Foothill Psychology Test #1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is psychology?

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

What is behavior?

Outward or overt actions that can be directly observed.

What are mental processes?

Internal activity of our mind.

What does description in psychology involve?

Observing a behavior and describing everything about it. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of explanation in psychology?

To understand why a behavior is happening. Signup and view all the answers

What does prediction refer to in psychology?

The ability to predict behaviors in the future based on previously gathered information. Signup and view all the answers

What is control in the context of psychology?

To gain knowledge and strategies to change or modify people's behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What are psychology's four primary goals?

Description, explanation, prediction, and control. Signup and view all the answers

Why is bias a negative factor in psychological observations?

Observations need to be clear and precise and should not be affected by the observer's beliefs or values. Signup and view all the answers

What three fields formed the basis of psychology?

Philosophy, medicine, physiology. Signup and view all the answers

What did philosophers study related to psychology?

The human mind and behavior using rationalism and insight, not the scientific method. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of physiologists in psychology?

They infer mental processes from outward actions and study the body directly. Signup and view all the answers

What does psychophysics study?

The relationship between physical stimuli and psychological impressions. Signup and view all the answers

What is objective introspection?

A process where individuals report their thoughts in response to stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What does structuralism study?

The structure and basic elements of the mind. Signup and view all the answers

What is functionalism?

The study of how the mind functions and adapts. Signup and view all the answers

What is perceiving?

Becoming aware of something through the senses. Signup and view all the answers

What is sensing?

Seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or smelling something. Signup and view all the answers

What is Gestalt psychology?

An early perspective focusing on perception and sensation; 'the whole is greater than the sum of its parts'. Signup and view all the answers

What is psychoanalysis?

A theory in therapy based on the work of Sigmund Freud. Signup and view all the answers

What is behaviorism?

The science of behavior that focuses on observable behavior only. Signup and view all the answers

What is conditioning?

A learned reflexive response. Signup and view all the answers

What is a phobia?

An irrational, persistent fear of an object, situation, or social activity. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the important person behind Gestalt psychology?

Max Wertheimer. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three Gestalt principles?

Law of Closure, Law of Similarity, Law of Continuity. Signup and view all the answers

What is the basic idea of psychoanalysis according to Sigmund Freud?

Early childhood experiences help form personality as an adult. Signup and view all the answers

What role does early childhood experience play, according to Freud?

Freud believed that personality was formed in the first 6 years of life. Signup and view all the answers

Who are the important people behind behaviorism?

John Watson and Ivan Pavlov. Signup and view all the answers

Who is known as the father of African-American psychology?

Francis Cecil Sumner. Signup and view all the answers

What does psychodynamic psychology examine?

The development of self and personality, and how the unconscious mind influences behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

What does the behavioral perspective focus on?

Measuring only observable behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychology Basics

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
Behavior encompasses observable actions such as talking and facial expressions.
Mental processes refer to internal activities like thinking, feeling, and remembering.

Research Goals

Primary goals include description, explanation, prediction, and control of behavior.
Description involves careful observation and detailed depiction of behavior.
Explanation seeks to understand the underlying reasons for behavior.
Prediction allows forecasting future behaviors based on past data.
Control aims to modify behaviors through knowledge and strategies.

Importance of Objectivity

Bias in psychological observations is detrimental; observations must be clear and unaffected by personal beliefs.

Foundations of Psychology

Psychology emerged from three main fields: philosophy, medicine, and physiology.
Philosophers studied the human mind through rational insight instead of scientific methods.
Physiologists connected mental processes to physical actions, contributing to understanding behavior.

Key Concepts and Theories

Psychophysics explores the relationship between physical stimuli and psychological impressions.
Objective introspection involves methodical reporting of thoughts in response to stimuli.
Structuralism focuses on understanding the basic elements of the mind.
Functionalism studies how the mind operates as a dynamic entity.

Perception and Sensation

Perceiving refers to awareness through senses, while sensing includes the physical act of seeing, hearing, and feeling.

Gestalt Psychology

Gestalt Psychology emphasizes perception and sensation, highlighting that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."
Key principles include the Law of Closure, Law of Similarity, and Law of Continuity.

Psychoanalysis and Behaviorism

Psychoanalysis, based on Sigmund Freud's work, posits that early childhood experiences significantly shape adult personality, with a focus on the unconscious mind.
Behaviorism, primarily influenced by John Watson and Ivan Pavlov, studies observable behavior and learned responses (conditioning).

Phobias and Key Figures

A phobia is an irrational and persistent fear, demonstrated in the Little Albert experiment.
Max Wertheimer is recognized as a pivotal figure in Gestalt psychology.

Freudian Theory

Freud believed that major personality development occurs in the first six years of life, with significant problems stemming from early experiences.

Contributions to Psychology

Francis Cecil Sumner is regarded as the father of African-American psychology, noted for being the first African-American to earn a PhD in psychology in 1920.
The psychodynamic approach looks at the development of self and personality, focusing on the influence of the unconscious mind.

Behavioral Perspective

The behavioral perspective exclusively measures observable behaviors, with key figures like B.F. Skinner shaping its framework.

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Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key terms in psychology. Each card presents a definition for important concepts such as behavior and mental processes. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of the fundamentals of psychology.