Psychology (Chapter One, Part one)

True

"Minority groups are seriously underrepresented among psychologists." --> True or False

Sample

A subgroup of a population

Clinical Psychology

Focuses on the diagnosis & treatment of mental disorders. (Type of Psychology)

a.) psychodynamic (Sigmund Freud)

Gregory believes that most of human behavior can be explained by examining our unconscious impulses. He takes a __________ view of psych. a.) psychodynamic b.) behavioral c.) Gestalt d.) structuralist

Mind-Body

How are the mind /body connected- relationships b/t what we experience (thoughts & feelings) & what biological processes are (activity in the nervous system) (One of 5 issues)

Independent Variable

In experiment, the variable MANIPULATED to test its effects on the other, dependent variables.

False

Psychologists base their conclusions on widely shared values.

True

Psychologists collect data through careful, systematic observation.

True

Psychologists form hypotheses (predictions) on the basis of theories.

Experimental Group

In a controlled experiment, the group SUBJECTED TO A CHANGE in the dependent variable.

Psychodynamic Theories

Personality theories contending that behavior results from psychological factors that intereact within the individual, often outside conscious awareness.

Naturalistic Observation

Research method involving the systematic study of animal or human behavior in natural settings rather than in the laboratory.

Cognitive Psychology

School of Psych devoted to the study of mental processes in the broadest sense >thinking, feeling, learning, & remembering (School)

Personality Psychology

Studies the differences b/t individuals on such traits as sociability, emotional stabilty, conscientiiousness, & self-esteem.

Biological Psychologists

Study the body's biochemistry & the ways that hormones psychoactive medications, & "social drugs" affect us.

Logos

Study, discuss, word

Gender

The psychological & social meanings attached to being biologically male/female

Psychology

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes, in all of their facets.

Diversity-Universality

Each person is like every other person VS. each person is only like certain other people -- different versus every one. (One of 5 issues)

Observer Bias

Expectations or biases of the observer that might distort or influences his/her interpretation of what was actually observed.

Ivan Pavlov

Experimenting w/ dogs (conditioning them) & research on digestion --> dogs began to salivate in response to buzzer alone

Social Psychology

Explores how society influences the individual including such topics as interpersonal attraction, persuasion, attitude formation, obedience, conformity, and group behavior. (Type of Psychology)

Mental Processes

How we think (cognitive)

Dependent Variable

In experiment, the variable that is MEASURED to see how it is changed by manipulations to the dependent variable.

Sexual Orientation

Refers to the direction of one's sexual interest toward members of the same sex, opposite sex, or both sexes.

Nature-Nurture

Relative influence of heredity (genes) VS. environment (experience) on thought & behavior (One of 5 issues)

Cross-Cultural Research

Research involving the exploration of the extent to which people differ from one culture ti another.

Correlational Research

Research technique based on the naturally occurring relationship b/t 2 or more variables.

Experimental Method

Research technique in which an investigator deliberately maniupulates selected events or circumstances & then measures effects of those manipulations on subsequent behavior., the use of controlled observations and measurements to test hypotheses

Behavior

The activities of an individual, both observable & hidden

Experimental Psychology

-research (on a # of items) -most is laboratory research

Generalization

A simple matter of conditioning

Race

A subpopulation of a species, defined according to an identifiable characterisitic (geographic location, skin color, hair texture, genes, facial features, etc.)

Scientific Method

An approach to knowledge that relies on collecting data, producing testable hypotheses based in the theory, and testing those hypotheses empirically.

Evolutionary Psychology

An approach to, & the subfield of Psych that is concerned w/ the evolutionary behaviors & mental processes, their adoptive value & the purposes they continue to serve.

Surveys

*A large # of participants are asked a standard set of questions (Research Method) *Enables an immense amount of data to be gathered quickly & inexpensively (Advantages) *Sampling biases can skew results; poorly constructed questions can result in answers that are ambiguous, so data are not clear; accuracy depends on ability & willingness of participants to answer questions honestly (Limitations)

Naturalistic Observation

*Behavior is observed in the environment in which it occurs naturally. (Research Method) *Provides a great deal of 1st hand behavioral info. that is more likely to be accurate than reports after the fact. Participant's behavior is more natural, spontaneous, & varied than behaviors taking place in the lab. A rich source of hypotheses as well. (Advantages) *Presence of an observer may alter participants' behavior; observer's recording may reflect a preexisting bias; it is often unclear whether the observations can be generalized to other settings & people. (Limitations)

Case Studies

*Behavior one 1 person or a few people are studied in depth (Research Method) *Yields a great deal of detailed descriptive info. Useful for forming hypotheses (Advantages) *Case(s) studied may not be a representative sample. Method can be time consuming & expensive. OBSERVER BIAS is potential problem (Limitations)

Experimental Research

*One or more variables are systematically manipulated, & the effect of that manipulation on other variables is studied (Research Method) *B/c of strict control of variables, offers researchers the opportunity to draw conclusions a/b cause-and-effect relationships (Advantages) *Artificially of the lab setting may influence subjects' behavior; unexpected & uncontrolled variables may confound results; many variables cannot be controlled & manipulated. (Limitations)

Survey Research

Carefully selected group of people is asked a set of predetermined questions in face-to-face interviews or in questionnaires.

c.) nature-nurture

Caroline is interested in the question of whether our personality characterisitics are determined for life by genetics or if they can be changed as a result of the experiences of our lives. Which of the enduring issues, (out of 5) discussed in Chapter One, best describes Caroline's interests? a.) mind-body b.) diversity-universality c.) nature-nurture d.) tastes great-less filling

Health Psychology

Concerned w/ Psych.'s contributions to the promotion & maintenance of good health & the prevention & treatment of illness -- psychologists design & conduct programs to help individuals stop smoking, lose weight, manage stress, prevent cavities, or stay physically fit --> (Employed in) hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation centers, public health agencies, & private practice

Family Psychology

Concerned w/ the prevention of family conflict, the treatment of marital & family problems, & the maintenance of normal family functioning -- psychologists design & conduct programs for marital enrichment, pre-marital preparation, & improved parent-child relationships; also conduct research on topics such as child abuse, family communication patterns, & the effects of divorce & remarriage --> Often employed in medical schools, hospitals, community agencies, & private practice

Environmental Psychology

Concerned w/ the relations b/t psychological processes & physical environments ranging from homes & offices to urban areas & regions --> Psychologists may do research on attitudes toward diff. environments, personal space, or the effects on productivity of diff. office designs.

Educational Psychology

Concerned w/ the study how our beliefs, feelings, & behaviors are affected by other persons; attempt to understand the basic aspects of learning & then develop materials & strategies for enhancing the learning process. --> (Example) Might study readiing & develop a new technique for teaching reading from the results of the research.

d.) counseling

Dakota spends most of his work time in his office helping clients w/ adjustment problems, such as troubled marriages, & coping w/ career changes, such as retirement. Dakota is most likely a(n) __________ psychologist. a.) industrial b.) organizational c.) clinical d.) counseling

Counseling Psychology

Do many of the same things that clinical psychologists do; tend to focus more on persons w/ adjustment problems, rather than on persons suffering from severe psychological disorders. --> Academic settings, community health centers, and private practice.

Positive Psychology

Emerging field of Psych that focuses on positive experiences, including subjective well-being, self-determination, the relationship b/t positive emotions & physical health, & factors that follow individuals, communities & societies to flourish.

Experimenter Bias

Expectations by the experimenter that might influence the results of an experiment or it's interpretation

Representative Sample

Sample carefully chosen so that the characteristics of the partipants correspond closely to the characteristics of the larger population (Subjects are chosen to reflect the general characteristics of the population as a whole)

Humanistic Psychology

School of Psych that emphasizes nonverbal experience & altered states of consciousness as a means of realizing one's full human potential (School)

Structuralism

School of Psych that stresses the basic untis of experienve & the combinations in which they occur *identifying elements & how they can be combined & integrated (School)

Gestalt (Whole) Pscyhology

School of Psych that studies how people percieve & experience objects as WHOLE patterns (School)

Bahaviorism

School of Psych that studies only observable & measurable BEHAVIOR (School)

Psyche

Soul, mind, spirit

Social Psychology

Study how our beliefs, feelings, & behaviors are affected by other persons -- Attitudes, aggression, prejudice, love and interpersonal attraction (are examples of the topics of interest in this field of Psych.) -->Faculties of colleges & universities, increasing # being hired by hospitals, federal agencies, & businesses to perform applied research

Developmental Psychology

Study how we develop intellectually, socially, emotionally, and morally during our lifespan; Some focus on just one period of life (e.g., childhood or adolescence) -->Research & teach in academic settings, BUT many act as CONSULTANTS to day-care centers, schools, or social service agencies.

Developmental Psychology

The study of how people grow & change physically, cognitively, emotionally, & socially, from the prenatal period through death. Subfields: Child, Adolescent, & Life-span Psychology.

Culture

The tangible goods & the values, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs that are passed from one generation to another.

Funtionalist Theory

Theory of mental life that is concerned w/ how an organism uses it's perceptual abilites to function in it's environment (Theory)

Person-Situation; Nature-Nurture; Stablilty-Change; Diversity-Universality; Mind-Body

What are the 5 issues represented enduring themes in the history of Psy? P____-S______, N_____-N_______, S_____-C_______, D________-U________, & M_____-B_______.

Behavioral Geneticists

Add yet another dimension: they explore the impact of heredity on both normal & abnormal behavior

Industrial & Organizational Psychology (I/O)

Applis the principles of Psy.to the work place focusing on the practical issues of personal selection & training, working conditions, work place morale, & leadership. (Type of Psychology)

Stability-Change

Are the characteristics we develop in childhood more/less permanent & fixed, or do we change in predictable (& unpredictable) ways over the course of our lives? Is self a cognitive construct, a "fictional character" we create to maintain a sense of inner continuity in the face of the varied, sometimes unpredictable experiences? (One of 5 issues)

d.) Wilhelm Wundt

As a contestant on the TV show JEOPORADY!, you are delighted that you took a psych. course when you read the clue, "Founder of the 1st psychological lab.," and you know that the correct answer (phrased in the form of a question, as required by the show) is, "Who was _________?" a.) B.F. Skinner b.) John B. Watson c.) William James d.) Wilhelm Wundt

Person-Situation

Behavior caused by internal processes as thoughts, emotions, motives, attitudes, values, persoanlity, & genes VS. external factors as incentives, environmental cues, & the presence of other people.... (One of 5 issues)

Correlational Research

*This approach employs statistical methods to examine the relationship b/t 2 or more variables (Research Method) *May clarify realtionships b/t variables that cannot be examined by other research methodsm. Allows prediction of behavior. (Advantages) *This method does not permit researchers to draw conclusions regarding cause-and-effect relationships. (Limitations)

1. Clinical & 2. Counseling Psychology

-over 50% -(1) Diagnoses & treats abnormal traits (schizophrenia, etc.) - (2) deals w/ everyday, normal problems people face (daily life)

1. Psychology & the Law / 2. Forensic Psychology

1. Studies legal issues from a psychological perspective (e.g., how juries decide cases) & psychological questions in a legal context (e.g., how jurors assign blame or responsibility for a crime) 2. Concerned w/ the applied & clinical facets of the law such as determining a defendant's competence to stand trial or if an accident victim suffered physical or neurological damage --> Jobs in theses areas include: law schools, research organizations, community mental health agencies, & correlational insititutions

Subculture

A ________ group is w/in a larger society that shares a certain set of values, beliefs, outlooks, & norms of behavior.

Ethnicity

A common cultural heritage -- religion, language, ancestry -- that is shared by a group of individuals.

Subculture

A group w/in a larger society that shares a certain set of values, beliefs, oulooks, & norms of behavior.

Random Sample

A sample in which each potential participant has an equal chance of being selected (Each potential participant has an equal chance of being chosen)

Psychology

A science that studies behavior, & the mental processes that shape behavior.

Reinforcer(s)

A stimuli that follows a behavior & increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated

Feminist Theory

Feminist theories offer a wide variety of view on social roles of women & men, the problems & rewards of those roles, & prescriptions for changing those roles. (Theory)

Child Psychologists

Focus on infants and children, concerning w/ such issues as whether babies are born w/ distinct temperaments & @ what age sex differences in behavior emerge

Life-span Psychologists

Focus on the challenges & changes of adulthood, from marriage & having children to facing the transitions related to aging & eventual death (Developmental)

Control Group

In controlled experiment, the group NOT SUBJECTED TO A CHANGE in the independent variable; used for comparison w/ the experimental group.

Experimental Psychology

Includes a diverse group of psychologists who do research in the most basic areas of psychology (e.g., learning, memory, attention, cognition, sensation, perception, motivation, & language.) Sometimes conducted as ANIMALS instead of humans. -->Psychologists are faculty members @ colleges & uuniversities

Participants

Individuals whose reactions or responses are observed in an experimemt.

Case Study

Intensive description & analysis of a single individual or just few individuals.

Neuropsychologists

Interested in the workings of the brain & Central Nervous Systemk (Physiological)

Experimental Psychology

Investigates basis psychological processes such as sensation and perception, memory, intelligence, learning, & motivation.

Physiological Psychology

Investigates the biological basis of behavior. Subfields: Neuroscience, Biological Psychology, & Behavior Genetics

School Psychology

Involved in the development of children in educational settings -- psychologists are typically involved in the assessment of the children & recommendation of actions to facilitate students' learning -->Often consultants to parents & administrators to optimize the learning environments of specific students

1800s or 19th Century

It was not until the late ______ that psych. came into its own as a seperate discipline.

Adolescent Psychologists

Look largely @ how puberty affects a range of developmental phenomena, from relationships w/ peers & parents to search for a new identity (Developmental)

Counseling Psychology

More concerened with the "normal" adjustment issues such as making difficult choices or coping w/ a troubled relationship. (Type of Psychology)

Physiological Psychology

One of Psych.'s hottest areas b/c of the recent dramatic increase in interest in the physiological correlates of behavior -- psychologists study both very basic processes (e.g., how brain cells function) & more observable phenomena (e.g., behavior change as a function of drug abuse of the biological / genetic roots of psychiatric disorders) --> Some continue their education in clinical areas & work w/ people who have neurological problems

Free Association

Patient lies on a couch, recounts, dreams, and says whatever comes to mind

Ethnic

People who have ancestors from the same religion of the world & who share a common language, religion, & set of social traditions are said to be part of the same _________ group.

False

Psychologists appeal to common sense in their arguments.

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Psychologists are primarily concerned w/ the relationships b/t people & their work environments -- they may develop new ways to increase productivity or be involved in personnel selection --> I/O Psychologists can be found in business industries, gov't agencies, colleges & universities (probably the most highly paid psychologists)

Clinical Psychology

Psychologists assess & treat people w/ psychological problems- may act as therapists for people experiencing normal psychological crisis (e.g., grief) or for individuals suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders. --> May be found in hospitals, community health centers, or private practice. (Psychologists)

Psychometrics & Quantative Psychology

Psychologists concerned w/ the methods & techniques used to acquire & apply psychological knowledge -- Psychometrologist revises: old intelligence, personality, & aptitude tests / devises new ones; Qunatative psychologists assist: researchers in Psych. or other fields to design experiments & interpret their results --> (Often employed in) colleges & universities, testing companies, private research firms, & government agencies

Rehabilitation Psychology

Psychologists in this field work w/ people who have suffered physical deprivation or loss @ birth or during later development as a result of damage or deterioration of function (e.g., resulting from a stroke). They help people overcome both the psychological & situational barriers to effective functioning in the world --> Work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, medical schools, & in gov't rehabilitation agencies

True

Psychologists systematically test hypotheses.

True

Psychologists try to explain their observations by developing a thesis.

Philosophy & Science

The (2) roots of Psychology