Psych unit 1

What is the definition of behavior genetics?

A field of scientific research that uses genetic methods to investigate the nature and origins of individual differences in behavior.

Describe the main difference between clinical psychologists and academic psychologists?

An academic psychologist has a stronger focus on healthy individuals, who have fewer pathological mental problems. A clinical psychologist has a stronger focus on those with a psychosis or other serious mental illness.

Why is psychology considered a science?

Because it uses scientific research methods

Which historical psychologists discussed in the class associated with the humanistic movement?

Carl Rogers

Which historical psychologist would most likely agree with this statement: "In order to understand our conscious experience we must systematically investigate the elements that are the basic building blocks of conscience.

EB Titchener

Which modern psychological perspective focuses on how healthy people strive to reach their full potential?

Humanistic Perspective

Your Aunt Laura decides to use her personal experiences to write a book about how people solve problems. She asks you if it might get published in a journal of psychology. You tell her that some psychologists might not classify her project as "psychology" because:

She does not use scientific research methods and uses her own personal experiences.

What is the definition of Evolutionary Psychology?

The theoretical approach in the social and natural sciences that examines psychological structure from a modern evolutionary perspective.

Where was the first psychology laboratory established? Who is considered the first Psychologist? (Father of Psychology)

Willhelm Wundt in Leipzig, Germany 1879

Who was the first American psychologist who wrote the first American psychology textbook?

William James

Which historical perspectives would be most likely to disagree with the following statement: "Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes, so psychological conclusions must be based on experimentation, not personal insight." Name at least two different psychologists from those perspectives.

Young and Sigmund Freud

What is the definition of Psychological perspectives?

cognitive, biological, social-cultural, behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic

Which perspective believes behavior stems from unconscious drives and unconscious conflicts experienced in childhood?

Psychodynamic

Contemporary psychology is best defined as the science of behavior and mental processes. Explain what the underlined part of this definition means in relation to the scope of what psychology studies. (In other words, what do behavior and mental processes specifically refer to?)

Behavior and Mental processes refer to the study of behavior through rewards and punishments and mental precess by studying unconscious motives and conflicts.

Which psychological perspective focuses on rewards and punishments as a motivation for behavior?

Behavioral perspective

The behavior genetics perspective can be described as a combination of which two other psychological perspectives?

Behavioral perspective and Biological perspective

What contemporary perspective believes that humans learn their behaviors through rewards, punishments, and by observing others?

Behavioriorism

Which psychological approach explains human behavior in the context of understanding the chemicals, hormones, and physical structures of the body?

Biological Perspective

The specialist most likely to diagnose and treat patients is a:

Clinical psychologist

Bob signs up for a psychology class at his high school because he is most interested in investigating the unique ways different individuals think about and interpret life experiences. Which psychological perspective will Bob most likely focus on in his psychology class?

Cognitive Perspective

Identify the main area of expertise for an Organizational psychologist. (who benefits from their services?)

Companies that need help with there overall organizational structure.

Kennth and Mamie Phipps Clark's major contribution to the history of psychology involved what kind of research? (What was the topic of study?)

Institutionalized racism

The behaviorists emphasized that psychology should only study ________ __________! (two words)

Observable behaviors

Which contemporary perspective would emphasize that the differing political and economic systems of the United States and China lead citizens of these two countries to adopt different customs and attitudes?!

Social-cultural perspective

The movement called positive psychology investigates such topics such as: (give an example)

optimal human functioning and the factors that allow individuals and communities to thrive