional problems

Frank believes that the short temper that runes in his family is caused by genes based on his being a male. The approach is an example of __________ psychology.

evolutionary

Health Psychology

explores the relationship between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease

health psychology

explores the relationship between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease

Margaret Floy Washburn

first woman to receive a doctorate in psychology, worked on animal behavior

program evaluation

focuses on assessing large-scale programs, such as the Head Start preschool program, to determine whether they are effective in meeting their goals

Cognitive Psychology

focuses on higher mental processes, including thinking, memory, reasoning, problem solving, judging, decision making, and language