Psychology of applied modern life

The adaptation of animals when environments change is similar to in humans.

adjustment

V(1.2)-Define narcissism:

a personality trait marked by an inflated sense of importance, a need for attention and admiration, a sense of entitlement, and a tendency to exploit others.

V (1.4)- Define experimental group

consists of the subjects who receive some special treatment in regard to the independent variable.

Barry Schwartz (2004) argues that

-life choices have increased dramatically in modern society. -an abundance of choices can lead to choice overload. -choice overload often leads to rumination and postdecision regret.

Summarize the philosophy underlying this textbook.(1.2)

1) Accurate knowledge of psychology can be of value to you in every day life. 2) Enhance critical thinking skills. 3) Resource book that "opens many doors". 4) Effective adjustment means taking charge of your own life.

Describe three examples of the paradox of progress.(1.1)

1. A)Modern technology has provided us with countless time-saving devices. B)Nonetheless, most of us complain about not having enough time. 2. A) The range of life choices available to people in modern societies has increased exponentially. B)Although increased choice sounds attractive, recent research suggests that an overabundance of choices has unexpected costs. 3. A)Thanks in large part to technological advances, we live in an era of extraordinary affluence. B)In spite of this economic abundance, research suggests that most people do not feel very good about their financial well-being.

Examples of people's search for direction:(1.2)

1. Change that we see around us creates feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, which we try to alleviate by searching for a sense of direction. (James Ray's deadly retreat, Dr. Laura Schlessinger; sec.1.2)

Describe the experimental method (1.4)

A method of investigation used to demonstrate cause-and-effect relationships by purposely manipulating one factor thought to produce change in another factor.

Describe three correlational research methods.(1.4)

Correlational research methods comprise a number of approaches, including naturalistic observation, case studies, and surveys

Betty is having a hard time deciding whether she should buy a coat. On the one hand, it is a name brand coat on sale for a great price. On the other hand, it is an ugly mold-green color. Betty is experiencing what type of conflict?

Approach-avoidance

A psychologist collected background information about a psychopathic killer, talked to him and people who knew him, and gave him psychological tests. Which research method was she using?

Case study

Wanda works at a software firm. Today, her boss unfairly blamed her for the fact that a new program is way behind schedule. The unjustified public criticism embarrassed Wanda. Later that evening, she went for a long run to get her anger under control. Wanda is engaging in which category of coping?

Emotion-focused coping

Which of the following is an emotion-focused coping strategy that provides an outlet for frustration, a distraction from the stressor, and benefits to physical and psychological health?

Exercise

Don just completed writing a ten-page report. When he tried to save it, the computer crashed and he lost all his work. What type of stress is Don experiencing?

Frustration

Research has shown that which of the following is moderately correlated with happiness?

Good social relations

Explain the concept of adjustment(1.3)

It was modeled after the biological term adaptation, which refers to efforts by a species to adjust to changes in its environment.

Which of the following assertions about the cathartic effects of media violence is supported by research?

Playing violent video games is related to increased aggression.

Research supports which of the following assertions about procrastination?

Procrastinators tend to focus less on the future than nonprocrastinators.

Richard feels sure that he failed his calculus exam and that he will have to retake the course. He is very upset. When he gets home, he orders a jumbo-size pizza and drinks two six-packs of beer. Richard's behavior illustrates which of the following coping strategies?

Self-indulgence

Brainstorming is associated with which of the following appraisal-focused coping strategies?

Systematic problem solving

Which of the following is not offered in the text as a criticism of self-help books?

The topics they cover are often quite narrow.

V (1.4)- Define naturalistic observation

a researcher engages in careful observation of behavior without intervening directly with the subjects...it allows researchers to study behavior under conditions that are less artificial than in experiments,

V (1.4)- Define independent variable

a condition or event that an experimenter varies in order to see its impact on another variable.

V (1.4)- Define negative correlation

______ correlation indicates that two variables covary in the opposite direction. This means that people who score high on variable x tend to score low on variable y, whereas those who score low on x tend to score high on y.

V (1.4)- Define positive correlation

________ correlation indicates that two variables covary in the same direction. This means that high scores on variable x are associated with high scores on variable y and that low scores on variable x are associated with low scores on variable y.

a) advantages and b) disadvantages of experimental research: (1.4)

a) experiment is a powerful research method. Its principal advantage is that it allows scientists to draw conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships between variables. Researchers can draw these conclusions about causation because the precise control available in the experiment permits them to isolate the relationship between the independent variable and the dependent variable. b) disadvantage is that researchers are often interested in the effects of variables that cannot be manipulated (as independent variables) because of ethical concerns or practical realities.

a) advantages and b) disadvantages of correlational research.(1.4)

a) •______ research broadens the scope of phenomena that psychologists can study. • give psychologists a way to explore questions that they could not examine with experimental procedures b) •______research cannot demonstrate conclusively that two variables are causally related.

Explain what is meant by the paradox of progress(1.1)

a) The technological advances of the past century, impressive though they may be, have not led to perceptible improvement in our collective health and happiness. Social critics argue that the quality of our lives and our sense of personal fulfillment have declined rather than increased.

V (1.3)- define behavior

any overt (observable) response or activity by an organism.

Salvador works as an art director at an advertising agency. His boss overloads him with responsibility but never gives him any credit for all his hard work. He feels worn down, disillusioned, and helpless at work. Salvador is probably experiencing

burnout.

V (1.4)- Define control group

consists of similar subjects who do not receive the special treatment given to the experimental group.

Secondary appraisal refers to

evaluation of coping resources and options for dealing with a stressful event.

V (1.4)- Define a correlation

exists when two variables are related to each other.The definitive aspect of studies involving this method is that the researchers cannot control the variables under study

The two key facets of psychology (1.3)

focuses on 1. science; studies include: behavior, in the mental processes—the thoughts, feelings, and wishes—that accompany behavior and physiological processes that underlie behavior. 2. Applied; psychologists who provide a variety of professional services to the public.

Joan has a personal disposition marked by commitment, challenge, and control. She appears to be stress tolerant. This disposition is referred to as

hardiness

An experiment is a research method in which the investigator manipulates the ___ variable and observes whether changes occur in a (an) ____ variable as a result.

independent; dependent

V (1.5)- Define subjective well-being

individuals' personal assessments of their overall happiness or life satisfaction.

V (1.4)- Define correlation coefficient

is a numerical index of the degree of relationship that exists between two variables. A ______ _______ indicates how strongly related two variables are and the direction (positive or negative) of the relationship.

V (1.4)- Define case study

is an in-depth investigation of an individual subject..... Psychologists typically assemble _____ _____ in clinical settings where an effort is being made to diagnose and treat some psychological problem

The principal advantage of experimental research is that

it allows the researcher to draw cause-and-effect conclusions.

A good reason for taking notes in your own words, rather than verbatim, is that

it forces you to assimilate the information in a way that makes sense to you.

how have theorists explained the paradox of progress?(1.1)

many theorists from varied perspectives, agree that the basic challenge of modern life has become the search for meaning, a sense of direction, and a personal philosophy. This search involves struggling with such problems as forming a solid sense of identity, arriving at a coherent set of values, and developing a clear vision of a future that realistically promises fulfillment.

When studying defensive illusions, Taylor and Brown found that "normal" people's self-images tend to be ____ ; depressed people's tend to be___ .

overly favorable, more realistic

Selye exposed lab animals to various stressors and found that

patterns of physiological arousal were similar, regardless of the type of stress.

V (1.3)- define adjustment

refers to the psychological processes through which people manage or cope with the demands and challenges of everyday life.

Summarize conclusions about the strong determinants of happiness (1.5)

relationship satisfaction, work, and genetics and personality.

The advantages of the scientific approach to behavior: (1.4)

scientific psychology is empirical, we mean that its conclusions are based on systematic observation rather than on reasoning, speculation, traditional beliefs, or common sense.

Defense mechanisms involve the use of ___ to guard against negative_____ .

self-deception, emotions

V (1.4)- Define Surveys

structured questionnaires or interviews designed to solicit information about specific aspects of participants' behavior, attitudes, and beliefs. They are sometimes used to measure dependent variables in experiments, but they are mainly used in correlational research.

Stress can the functioning of the immune system

suppress

The fight-or-flight response is mediated by the

sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.

V (1.3)- define clinical psychology

the branch of psychology concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of psychological problems and disorders.

The optimal level of arousal for a task appears to depend in part on

the complexity of the task at hand.

Technological advances have not led to perceptible improvement in our collective health and happiness. This statement defines

the paradox of progress.

V (1.4)- Define empiricism:

the premise that knowledge should be acquired through observation.

V (1.3)- define psychology:

the science that studies behavior and the physiological and mental processes that underlie it, and it is the profession that applies the accumulated knowledge of this science to practical problems.

A researcher wants to determine whether a certain diet causes children to learn better in school. In this study, the independent variable is

the type of diet.

V (1.4)- Define dependent variable

the variable that is thought to be affected by the manipulations of the independent variable.

According to Albert Ellis, people's emotional reactions to life events result mainly from

their beliefs about events.

A system providing for symbolic reinforcers is called a (an)

token economy.

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Research by James Pennebaker and his colleagues suggests that wellness is promoted by

writing about one's traumatic experiences

Describe the factors that are somewhat or very important to subjective well-being. (1.5

• health • social relations • religious belief •leisure activity •culture

Common problems with self-help books:(1.2)

• they are full of "psychobabble (R.D. Rosen)"-Clarity is sacrificed in favor of a jargon that prevents, rather than enhances, effective communication. (e.g. you've gotta get in touch with yourself. •tend to place more emphasis on sales than on scientific soundness. •don't usually provide explicit directions about how to change your behavior; often fall back on inspirational cheerleading in the absence of sound, explicit advice. •many of these books encourage a very self-centered, narcissistic approach to life-This "me first" philosophy emphasizes self-admiration, an entitlement to special treatment, and an exploitive approach to interpersonal relationships

What to look for in quality self-help books.(1.2)

•Books that are realistic, don't promise too much change too soon. •Author is reliable. •Books based on theory or research. •Books that provide detailed, explicit directions on how to alter your behaviour. 6) Books that focus on a particular kind of problem or behaviour.

Identify the various factors that are surprisingly unrelated to happiness. (1.5)

•money •age •gender •parenthood •intelligence •attractiveness

what does the size of a correlation coefficient do?(1.4)

•the size of the coefficient indicates the strength of the association between two variables. •can vary between 0 and +1.00 (if positive) or between 0 and -1.00 (if negative). •A _______ near 0 tells us there is no relationship between the variables. •The closer the correlation to either -1.00 or +1.00, the stronger the relationship.