Psychology Major Concept Chapter 1

What is S-R psychology? Describe stimulus and response as they relate to behaviorism. How does animal research relate to behaviorism?

-stimuli and response-- belief that behavior springs directly from the responses of certain stimuli -we can observe the responses from animals to certain stimuli to predict how the brain works (how behaviorists study) behaviorism removed the mind from the equation and began studying other animal- behaviorists pioneered animal research that was originally suggested by functionalists

Describe the difference between a clinical psychologist and a psychiatrist as discussed in lecture.

-CL psychs.= provide psychotherapy (helping clients learn to change so they can cope w troublesome thoughts, feelings, n behaviors) n are trained to administer / interpret psychological tests--- these usually work in private offices, clinics, or hospitals. others teach or perform research w/in university psych. depts. -P-rists= medical doctors (w M.D. degrees)- have extensive med. training n can prescribe drugs, whereas psychologists cannot. unlike CL psychs., P-rists have not been trained to interpret/understand psych. research or testing. Med. school applicants used to not even be required to take courses in General or Abnormal psych.

Define and describe Gall's theory of phrenology.

theory that actions and abilities are located in specific regions in the brain

What limitation do psychodynamic theory and behaviorism share in common as discussed in lecture?

As diff. as they may appear to be, the two theories shared one principle in common-- that human beings have little control over their lives or their destinies (controlled by the unconscious according to Freud and by the environment according to behaviorists)

Describe how B.F. Skinner contributed to behaviorism. Define reinforcement.

B.F. Skinner=responses are controlled by consequence Reinforcement=any consequence that results from a given behavior and strengthens or supports the behavior

Define cognitive neuroscience. What is the primary difference between cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience?

-Connects hardware of brain to software of mind--which blends cog. psych. and neuroscience (study of the brain) when attempting to specify how the brain gives rise to mental processes that store and process info. Cog. neuroscientists argue that "mind is what the brain does" and hope to discover the nature, organization, and operation of the mental processes by studying brain. New brain-scanning tech have allowed us to observe human brains at work. -C PSYCH: study of mind n mental function (learning, memory, attention, perception, lang, decision making, etc.) C NEURO: studies biological factors that are basis for cognition (thought n understanding)

Describe Evolutionary psychology as reviewed in lecture and the text. What are the basic premises of this theory? How does it relate to Darwin's natural selection (see also concept #11 above)? How is this theory tested? Define cultural universality as it relates to this theory.

-the ways in which psychological mechanisms might have evolved to help solve adaptive probs faced by human ancestors. -are so important that natural selection has built them into our brains -their contributions to survival and reproduction. -in functionalism and emphasizes on Darwin's theory of natural selection Evidence comes from human abilities with those of animals and cultural university- or instances of the same practice occurring in all cultures.

Describe the difference between an academic psychologist and an applied psychologist as discussed in lecture. Consider examples of each.

Applied psychologists-take info learned and apply to everyday life. study how to improve products/procedures n conduct research to help solve specific practical probs. .. such as education, industry, justice system, marketing, entertainment, politics, n gov't.. their training n knowledge.. treatment techniques. Academic - focus on conducting research and teaching, typically within university settings. STUDY and TEACH

Describe the theory of Behaviorism. What are the basic premises of this theory? How did it define psychology and behavior? What did John Watson propose as the basic goals of scientific psychology? How did his approach change the field of psychology?

Behaviorism-focuses on a stimulus( object, event, or person) evoking a response(behavior in reaction to stim). Mind cant be observed and measured but behavior can. John Watson proposed for psych to focus on behavior, or what ppl do, instead of what ppl experience, bc behavior can be measured objectively goal of scientific psychology should be to predict and control behavior in ways that benefit society.

. Describe the perspectives of Biological psychology (behavioral neuroscience), Social psychology, Developmental psychology, and Personality psychology (individual differences).

Bio emphasizes physiological mechs. influencing mind n behavior, including nervous system anatomy n physiology, genetics, and biochemistry (how neuroscience affects how we think/feel) Research Question-how changes in neural activity are associated w psychological processes Social emphasizes ways in which psychological processes are influenced by interactions w other ppl Research Question-how another person or group can manipulate one's choices or actions Developmentalemphasizes ways that mind n behavior change thruout the lifespan, from 1st days after conception thru old age n death( how we change as we grow) Research question-when in childhood certain cognitive abilities typically emerge -Personality psych. (indiv. differences)= (thinking, feeling, and behaving) -whether variability in personality traits can predict behavior Personality Psychology asks how pyschological processes ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Differ from person to-Personality psych. (indiv. differences)= (thinking, feeling, and behaving) -whether variability in personality traits can predict behavior Research Question

Define culture and Cultural psychology as reviewed in lecture and the text. Describe how the concepts of absolutism and relativism relate to the field of cultural psychology.

Culture is defined as the language, beliefs, values, norms, and behaviors that are shared among members of a group and passed from one generation to the next. Culture Pysch- study of how cultures reflect and how think feel and behave. Absolutism- culture makes little or no difference for most psychological phenomena. Relativism- psychological phenomena are likely to vary considerably across cultures.

Compare and contrast dualism and monism as they relate to the philosophical roots of psychology.

Dualism (Descartes) - mind and body two separate things Monism(Modern)- mind and body are one

Describe Flouren's and Broca's contributions (via physical science) to the history of psychology.

Flouren= added precision through surgical experiments, founded specific parts of the brain control certain actions. Broca= Brocas area most common part for stroke to occur.

Define William James' concept of functionalism. Describe how Darwin's concept of natural selection and his famous book The Origin of Species relates to James' concept. Consider the influence of James' text, The Principles of Psychology.

Functionalism- purpose of mental abilities. Why people think feel and behave as they do. Influenced by Charles Darwin's theories of evolution in On the Origin of Species, the functionalist view held that the true goal of psychology was the study of how consciousness functions to aid human beings in adapting to their environment

Define and describe Gestalt psychology and define illusions. Consider examples of perception from this perspective.

Gestalt Psych- the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.For example, a set of dots outlining the shape of a star is likely to be perceived as a star, not as a set of dots. Illusion- way you see the world is different than it actually is

Describe the theory of Humanistic psychology. What are the basic premises of this theory? Describe the contributions of Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

HP= differ from behaviorists, experience was imp. differ from Freud, thought human nature was good. Focuses on positive potential of human beings. Carl Rogers= created client-centered therapy Abraham Maslow= researcher that came up with theory of motivation

Describe how the advent of computers and information processing systems related to the development of cognitive psychology, and define this approach. How does the human mind function like a computer? Compare the mind and the brain to the software and hardware of a computer system. How did cognitive psychology refute the claims of behaviorists regarding the scientific approach to mental processes in psychology?

Mental processes were ignored for some time until the advent of the computer. Cognitive psychology, which= attempts to characterize the nature of human info processing by characterizing the mental events that allow info to be stored n operated on internally. -computer software,..is the hardware -why its important to that theres a science of the unobservable events that take place in head, not just a science of directly observable behavior -cog. psychologists.. (the software of the mind) Cognitive- Language, human intelligence, perception, attention, memory, thinking and problem solving. Behaviorism ignored mental processes The mind functions like a computer in the way information flows in the computer to the flow of information in the human mind.

Describe PLATOS view of nativism as it relates to psychology. Describe Aristotle's view of philosophical empiricism as it relates to psychology. How do these views relate to the nature v. nurture debate as discussed in lecture?

Platos nativism- innate knowledge Aristotle philosophical empiricism- experiences Nature v Nurture cannot be separated interact=mental process.

Describe Sigmund Freud and his Psychoanalytic Theory. According to the textbook, what influence did Jean-Martin Charcot's work with hysteria and hypnosis have on Freud? What are the basic premises of his theory? What is the unconscious? How/why do sexual and aggressive urges and early childhood experiences relate to the theory? What is psychoanalysis? Describe the criticisms and lasting contributions of this theory as discussed in lecture.

Psychoanalytic Theory- a detailed theory of how thoughts and feelings affect people actions. Unconsious- aggresive and sexual urges and Conscious. Unconsious shaped based upon early interactions in life ( particularly parents.) Psychoanalysis- in which a therapist listens to patients problems and helps them understand there unconscious bases of their thoughts

Describe the central themes of this course as discussed in lecture. Be prepared to apply to examples.

Psychology evolves in a sociohistorical context WWII (PTSD)

Define psychology. How does this term relate to the concepts of science, mind, and behavior?

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Science- uses facts, logic and reason to find causes of behavior. Behavior- use of acts to measure person Mind- mental processes, cognition, consciousness, all brain activities. ULTIMATE GOAL- describe, explain, predict, control behavior of mental process

Define Wilhelm Wundt's concepts of structuralism and introspection and describe Wundt's contribution to scientific psychology. What is considered the birth year of scientific psychology?

Structionalism- focused on identifying the building blocks of consciousness breaking the mind up into its smallest pieces. Introspection- "looking within" it is the technique of observing your mental events (thoughts and feelings) as (immediately after) they occur. It was invalid Wilheim Wundt- considered founder of scientific set up first psych lab. His work let to structuralism. Birth year: 1879

Describe the sociohistorical evolution of clinical psychology as discussed in lecture. What major historical event had the most profound influence on psychology of any event in the history of the science?

THE INFLUENCE OF WWII ON THE FIELD AS A WHOLE- *(PTSD)* -many of the modern technologies we have were based on plans n advances made during this war. -historical events related to the war changed direction of research in psych (e.g., the atrocities committed by Nazi party -- led to field of social psych + development of ethical princips. guiding treatment of research subjects) -specifically, historical confluence of WWII n the advent n mass production of antibiotics (penicillin)= MAIN reasons why we have clinical psych today.

Compare and contrast the supernatural approach, the medical model, and the psychological model of mental illness as addressed in lecture. Describe the practices of exorcism and trepanation as treatments for mental illness. What approach or model does each of these practices relate to?

Understandings human condition of mental illnes Supernatural approach (Exorcism) idea we are under influence of magical, supernatural forces. Medical Model (trepanation)-drilled holes to cure headaches, hallucinations and behavior prob. - medical disease that can be treated Psychological approach belief that life experiences shape our emotions thoughts and behaviors.