Introduction to Psychology

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the science in psychology?

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes, encompassing not just what people do but also their biological activities, feelings, perceptions, memory, reasoning, and thoughts.

What is behavioral genetics?

Behavioral genetics studies the inheritance of traits related to behavior.

What is behavioral neuroscience?

Behavioral neuroscience examines the biological basis of behavior.

What does clinical psychology deal with?

The study, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. Signup and view all the answers

What is clinical neuropsychology?

Unites the areas of biopsychology and clinical psychology, focusing on the relationship between biological factors and psychological disorders. Signup and view all the answers

What does cognitive psychology focus on?

The study of higher mental processes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of counseling psychology?

Educational, social, and career adjustment problems. Signup and view all the answers

What does cross-cultural psychology investigate?

The similarities and differences in psychological functioning in and across various cultures and ethnic groups. Signup and view all the answers

What does developmental psychology examine?

How people grow and change from the moment of conception through death. Signup and view all the answers

What is educational psychology concerned with?

Teaching and learning processes, such as the relationship between motivation and school performance. Signup and view all the answers

What does environmental psychology consider?

The relationship between people and their physical environment. Signup and view all the answers

What does evolutionary psychology consider?

How behavior is influenced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors. Signup and view all the answers

What does experimental psychology study?

The process of sensing, perceiving, learning, and thinking about the world. Signup and view all the answers

What is forensic psychology focused on?

Legal issues, such as determining the accuracy of witness memories. Signup and view all the answers

What does health psychology explore?

The relationship between psychological factors and physical ailments or disease. Signup and view all the answers

What is industrial/organizational psychology concerned with?

The psychology of the workplace. Signup and view all the answers

What does personality psychology focus on?

The consistency in people's behavior over time and traits that differentiate one person from another. Signup and view all the answers

What is program evaluation?

Assessing large-scale programs to determine their effectiveness in meeting goals. Signup and view all the answers

What does psychology of women focus on?

Issues such as discrimination against women and the causes of violence against women. Signup and view all the answers

What does school psychology devote itself to?

Counseling children in elementary and secondary schools who have academic or emotional problems. Signup and view all the answers

What is social psychology?

The study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and actions are affected by others. Signup and view all the answers

What does sport psychology apply to?

Athletic activity and exercise. Signup and view all the answers

What is structuralism?

Wundt's approach which focuses on uncovering the fundamental components of consciousness, thinking, and other types of mental states and activities. Signup and view all the answers

What is introspection?

A procedure to study the structure of the mind where subjects describe in detail what they are experiencing when exposed to a stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is functionalism?

An early approach to psychology that concentrated on what the mind does - the functions of mental activity - and the role of behavior in allowing people to adapt to their environments. Signup and view all the answers

What is Gestalt psychology?

An approach to psychology that focuses on the organization of perception and thinking. Signup and view all the answers

What is neuroscience?

View behavior from the perspective of biological functioning. Signup and view all the answers

What does the psychodynamic perspective believe?

Behavior is motivated by inner, unconscious forces over which a person has little control. Signup and view all the answers

What does the behavioral perspective focus on?

Observable behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What does the cognitive perspective examine?

How people understand and think about the world. Signup and view all the answers

What does the humanistic perspective contend?

People can control their behavior and that they naturally try to reach their full potential. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 5 different perspectives in psychology?

Neuroscience, Psychodynamic, Behavioral, Cognitive, Humanistic. Signup and view all the answers

What are the positions taken by psychologists of the neuroscience perspective?

Nature, Unconscious, Internal Emphasis, Determinism, Universal Emphasis. Signup and view all the answers

What are the positions taken by psychologists of the psychodynamic perspective?

Nature, Unconscious, Internal Emphasis, Determinism, Universal Emphasis. Signup and view all the answers

What are the positions taken by psychologists of the behavioral perspective?

Nature, Conscious, Observable Emphasis, Determinism, Individual Differences and Universal Principles. Signup and view all the answers

What are the positions taken by psychologists of the cognitive perspective?

Nature and Nurture, Conscious and Unconscious, Internal Emphasis, Free Will, Individual Emphasis. Signup and view all the answers

What are the positions taken by psychologists of the humanistic perspective?

Nurture, Conscious, Internal Emphasis, Free Will, Individual Emphasis. Signup and view all the answers

What are the origins of psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt laid the foundation of psychology in 1879, when he opened his lab in Germany. Signup and view all the answers

What are theories?

Broad explanations and predictions concerning phenomena of interest. Signup and view all the answers

What is the scientific method?

The approach used by psychologists to systematically acquire knowledge and increase understanding. Signup and view all the answers

What is an operational definition?

The translation of a hypothesis into specific, testable procedures that can be measured and observed. Signup and view all the answers

What is naturalistic observation?

An investigator simply observes some naturally occurring behavior and does not change the situation. Signup and view all the answers

What are variables?

Behaviors, events, or other characteristics that can change or vary in some way. Signup and view all the answers

What is correlational research?

Research in which the relationship between two sets of variables is examined to determine whether they are associated. Signup and view all the answers

What is the independent variable?

The variable that is manipulated by an experimenter. Signup and view all the answers

What is the dependent variable?

The variable that is measured and is expected to change based on manipulation of the independent variable. Signup and view all the answers

What are the advantages of descriptive and correlational research?

Offers insight into the relationship between variables. Signup and view all the answers

What are the disadvantages of descriptive and correlational research?

Cannot determine causality. Signup and view all the answers

What are the advantages of archival research?

Ease of data collection because the data already exists. Signup and view all the answers

What are the disadvantages of archival research?

Dependent on the availability of data. Signup and view all the answers

What are the advantages of naturalistic observation?

Provides a sample of people in their natural environment. Signup and view all the answers

What are the disadvantages of naturalistic observations?

Cannot control the 'natural habitat' being observed. Signup and view all the answers

What are the advantages of survey research?

A small sample can be used to infer attitudes and behavior of a larger population. Signup and view all the answers

What are the disadvantages of survey research?

Sample may not be representative of the larger population; participants may not provide accurate responses to survey questions. Signup and view all the answers

What are the advantages of a case study?

Provides a thorough, in-depth understanding of participants. Signup and view all the answers

What are the disadvantages of a case study?

Results may not be generalizable beyond the sample. Signup and view all the answers

What is replicated research?

Research that is repeated, sometimes using other procedures, settings, and groups of participants, to increase confidence in prior findings. Signup and view all the answers

What is informed consent?

A document signed by participants affirming that they have been told the basic outlines of the study and are aware of what their participation will involve. Signup and view all the answers

What is experimental bias?

Factors that distort how the independent variable affects the dependent variable in an experiment. Signup and view all the answers

What is a placebo?

A false treatment, such as a pill or 'drug,' or other substance without any significant chemical properties or active ingredient. Signup and view all the answers

Natural selection requires what?

Both heritable variation and differential reproductive success. Signup and view all the answers

Natural selection tends to act at which level?

Population. Signup and view all the answers

Discovery science is based on what?

Inductive reasoning. Signup and view all the answers

At which point is an investigator most likely to use deductive reasoning?

In establishing a test of a hypothesis. Signup and view all the answers

A hypothesis must be testable to be scientifically valid. Being testable means that...

Some conceivable observation could prove the hypothesis incorrect. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, encompassing biological activities, feelings, perceptions, memory, reasoning, and thoughts.

Areas of Psychology

Behavioral genetics studies the inheritance of traits related to behavior.
Behavioral neuroscience examines the biological basis of behavior.
Clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating psychological disorders.
Clinical neuropsychology integrates biopsychology and clinical psychology to understand biological factors in psychological disorders.
Cognitive psychology investigates higher mental processes, such as thinking and understanding.
Counseling psychology addresses educational, social, and career adjustment problems.
Cross-cultural psychology compares psychological functioning across cultures and ethnic groups.
Developmental psychology explores changes from conception to death.
Educational psychology examines teaching, learning processes, and the impact of motivation on performance.
Environmental psychology studies the relationship between people and their physical surroundings.
Evolutionary psychology analyzes behavioral influences from genetic inheritance.
Experimental psychology researches sensory processes, perception, learning, and thought.
Forensic psychology focuses on legal issues and witness memory accuracy.
Health psychology studies the connection between psychological factors and physical health.
Industrial/organizational psychology deals with workplace-related psychological issues.
Personality psychology explores individual behavior consistency and distinguishing traits.
Program evaluation assesses the effectiveness of large-scale programs like the Headstart initiative.
Psychology of women examines discrimination and violence issues faced by women.
School psychology provides counseling for children with academic or emotional challenges.
Social psychology analyzes how thoughts, feelings, and actions are influenced by others.
Sport psychology applies psychological principles to athletic activities and exercise.

Historical Foundations

Wilhelm Wundt established psychology's foundation in 1879 with his lab in Germany.

Psychological Perspectives

Key perspectives include:
- Neuroscience: Emphasizes biological functioning and aspects such as nature and determinism.
- Psychodynamic: Focuses on unconscious motivations and internal influences.
- Behavioral: Concentrates on observable behaviors and individual differences.
- Cognitive: Examines understanding and processing of information, combining nature and nurture aspects.
- Humanistic: Advocates for individual potential and free will, emphasizing conscious influences.

Methodological Concepts

The scientific method systematically acquires knowledge and enhances understanding.
A hypothesis must be testable, meaning observations can potentially disprove it.
Operational definitions translate hypotheses into measurable procedures.
Variables are characteristics that can change, impacting behavioral studies.
Correlational research examines variable relationships without establishing cause-and-effect.

Research Methods

Naturalistic observation involves observing behavior without altering the environment.
Descriptive and correlational research can provide insights but not causality.
Archival research takes advantage of existing data, although dependent on data availability.
Survey research allows for generalizations from small samples, but may have representational issues.
Case studies offer in-depth understanding but may lack generalizability.

Research Validation

Replicated research enhances confidence in findings by using different methods and participant groups.
Informed consent ensures participants are aware of study outlines and their involvement.
Experimental bias can skew results by distorting independent variable effects.
Placebo effects show how inactive treatments can impact outcomes.

Natural Selection

Requires heritable variation and differential reproductive success, acting at the population level.
Discovery science relies on inductive reasoning, while deductive reasoning is used to test hypotheses.

Conclusion

A valid hypothesis must be testable; conceivable observations could prove its incorrectness.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore key concepts from Chapter 1 of Introduction to Psychology with these flashcards. This quiz covers foundational definitions, including the science of psychology, behavioral genetics, and neuroscience. Test your understanding of the core principles that shape psychological study.

Introduction to Psychology - Chapter 1

Choose a study mode