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Questions and Answers
Which perspective emphasizes the importance of observable behaviors and learning through the environment?
Which perspective emphasizes the importance of observable behaviors and learning through the environment?
Which school of thought in psychology focuses on the perception of patterns and the totality of organized experience?
Which school of thought in psychology focuses on the perception of patterns and the totality of organized experience?
What does the 'independent variable' represent in an experimental research design?
What does the 'independent variable' represent in an experimental research design?
Which research method involves investigating behavior as it naturally occurs, without any manipulation from the researcher?
Which research method involves investigating behavior as it naturally occurs, without any manipulation from the researcher?
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A researcher examines existing data, such as census records or surveys, to test a hypothesis. This is an example of what type of research?
A researcher examines existing data, such as census records or surveys, to test a hypothesis. This is an example of what type of research?
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What would be the focus of a psychologist working from the 'cognitive' perspective?
What would be the focus of a psychologist working from the 'cognitive' perspective?
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Which of the following best describes the main focus of 'developmental psychology'?
Which of the following best describes the main focus of 'developmental psychology'?
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What is the primary focus of the 'describe' goal in psychology?
What is the primary focus of the 'describe' goal in psychology?
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What is the primary goal of 'experimental manipulation' in a psychological experiment?
What is the primary goal of 'experimental manipulation' in a psychological experiment?
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Which historical figure emphasized the importance of rational thinking?
Which historical figure emphasized the importance of rational thinking?
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Which aspect of experimental research is considered the 'baseline' for comparison?
Which aspect of experimental research is considered the 'baseline' for comparison?
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What was the main contribution of Wilhelm Wundt to the field of psychology?
What was the main contribution of Wilhelm Wundt to the field of psychology?
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Studying the influence of the nervous system and brain functions on behavior is the focus of which perspective?
Studying the influence of the nervous system and brain functions on behavior is the focus of which perspective?
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Which school of thought in psychology focused on breaking down conscious experience into basic elements?
Which school of thought in psychology focused on breaking down conscious experience into basic elements?
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What is the main idea behind the functionalist approach in psychology?
What is the main idea behind the functionalist approach in psychology?
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Who is credited with developing the system of phrenology?
Who is credited with developing the system of phrenology?
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According to psychoanalysis, what primarily governs human behavior?
According to psychoanalysis, what primarily governs human behavior?
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Which of the following statements best describes the empiricist view as it relates to psychology?
Which of the following statements best describes the empiricist view as it relates to psychology?
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Which concept is Ernst Weber known for introducing to the field of psychology?
Which concept is Ernst Weber known for introducing to the field of psychology?
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Who shifted the focus of psychological study from conscious experience to unconscious drives?
Who shifted the focus of psychological study from conscious experience to unconscious drives?
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Study Notes
Introduction to Psychology
- Psychology is the study of the mind and soul.
- A scientific approach used to study behavior.
Nature of Psychology
- Psychology relies on objective data to understand behavior, thoughts, motivations, and emotions.
- Behavior is any observable action.
- Mental processes are internal actions and procedures of the mind.
Goals of Psychology
- Describe: Providing concrete details about observable behavior.
- Explain: Understanding the causes and reasons behind behavior.
- Predict: Anticipating future behavior.
- Control: Modifying or changing behavior.
Historical Origins
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Forerunners: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Rene Descartes, John Locke, Hippocrates, Franz Josef Gall.
- Socrates, Plato, Aristotle focused on rational thinking and knowledge.
- Rene Descartes is associated with the nativist view (knowledge born inside)
- John Locke with the empiricist view (knowledge gained through experience)
- Hippocrates believed in illness having natural causes.
- Franz Josef Gall with the system of phrenology.
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Beginnings of Experimental Psychology: Hermann von Helmholtz, Ernst Weber, Gustav Theodor Fechner, Wilhelm Wundt.
- Hermann von Helmholtz: Vision and audition; important in experimental psychology.
- Ernst Weber: Concept of a threshold.
- Gustav Theodor Fechner: Experimental study of mental processes.
- Wilhelm Wundt: Established the first psychological laboratory, studying conscious experiences.
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Early Schools of Thought:
- Structuralism (Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener): Focused on basic elements of consciousness and structures. Interested in basic elements of experience, perception, consciousness, feeling, and thoughts.
- Functionalism (William James): Examined the functions of the mind in adapting to the environment; how it uses the mind for the sake of survival, and practical applications.
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Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud): Unconscious forces influencing behavior.
- Sigmund Freud studied unconscious experiences and their influence on behavior.
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Behaviorism (Edward Thorndike and John B Watson): Observable behavior; measurable and observable behavior.
- Edward Thorndike and John B. Watson stressed on actual observation.
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Gestalt Psychology (Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Köhler): Behavior viewed as a whole; a perception of a whole. Perception is more than a simple sum of elements.
Psychological Perspectives
- Psychodynamic Perspective: Unconscious processes influencing behavior.
- Behavioral Perspective: Observable behaviors, emphasizing environmental factors.
- Cognitive Perspective: Information processing in the mind.
- Humanistic Perspective: Potential for personal growth and self-actualization.
- Neuroscience Perspective: Influence of the nervous system and brain on behavior.
Fields or Psychology
- Biological Psychology: Relationship between biological functions and processes.
- Developmental Psychology: Growth and change throughout life.
- Clinical Psychology: Diagnosing and treating mental disorders.
- Experimental Psychology: Examining behavior through experiments.
- Educational Psychology: Studying learning in educational settings.
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology: Focuses on issues and problems within the field.
Psychological Research Methods
- Descriptive Research (Archival, survey, case study, naturalistic observation): Describes behavior, but does not explain.
- Correlational Research: Examines relationships between variables.
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Experimental Research: Manipulates variables to determine cause-and-effect.
- Independent Variable (IV): Manipulated by the experimenter.
- Dependent Variable (DV): Measured by the experimenter.
- Experimental and Control groups.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of psychology, including its goals, nature, and historical origins. This quiz covers the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, along with the contributions of significant philosophers in psychology's development.
