General Psychology Test 1 - Lamar (Barclay)

Example of a powerful reward consequence stimulus creating a powerful behavioral response?

Rats LOVE cocaine!

Nature Vs. Nurture

the arguments concerning whether psychological characteristics are biologically innate or acquired through education, experience, and culture. Aristotle Vs. Plato The view today: Nature and nurture influence each other and are inseparable.

Mind

refers to mental activity, such as taste, touch, emotion, deduction, memories, hallucinations, and thoughts. These and all other cognitive processes that occur due to biological processes in the brain.

Replication

repetition of a research study to confirm the results When the results from two or more studies are the same, or at least support the same conclusion, confidence in the findings increases. These independent replications provide powerful support because they rule out the possibility that some feature of the original setting may have contributed to the findings.

Control

represents the foundation of the experimental approach, in that it allows the researcher to rule out alternative explanations for the observed data.

Descriptive Research Design

research methods that involve observing behavior to describe that behavior objectively and systematically *Consists of Case Studies, Observation, and Self-Report Methods

Variable

something in the world that can vary and that a researcher can manipulate (change) or measure.

Fact

something we can observe in the natural word

Conformation Bias

term for a common mistake used in logical deduction, where people tend to overvalue what they "know" and devalue any evidence to the contrary.

Unconscious

the region where mental processes operate below the level of conscious awareness

Personality Psychology

the study of characteristic thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in people and how they vary, or not, across social situations (extroverted, introverted etc.)

Social Psychology

the study of how other people or groups influence one's thoughts, feelings, and actions. Pioneering researchers: Floyd Allport, Solomon Asch, Kurt Lewin Emphasized a scientific, experimental approach to understanding how people are influenced by others or groups The mere presence of others influences our behavior. Some are more impacted than others, but all people are influenced by social situations. There is no one "you" more like a set of different "you-s" that are used depending on the situation (at the club or church).

Cognitive Psychology

the study of mental functions such as intelligence, thinking, language, memory, and decision making, which are the products of internal mental processes. Cognitive psychology centers around the concept that our perception of situations can influence how we interpret and react to them. Dumb babies may not learn to do a behavior as quickly as smart babies, even with the exact behavioral conditioning. Some people are better at remaining focused than others: Mid-twentieth century: increased interest in understanding how behavior is affected by the presence of others (authority figures, group influence, etc.) Led to the development of social psychology.

Research

the systematic and careful collection of data (aka. doing the actual study)

Independent Variable

the variable that gets manipulated in a research study (the treatment, what researchers use to cause the DV to change between groups)

Dependent Variable

the variable that gets measured in a research study (the outcome researchers are trying to measure, what is changed by the IV)

Convenience Sample

this sample consists of people who are conveniently available for the study, Result discovered from testing a convenience sample can still provide valid evidence when attempting to test a hypothesis. Research using a convenience sample should attempt to match the characteristics of their sample so that they still as representative of the population the results are intend to apply to as they can be. Ex. Us psych students having to sign up for experiments

B.F. Skinner

took up the mantle of behaviorism. Research emphasized how behavior is shaped by the consequences that follow it. (reward, punishment) Skinner argued that mental processes were of no scientific value in explaining behavior; he though mental states were another form of behavior. Essentially displayed that satisfying outcome increase the likelihood a behavior will occur again and vice versa

Hindsight Bias

using an outcome to explain why an outcome happened. Failed to predict outcome, until after the outcome

self-serving bias

where individuals' needs to feel good about themselves, their self-schema, influences thinking. Yet another reason that facts don't matter: "I am smart, therefore, I am right." I'm better than average, like 90% of other folks

Amiable Skepticism

which the the approach of being open to new information but wary of "scientific findings" that appear to contradict sound evidence, reasoning, and previous findings. Amiable skepticism is a form of critical thinking, where people carefully and systematically weigh facts in order to reach a conclusion.

attribution theory

mistakes are external and unstable

Sigmund Freud

(Father of psychoanalysis) much of human behavior is determined by mental processes operating below the level of awareness, unconscious forces. Among the first to treat patients for mental disorders in a clinical setting Freud not the first person to focus on unconscious, before him Sir Francis Galton

Seeing Relationships Where There are None

(false connections and superstitions) Our minds are literally wired (with tissue) to find discern patterns out of the world around them in order to increase our likelihood of survival, to make ourselves feel better, etc. (we like the world to be predictable) While this can allow us to develop greater understanding about the environment around us, it is also often completely and utterly based on nonsense.

Using Relative Comparisons

(framing) basing information off of something that is not representative of what it is compared to.

Failing to Properly Use Statistical Info

(going with your gut) Much like the previously discussed studies, there can often be a disconnect between "common sense" and scientific truth. Ex. Gamblers being "due" for a good hand

William James

(often refereed to as the father of American psychology) was a psychologist/philosopher/doctor who published the first overview of the field with Principles of Psychology (1890). Stated that the thoughts were more complex than the individual components that make them up. Described stream of consciousness as each person's continuous series of ever-changing thoughts. He compared structuralism's focus on individual components of thought as trying to study individual "bricks" in order to understand a house. Meaning, he thought we should look at how they function together as a whole, rather than focusing on the individual pieces. Created approach of Functionalism

Edward Titchener

(student of Wundt) pioneered a school of thought that became known as structuralism

4 Primary Goals of Science

- Description (what a phenomenon is) - Prediction (when it will occur) - Control (what causes it to occur) - Explanation (why it occurs

Modern Psychs.....

....no longer accept much Freudian theory.

The mind...

...developed over the course of human evolution because it is useful for preserving life. The mind helps humans adapt to environmental demands.

Correlations help with...

...making predictions. By establishing correlations between variables, researchers are able to make predictions. Correlational research has identified a strong relationship between depression and suicide. Clinical psychologists often assess symptoms of depression to determine suicide risk.

Modern Science Concludes...

...that the mind is a product of brain activity and does not exist separately

Psychology emerged as a scientific discipline

19th century Europe (1879)

Sample

A subset of a population

Theory

A well-substantiated explanation for a major area of natural world, acquired through the scientific method, that has been repeatedly tested and supported through observation and experimentation.

Hypothesis Continued

After being tested, the hypothesis is either supported by the results or is discarded. When a hypothesis has stood up to being tested repeatedly and is still supported by research findings it becomes generally accepted by the scientific community. When enough rigorously tested hypothesis about a particular subject are found, they become interconnected and form a theory.

Participant Selection

An important issue for any research method is how to select participants for the study. Psychologists typically want to know that their findings generalize to people beyond the individuals in the study. This is called external validity (does the outcome found by an experiment apply to the population it intends to represent)

Separation of Mind and Body in Cultures

Ancient Egyptians would embalm heart (where they thought the mind existed) and throw away the brain. Ancient Greeks and Romans noticed a normal brain was needed for normal functioning (TBI!) Early European scholars believed the mind is entirely separate from, and in control of, the body (viewed the mind like a soul). Early European Christians belief mind separated us from animals 1500s: Leonardo da Vinci challenged this doctrine

Confuscious

Ancient philosophers, such as the Chinese philosopher Confucius, studied topics that remain important in contemporary psychology such as interpersonal communication, education, and human development.

Why are we considered apex predators?

Because we're the most adaptive

_______ dominated psychology into the 60's

Behaviorism. (Not a lot of pure behaviorists nowadays tho) Studies showed that the simple laws of behaviorism could not explain all learning. (modeling, no reward)

4 Important Levels of Psychological Analysis

Biological level of analysis Individual level of analysis Social level of analysis Cultural level of analysis

Privacy

Confidentiality: Personal, identifying information about participants absolutely cannot be shared with others. Anonymity: The researchers do not collect personal, identifying information. Another important aspect of privacy is participants' knowledge that they are being studied.

Good Research is Valid and Reliable

Construct validity: the extent to which variables measure what they are supposed to measure, whatever that is. External validity: the degree to which the findings of a study can be generalized to other people, settings, or situations (populations) Internal validity: the degree to which the effects observed in an experiment are due to the independent variable and not to confounds Reliability: the degree to which a measure is stable and consistent over time, repeatability of measurement

Culture Provides Adaptive Solutions

Cultural "rules" reflect adaptive solutions worked out by previous generations. Cultural rules are learned as norms.

Cultural Evolution

Culture impacts our thoughts and behaviors (e.g., music/food preferences, ways of expressing emotion, tolerance of body odors). Cultural evolution occurs much faster than biological evolution (duh), which can present challenges we have no biological predisposition to address.

3 Main Types of Designs

Descriptive Correlational Experimental

Example Experimental Study

Does taking LSD increase individuals' ninja skills? Independent Variable (IV): LSD usage Dependent Variable (DV): # of opponents defeated (operational definition of ninjas skills) Control group: Receives no LSD (IV), fights ninjas, 6 opponents defeated (DV) Treatment Group: takes LSD (IV), fights ninjas, 3 opponent defeated (DV) The results indicate that taking LSD does not increase ninja skill. Any differences between groups not caused by the IV should be evenly distributed due to random assignment and sampling.

Gestalt Theory

Emphasized Patterns and Context in Learning. A theory based on the idea that the whole of personal experience is different from the sum of its parts. Founded by Max Wertheimer in 1912. Another theory that apposed structuralism. E.g. if you show someone a a dashed line, do they perceive it as a single dashed line or a series of small lines The perception of objects is subjective and dependent on context. Ex. These fragments make up a picture of a dog sniffing the ground. The mind organizes the picture's elements automatically to produce the perception of the dog. The picture is processed and experienced as a unified whole. Once you perceive the dog, you cannot choose to not see it. important because it uses real-world data to illustrate the point that the mind tends to function by automatically organizing individual bits of data so that they are conceived as a whole.

problems with introspection

Experience is subjective and reporting the experience changes it. Color blind ...no "red" Brussels sprouts: You = "Yummy" Me = "gross"

Biological Level

Focus: Brain systems, neurochemistry, genetics What's studied? Neuroanatomy, animal research, brain imaging. Neurotransmitters and hormones, animal studies, drug studies. Gene mechanisms, heritability, twin and adoption studies.

Individual Level

Focus: Individual differences, Perception and cognition, Behavior What's studied? Personality, gender, developmental age groups, self-concept. Thinking, decision making, language, memory, seeing, hearing. Observable actions, responses, physical movements.

Social Level

Focus: Interpersonal behavior, Social cognition. What's studied? Groups, relationships, persuasion, influence, workplace. Attitudes, stereotypes, perceptions.

Cultural Level

Focus: Thoughts, actions, behaviors - in different societies and cultural groups. What's studied? Norms, beliefs, values, symbols, ethnicities.

Correlation Does NOT Mean Causation

For example, several recent studies have found a correlation between intelligence and alcohol consumption. One study found that 68 % of college graduates described themselves as drinkers relative to 35% with only high school education.

6 Steps of the Scientific Method

Forming a hypothesis Conduct a literature review (peer reviewed, etc.) Design a study (level of measurement) Conduct the study Analyze the data Report the results

Methodology of Freud

Freud analyzed the apparent symbolic content in patients' dreams in search of hidden conflicts. Used free association, in which the patient would talk about whatever he or she wanted to for as long as he or she wanted to (or basically could stand it).

...

Further indicating examination of mental processes, at this time in history, should focus more on the complete picture rather than individual, subjective sensory experiences.

Brain Chemistry Advancements

Hundreds of substances (neurotransmitters and hormones) play critical roles in mental activity and behavior. Imbalances in the proper levels of these can lead to things like depression, anxiety, Parkinson's disease, and tripping super hard.

Manipulating Variables Term Review

Independent variable (IV): a variable that is manipulated (take pill, change lighting, etc.) to cause change in outcome. Dependent variable (DV): a variable that is measured (IQ, Behavior, Happiness etc.) or the outcome being measured. Treatment group: the participants in an experiment who receive the treatment (IV) Control group: the participants in an experiment who receive no treatment The benefit of an experiment is that the researcher can study the causal relationship between variables

Good Vs. Bad Theory

Jean Piaget's theory of child development generated thousands of hypotheses and scientific papers. Freud's theory that dreams serve a function of wish fulfillment generated few testable hypotheses and is not falsifiable.

Our Evolutionary Heritage

Many of our current behaviors reflect our evolutionary heritage, some of which may now be maladaptive (e.g., the preference for sweet/fatty foods, exploration bonus). Some behaviors do not reflect our evolutionary heritage (e.g., driving, texting, flying, modern grooming, drinking).

Fun/Sad Fact

More Americans believe ESP than evolution.

Natural Selection

Mutations that facilitate survival and reproduction are passed along.

Subfields of Psychology

Neuroscientists/biological psychologists - study the brain itself Cognitive psychologists - attention, memory, language use, problem solving, etc. Developmental psychologists - capability levels at different age levels Personality psychologists - observe intrapersonal interactions/personality tests Social psychologists (group dynamics) - observe interpersonal interactions Cultural psychologists - observe cultures Clinical psychologists - Mental health facilities, etc. Counseling psychologists (Diet Clinical) - Typical Therapists School psychologists - Counseling and Developmental pyschs combined Industrial and organizational psychologists - apply psychology to business and organization Forensic psychologists - Jury Selection, typing serial killers Sports psychologists - Increase Performance Health psychologists - How stress cause disease

Law Vs. Theory

Newton's law of gravity can predict exactly when this cat will land via his formula that details how gravity behaves, but it cannot explain why gravity behaves this way. Einstein's theory of general relativity, however, can explain why gravity operates as it does.

Access to Data

No matter what research method they use, researchers must also consider who will have access to the data they collect. Participant confidentiality should always be guarded carefully so that personal information is not linked publicly to the study's findings. Must be careful when discussing or publishing data on rare conditions or data pulled from small populations

Scientific Method is Cyclical

Once the results of a research study are in, researchers return to the original theory to evaluate the implications of the data. If the study was conducted competently (i.e., used appropriate methods and data analysis to test the hypothesis), the data either support the theory or suggest that the theory should be modified or discarded. No single study can provide a definitive answer about any phenomenon. Science does not "prove" anything; it "indicates" No theory would be discarded on the basis of one set of data.

Informed Consent

People who volunteer for psychological research have the right to know what will happen to them during the course of the study. People under the age of 18 and those with severe cognitive disabilities or mental health disorders cannot legally provide informed consent. Deception may be used under certain circumstances, but a careful debriefing must take place after the study's completion.

Direction of Correlation

Positive correlation: a relationship between two variables in which both variables either increase or decrease together (reciprocal relationship) Positive in this case does not mean "good." (r= 1.0) Negative correlation: a relationship between two variables in which one variable increases when the other decreases (inverse relationship). Negative in this case does not mean "bad." (r= -1.0) Zero correlation: a relationship between two variables in which one variable is not predictably related to the other (no relationship) Ex. there is a zero correlation between gender and intelligence. (r = 0.0)

Three major advances that have helped further the scientific understanding of psychological phenomena

Progress in understanding brain chemistry Developments in neuroscience Advances in decoding the human genome

Threats to B. Observation Studies (Descriptive Research)

Reactivity: the phenomenon that occurs when knowledge that one is being observed alters the behavior being observed. Ex. Hawthorne studies (e.g. Working behaviors change not due to change in lighting, etc. Due to being observed.) Observer bias: systematic errors in observation that occur because of an observer's expectations Observer bias can be a problem, especially if cultural norms favor inhibiting or expressing certain behaviors. Ex. "Boys don't cry." Experimenter Expectancy Effect: actual change in the behavior of the people or nonhuman animals being observed that is due to the expectations of the observer. Basically: What researchers expect to find alters their behavior toward the subject, which alters the subject's behavior. Ex. Social psychologist Robert Rosenthal had college students train rats to run a maze.

Relative Risk of Participation

Researchers cannot ask people to endure unreasonable amounts of pain or discomfort. Risk/benefit ratio: an analysis of whether the research is important enough to warrant placing participants at risk

Human Genome Advancements

Scientists have made enormous progress in understanding the human genome: the basic genetic code, or blueprint, for the human body. For psychologists, this map represents the foundational knowledge for studying how specific genes affect thoughts, actions, feelings, and disorders. By identifying the genes underpinning mental activity and disorders, researchers may be able to develop therapies based on genetic manipulation. (Memory, Addiction, OCD) The scientific study of genetic influences has made clear that very few single genes cause specific behaviors.

Neuroscience Advancements

Since the late 1980s, researchers have been able to study the working brain as it performs its vital psychological functions. Brain imaging methods, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) Localization of function: Some brain areas are important for specific feelings, thoughts, and actions. Many brain regions work together to produce behavior and mental activity.

Ethics

Some research questions require correlational research designs for ethical reasons. Example: PTSD and learning difficulty. Ethical research is governed by principles that ensure fair, safe, and informed treatment of participants. For ethical and practical reasons, researchers cannot always use the experimental method.

Survival of the FIttest

Species that are better adapted to their environments are more likely to survive and reproduce. (relates to physical and mental fitness in humans)

Directionality Problem

a problem encountered in correlational studies in which the researchers find a relationship between two variables but cannot determine which caused the changes in the other Ex. Lack of sleep (A) and stress (B) are correlated. r = 0.8 Does less sleep cause more stress (A → B)? Does more stress cause less sleep (B → A)?

Population

everyone in the group the experimenter is interested in

Psychology

The study of mental activity and behavior

Scientific Method Layout

Theory -> Hypothesis-> Research (if it supports theory, then refine Hypothesis) or (If it fails (refutes) to support the theory, then discard or revise theory)

6 Steps of the Scientific Method Ex.

Theory: Media Congruency Theory Hypothesis: Listening to Justin Bieber music causes IQ to decrease. Lit Review: Articles from Journal of Intelligence (peer reviewed) Design a Study: How will we test? Analyze Data: ANOVA Report Results - YUP

Da Vinci and the Brain

This drawing by Leonardo da Vinci dates from around 1506. Da Vinci used a wax cast to study the brain. He believed that all sensory inputs (sight, smell, touch, smell, taste) arrived in the middle region of the brain. He called this region the sensus communis (Close guess. The thalamus controls this and is located in the middle of the brain)

Cultural Differences

Westerners— tend to be independent and autonomous, stressing their individuality. Easterners— tend to be more interdependent, stressing their sense of being part of a collective.

Good Theories

When we talk about a good theory, we do not mean that it is good simply because it is supported by research findings. One key feature of a good theory is that it should be falsifiable. A good theory produces a wide variety of testable hypotheses. Good theories also tend toward simplicity. A good theory produces a wide variety of testable hypotheses. **Good scientists attempt to prove their theories wrong NOT to "prove" themselves right.

Meta-Analysis

a "study of studies" that combines the findings of multiple studies to arrive at a conclusion With meta-analysis, many studies that have addressed the same issue are combined and summarized in one study. Because meta-analysis combines the results of separate studies, many researchers believe that meta-analysis provides stronger evidence than the results of any single study. Can create a new theory that could lead you to becoming famous and put into textbooks for future student to have to learn about!

Operational Definition

a definition that qualifies (describes) and quantifies (measures) a variable so the variable can be understood objectively Remember?! ... how do you define "porn" in this study?

A. Case Study (Descriptive Research)

a descriptive research method that involves the intensive examination of an unusual person or organization Ex. There is only one Batman; the only research option is a case study.

Correlation Coefficient

a descriptive statistic that indicates the strength of the relationship between two variables and varies between −1.0 to +1.0

Mind/Body Problem

a fundamental psychological issue asking whether mind and body are separate and distinct or the mind is simply the physical brain's subjective experience

Scatterplot

a graphical depiction of the relationship between two variables

Psychoanalysis

a method developed by Sigmund Freud that attempts to bring the contents of the unconscious, often related to conflicts involving repressed childhood and sexual issues, into conscious awareness so that conflicts can be revealed

Third Variable Problem

a problem that occurs when the researcher cannot directly manipulate variables and, as a result, cannot be confident that another, unmeasured variable is not the actual cause of differences in the variables of interest Ex. Number of churches (A) is correlated with violent crime (B) r = 0.7 Population (C) causes the creation of more churches (C → A). Population (C) causes increase in violent crime rates (C → B).

Behavioralism

a psychological approach that emphasizes the role of environmental forces in producing (triggering) observable behavior gave rise to therapies designed to modify behavior

Correlational Research Design

a research method that describes and predicts how variables are naturally related in the real world, without any attempt by the researcher to alter them or assign causation between them. Researchers do not attempt to alter variables (doesn't add a "treatment") simply observe relationships. (e.g. personality and religiosity ) Researchers cannot draw causal conclusions from correlational studies. Correlation DOES NOT mean causation!!!

Experimental Research Design

a research method that tests causal hypotheses by manipulating and measuring variables (determines 'a' causes 'b') An experiment also allows researchers to test multiple hypotheses to examine and refine their theory.

Operational Definition

a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. For example, human intelligence may be operationally defined as what an intelligence test measures (IQ) How they define variables in a claim. Ex. "Social Media has overtaken porn as the #1 internet activity" -Time spent? -Times visited? What is defined as "porn"? Says who?

Scientific Method

a systematic and dynamic procedure of observing and measuring phenomena, which is used to achieve the goals of description, prediction, control, and explanation and involves an interaction among research, theories, and hypotheses

Introspection

a systematic examination of subjective mental experiences that requires people to inspect and report on the content of their thoughts

Evolutionary Theory

a theory presented by the naturalist Charles Darwin, which views the history of a species in terms of the inherited, adaptive value of physical characteristics, of mental activity, and of behavior

B. Observation Studies (Descriptive Research)

a. Participant observation: a type of descriptive study in which the researcher is involved in the situation. Ex. Immersing yourself in another culture. b. Naturalistic observation: a type of descriptive study in which the researcher is a passive observer, separated from the situation and making no attempt to change or alter ongoing behavior. Ex. Observing in a crowd

Psychological Reasoning

allows us to examine typical human mental processes and behaviors with much more accuracy (p=.05) than simply by using logic to reason conclusions.

Nature/Nurture Debate

also central to the current understanding of psychological disorders (brain wiring can be rewired!)

Structuralism

an approach to psychology based on the idea that ALL conscious experience can be broken down into its basic underlying components, similar to elements. Used introspection to study consciousness Ex. Describe an apple not as an "apple" but as "red" "shiny" "smooth" "sweet" "solid"

Hypothesis

an explanation of why a specific phenomenon occurs, which needs to be tested and is based on previous empirical findings.

Failing to Judge Source Credibility

another common mistake that can lead individuals to arrive at incorrect conclusion when using logic alone. Claims should be supported by EVIDENCE

Confound

anything that affects a dependent variable and that may unintentionally vary between the experimental conditions of a study When conducting an experiment, a researcher needs to ensure that the only thing that varies is the independent variable (test hungry group vs. non hungry group IQ test)

Advancements in understanding the biological and environmental bases of psychological disorders

are leading to effective treatments. (SSRIs, Lithium, ECT)

John Stuart Mill

argued that psychology should be a science of observation and experimentation NOT philosophy Defined psychology as "the science of the elementary laws of the mind." (early 1800s)

Evolutionary Psychology

attempts to explain mental traits as products of natural selection.

Descriptive Statistics

can also be used to summarize how two variables relate to each other. Scatterplot: a graphical depiction of the relationship between two variables Correlation coefficient: a descriptive statistic that indicates the strength of the relationship between two variables and varies between −1.0 to +1.0

John B. Watson (1913)

challenged psychology's unscientific focus on conscious and unconscious mental processes, believed that the only way to study psychology scientifically was through observation of behaviors. aka. Let's treat psychology like a science (like we agreed on 100 years ago) Developed Behaviorism The intellectual issue most central to Watson and his followers was the nature/nurture question; they said nurture ALL THE WAY! Focus on how the environmental stimuli predicted behavior in animals (and humans).

Random Sampling

every person in the population has an equal chance of being selected. the participants in a sample should be representative of the population the results are intend to represent.

Behavior

describes the totality of observable human (or animal) actions. This behavior can range from eating Tide pods, to conversing about impressionistic art, to twerking, going on picnics with your family, serial murder, etc.

Albert Ellis & Aaron Beck

developed cognitive therapies to correct faulty thoughts and beliefs. - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Institutional Review Boards (IRB's)

groups of people responsible for reviewing proposed research to ensure that it meets the accepted standards of science and provides for the physical and emotional well-being of research participants IRBs consist of administrators, legal advisers, trained scholars, and members of the community, not scientists alone. Fours major areas examined by IRB: Privacy Relative Risk Of Participation Informed Consent Access to Data

Variability

in a set of numbers, how widely dispersed the values are from each other and from the mean Range: the distance between the largest value and smallest value **Standard deviation: most common measure of variability, describes how far away each value is, on average, from the mean

Selection Bias

in an experiment, unintended differences between the participants in different groups; it could be caused by nonrandom assignment to groups. Researchers might subconsciously place participants in group depending on what they expect to find (someone looks attractive and you're researching type of lighting influences attraction)

Pyschologist

individual that uses a scientific approach to examine mental processes and/or to predict or alter behavior.

Functionalism

is an approach to psychology concerned with the adaptive purpose, or function, of mind and behavior. Highly influenced by Charles Darwin's Evolution work

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)

judges study proposals to make sure the animals will be treated properly. Health and well-being Fairness to the animals This committee is similar to an Institutional Review Board, but it evaluates animal research proposals. In addition to scientists and nonscientists, every IACUC includes a certified doctor of veterinary medicine, who must review each proposal to ensure that the research animals will be treated properly before, during, and after the study.

Serendipity

means unexpectedly finding things that are valuable or agreeable. Ex. Viagra was originally intended to treat a heart condition called angina. It failed to satisfy scientists as a heart medication, but it succeeded in satisfying people with another medical condition.

Reaction Time

measure developed to assess how quickly people can respond to similar task with varying levels of complexity.

Using Heuristics

mental shortcuts that "in general" produce a predictable outcome. What what percent of murder trials use the insanity defense? What countries consume the most alcohol annually?

C. Self-Report Methods (Descriptive, Correlational, OR Experimental Studies)

methods of data collection in which people are asked to provide information about themselves, such as in surveys or questionnaires . Interviews, another type of interactive method, can be used successfully with groups that cannot be studied through surveys or questionnaires, such as young children. Interviews are also helpful in gaining a more in-depth view of a respondent's opinions, experiences, and attitudes. Researchers have to consider the extent to which their questions produce socially desirable responding or "faking good."

Wilhelm Wundt

often referred to as the founder of modern experimental psychology, established the first psychology laboratory in Leipzig, Germany. Wundt realized that psychological processes, the products of physiological actions in the brain, take time to occur. Therefore, he used a measure developed earlier, called reaction time, to assess how quickly people can respond to similar task with varying levels of complexity. Complex - Simple = Mental Process Time Required

Psychology originated in

philosophy

Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow

pioneered a humanistic approach to the treatment of psychological disorders.

George A. Miller

previously a behaviorist, launched the cognitive revolution in 1957. Ten years later, Ulric Neisser integrated a wide range of cognitive phenomena in his book, Cognitive Psychology.