Psychology Chapter 1 – Flashcards

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes. The goal is to describe, explain, predict and control the behaviors and mental processes of humans and animals.

Used the method of objective introspection in an attempt to study human processes. Because of his innovative efforts to bring objectivity and measurement to the concept of psychology, Wundt is ofter referred to as the father of psychology.

Expanded on Wundt's ideas and brought the method of introspection to the United States. TItchener belived that introspection could be used on thoughts as well as physical sensations and called his approach Structuralism.

To describe the precise structure of our mental processes.

William James focused on discovering how our mental processes help us to function in our daily lives and began to promote his viewpoint as Functionalism.

Studying how sensation and perception create a whole pattern that is greater than the sum of the individual components.

A major proponent of Gestalt psychology.

The theory of Sigmund Freud, based on the concept of the unconcious. Believes the unconcious mind played an important role in controlling our day to day behaviors and thoughts.

Watson expanded the findings of Ivan Pavlov, to promote the perspective of behaviorism. Behaviorists believe that psychology should focus on conceots that could be studied scientifically, and they felt that the only area of psychology that could be approached scientifically was observable behavior.

Focuses on the role of unconcious.

Emphasizes human potential and free will; it focuses on peoples abilities to direct their own lives.

Focuses on the biology underlying our behavior and thoughts.

Focuses on the thoguhts or "cognitions" themselves. Cognitive neuroscience is a specific area of cognitive perspective that focuses on the physical changes in the brain that occur when we think, remember or engage in other mental processes.

Explores the role of social and cultural factors on our behaviors and thoughts, while evolutionary psychologists attempt to explain behavior and thoughts in terms of their adaptive or "survival" qualities.

Recieves a medical degree and treat serious psychological disorders, and can perscribe medication for their patients.

Attends graduate school to obtain a doctorate degree and can select one of many career options from reasearch to conseling to consulting for a buisness.

A psychiatrist or psychologist who has recieved special training in Freud's method of psychoanalysis.

Receive a master of social work degree, and provide conseling to patients or possibly conducts research.

used by Psychologists to reduce bias and error in their observations.

A statement about what you believe the actual answer is.

Provides a realistic picture of the behavior but can become biased through the observer effect.

Research participants behave differently when they know they are being watched.

The researcher only sees what he or she wants to see in the results.

Sometimes a researcher will disguise himself or herself as an actual participant in order to redure the observer effect.

A detailed investigation of one individual, or case, and can provide a great deal of information quickly.

Researchers must take a representative sample of the population in which they are interested. A researcher interested in discovering the relationship between the two variables would use the Correlational Method

Tells the researcher the direction and strength of the relationship.

The researcher manipulates a variable (the independant) and measures some response from the participants (dependant Variable).

And Operational Definition is a set of instructions that explains exactly how to measure the variable.

A way to assign participants to groups without creating bias.

The participants expectations actually influence the results of the experiment.

THe participants are not told which group they are in.

Neither the participants or the experimenter know who is in which group.

1) Most truths need to be tested, 2) all evidence is not equal, 3) Authorities are not allways right, 4) an open mind is important.