Psychology 120 Chapter 1 Grossmont College
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Animal model
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In research, an animal whose behavior is used to derive principles that may apply to human behavior
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Anthropomorphic error
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the error of attributing human thoughts, feelings, or motives to animals, especially as a way of explaining their behavior
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Barnum effect
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The tendency to consider a personal description accurate if it is stated in very general terms.
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Behaviorism
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The school of psychology that emphasizes the study of overt, observable behavior.
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Biased sample
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A subpart of a larger population that does not accurately reflect characteristics of the whole population.
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Biological perspective
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The attempt to explain behavior in terms of underlying biological principles.
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Case study
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An in-depth focus on all aspects of a single person.
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Causation
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The act of causing some effect.
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Clinical method
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Studying psychological problems and therapies in clinical settings.
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Clinical psychologist
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A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of psychological and behavioral disturbances or who does research on such disturbances.
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Coefficient of correlation
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A statistical index ranging from −1.00 to +1.00 that indicates the direction and degree of correlation.
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Cognitive behaviorism
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An approach that combines behavioral principles with cognition (perception, thinking, anticipation) to explain behavior.
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Control
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Altering conditions that influence behavior.
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Confirmation bias
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The tendency to remember or notice information that fits one's expectations but to forget discrepancies.
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Control group
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In a controlled experiment, the group of subjects exposed to all experimental conditions or variables except the independent variable.
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Correlation
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The existence of a consistent, systematic relationship between two events, measures, or variables.
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Correlational method
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Making measurements to discover relationships between events.
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Correlational study
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A nonexperimental study designed to measure the degree of relationship (if any) between two or more events, measures, or variables.
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Counseling psychologist
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A psychologist who specializes in the treatment of milder emotional and behavioral disturbances.
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Counselor
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A mental health professional who specializes in helping people with problems not involving serious mental disorder; for example, marriage counselors, career counselors, or school counselors.
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Critical thinking (in psychology)
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A type of reflection involving the support of beliefs through scientific explanation and observation.
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Cultural relativity
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The idea that behavior must be judged relative to the values of the culture in which it occurs.
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Dependent variable
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In an experiment, the condition (usually a behavior) that is affected by the independent variable.
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Description
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In scientific research, the process of naming and classifying.
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Determinism
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The idea that all behavior has prior causes that would completely explain one's choices and actions if all such causes were known.
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Double-blind experiment
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An arrangement in which both participants and experimenters are unaware of whether participants are in the experimental group or the control group, including who might have been administered a drug or a placebo.
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Evolutionary psychology
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The study of how human evolution and genetics might explain our current behavior.
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Experiment
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A formal trial undertaken to confirm or disconfirm a hypothesis about cause and effect.
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Experimental group
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In a controlled experiment, the group of subjects exposed to the independent variable or experimental condition.
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Experimental method
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Investigating causes of behavior through controlled experimentation.
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Experimental subjects
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Humans (also referred to as participants) or animals whose behavior is investigated in an experiment.
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Extraneous variables
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Conditions or factors excluded from influencing the outcome of an experiment.
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Free will
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The idea that human beings are capable of freely making choices or decisions.
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Functionalism
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The school of psychology concerned with how behavior and mental abilities help people adapt to their environments.
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Gender bias in research
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A tendency for females and female issues to be underrepresented in research, psychological or otherwise.
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Gestalt psychology
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A school of psychology emphasizing the study of thinking, learning, and perception in whole units, not by analysis into parts.
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Humanism
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An approach to psychology that focuses on human experience, problems, potentials, and ideals.
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Hypothesis
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A statement of the predicted outcome of an experiment or an educated guess about the relationship between variables.
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Independent variable
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In an experiment, the condition being investigated as a possible cause of some change in behavior. The values that this variable takes are chosen by the experimenter.
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Introspection
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To look within; to examine one's own thoughts, feelings, or sensations.
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Meta-analysis
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A statistical technique for combining the results of many studies on the same subject.
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Natural clinical test
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An accident or other natural event that allows the gathering of data on a psychological phenomenon of interest.
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Natural selection
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Darwin's theory that evolution favors those plants and animals best suited to their living conditions.
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Naturalistic observation
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Observing behavior as it unfolds in natural settings.
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Negative correlation
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A statistical relationship in which increases in one measure are matched by decreases in the other.
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Neo-Freudian
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A psychologist who accepts the broad features of Freud's theory but has revised the theory to fit his or her own concepts.
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Neuroscience
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The broader field of biopsychologists and others who study the brain and nervous system, such as biologists and biochemists.
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Observational record
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A detailed summary of observed events or a videotape of observed behavior.
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Observer bias
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The tendency of an observer to distort observations or perceptions to match his or her expectations.
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Observer effect
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Changes in a subject's behavior brought about by an awareness of being observed.
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Operational definition
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Defining a scientific concept by stating the specific actions or procedures used to measure it. For example, \"hunger\" might be defined as \"the number of hours of food deprivation.\"
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Placebo
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An inactive substance given in the place of a drug in psychological research or by physicians who wish to treat a complaint by suggestion.
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Placebo effect
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Changes in behavior due to participants' expectations that a drug (or other treatment) will have some effect.
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Population
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An entire group of animals or people belonging to a particular category (for example, all college students or all married women).
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Positive correlation
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A statistical relationship in which increases in one measure are matched by increases in the other (or decreases correspond with decreases).
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Positive psychology
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The study of human strengths, virtues, and effective functioning.
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Prediction
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An ability to accurately forecast behavior.
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Pseudopsychology
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Any false and unscientific system of beliefs and practices that is offered as an explanation of behavior.
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Psychiatric social worker
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A mental health professional trained to apply social science principles to help patients in clinics and hospitals.
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Psychiatrist
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A medical doctor with additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders.
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Psychoanalysis
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A Freudian approach to psychotherapy emphasizing the exploration of unconscious conflicts.
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Psychoanalyst
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A mental health professional (usually a medical doctor) trained to practice psychoanalysis.
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Psychodynamic theory
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Any theory of behavior that emphasizes internal conflicts, motives, and unconscious forces.
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Psychological perspective
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The traditional view that behavior is shaped by psychological processes occurring at the level of the individual.
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Psychologist
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A person highly trained in the methods, factual knowledge, and theories of psychology.
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Psychology
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The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
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Random assignment
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The use of chance (for example, flipping a coin) to assign subjects to experimental and control groups.
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Representative sample
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A small, randomly selected part of a larger population that accurately reflects characteristics of the whole population.
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Repression
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The unconscious process by which memories, thoughts, or impulses are held out of awareness.
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Research method
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A systematic approach to answering scientific questions.
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Research participant bias
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Changes in the behavior of research participants caused by the unintended influence of their own expectations.
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Researcher bias
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Changes in participants' behavior caused by the unintended influence of a researcher's actions.
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Response
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Any muscular action, glandular activity, or other identifiable aspect of behavior.
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Scientific method
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A form of critical thinking based on careful measurement and controlled observation.
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Scientific observation
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An empirical investigation structured to answers questions about the world in a systematic and intersubjective fashion (observations can be reliably confirmed by multiple observers).
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Self-actualization
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The ongoing process of fully developing one's personal potential.
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Self-fulfilling prophecy
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A prediction that prompts people to act in ways that make the prediction come true.
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Single-blind experiment
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An arrangement in which participants remain unaware of whether they are in the experimental group or the control group.
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Social norms
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Rules that define acceptable and expected behavior for members of a group.
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Sociocultural perspective
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The focus on the importance of social and cultural contexts in influencing the behavior of individuals.
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Statistical significance
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Experimental results that would rarely occur by chance alone.
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Stimulus
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Any physical energy sensed by an organism.
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Structuralism
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The school of thought concerned with analyzing sensations and personal experience into basic elements.
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Superstition
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Unfounded belief held without evidence or in spite of falsifying evidence.
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Survey
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In psychology, a public polling technique used to answer psychological questions.
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Survey method
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Using questionnaires and surveys to poll large groups of people.
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Theory
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A system of ideas designed to interrelate concepts and facts in a way that summarizes existing data and predicts future observations.
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Unconscious
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Contents of the mind that are beyond awareness, especially impulses and desires not directly known to a person.
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Uncritical acceptance
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The tendency to believe claims because they seem true or because it would be nice if they were true.
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Understanding
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In psychology, understanding is achieved when the causes of a behavior can be stated.
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Variable
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Any condition that changes or can be made to change; a measure, event, or state that may vary.
