Introduction to Psychology
45 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Why is it challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of human behaviors like depression?

  • Because the negative social responses are easier to investigate, drawing focus away from other factors.
  • Because there is often an overlap of multiple interconnected causes, making it difficult to isolate individual effects. (correct)
  • Because these behaviors are caused by both inborn and acquired characteristics which are impossible to separate.
  • Because biological factors are the only cause, leading to a chain of negative social consequences.

    • What is a core idea of scientific psychology, that began in the late 19th century?

  • That all causes of behaviour are interconnected and cannot be separated
  • That the mind and behavior can be studied through scientific methods and analysis. (correct)
  • That human capabilities are entirely determined through experience.
  • That only observable behaviors, not the mind, are appropriate subjects for analysis.

    • What is the primary significance of Wilhelm Wundt in the field of psychology?

  • He established the first school of thought by focusing on inborn capabilities.
  • He proposed the theory that human behavior is determined by social responses.
  • He opened the first experimental laboratory, marking a milestone for the field of psychology. (correct)
  • He debated the importance of acquired experiances rather than inborn human capabilites

    • What is the term used to describe the tendency to believe that an event was predictable after it has already occurred?

    <p>Hindsight bias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What fundamental question did the early debates in human psychology focus on?

    <p>Whether human capabilities are primarily inborn or acquired through experience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the role of empirical research in scientific study?

    <p>It involves the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to reach conclusions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement best reflects the perspective to maintain when exploring human behavior?

    <p>Be wary of explanations that attribute behaviors solely to one cause.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the reason why scientific facts can be modified?

    <p>Because new evidence is found.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is a critical element of the scientific method used by psychologists?

    <p>A set of rules and procedures for conducting empirical research.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why might psychologists need to regularly update their research?

    <p>Because human behavior and societal norms evolve.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A statement such as “It is important to prioritize mental health care” would most accurately be categorized as:

    <p>An opinion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a major goal of psychology?

    <p>To predict behavior by understanding its causes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following would be considered an objective fact, according to the information?

    <p>People who experience long-term stress tend to develop more health problems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'individual differences' in psychology?

    <p>The variations among people on physical or psychological dimensions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it difficult to make accurate predictions about individual behavior?

    <p>Because individual differences and multiple levels of explanation exist.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are values, beliefs, or opinions not used in scientific research?

    <p>They can't be definitively ascertained as true or false using empirical methods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these factors is NOT listed as influencing depression?

    <p>Economic Factors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can research that is based on facts influence personal values?

    <p>By providing factual information that may help people develop and adjust their values.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of psychology as a field of study?

    <p>The scientific study of behavior and mental processes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the text suggest about the nature of predictions made by psychologists?

    <p>They are probabilities rather than guarantees.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do values play in research?

    <p>They can be used to decide what research is appropriate to conduct.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    From what origins does the term 'psychology' derive?

    <p>Greek, meaning 'explanation of life'</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Based on the content provided, what is one way that technology is affecting psychological research?

    <p>It is necessary to include technologies like online dating when researching relationships.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key element that distinguishes psychology as a scientific discipline?

    <p>Its usage of scientific research methods and data analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the scope of topics that psychologists study?

    <p>Both directly observable actions and mental processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How might a psychologist study the concept of aggression?

    <p>By examining brain activity during aggressive behavior, observing children's behavior, and evaluating a person's home environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes basic research from applied research, in psychology?

    <p>Basic research aims to increase the knowledge base of psychology, applied research aims to solve practical problems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a mental process a psychologist might study?

    <p>The experience of dreaming a night.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do some people witnessing aggressive behavior offer help while others do not?

    <p>Psychologists study this phenomenon to understand why people respond in different ways.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a simple experimental design, what is the purpose of a control group?

    <p>To serve as a baseline, with the hypothesized cause absent.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a correlation coefficient, r, of 0 indicate?

    <p>The absence of any relationship.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which research method is best suited when experiments are not practical or possible?

    <p>Correlational method.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main characteristic of the observational method in psychological research?

    <p>Directly observing the phenomenon of interest.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In psychological research, what does 'minimal risk' refer to?

    <p>The degree of harm the experiment may cause to participants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of informed consent in psychological research?

    <p>To ensure participants know the risks and benefits so they can decide whether to participate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main issue researchers must consider when using animals in psychological studies?

    <p>Ensuring that any harm to animals is thoroughly justified by the study's potential benefits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of manipulating the independent variable in an experiment?

    <p>To control the variable and see its influences on other factors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key characteristic of intuitive thinking, as described in the text?

    <p>It is more experiential, automatic, and unconscious.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common problem with eyewitness identification?

    <p>Eyewitnesses may be just as confident when they are wrong as when they are right.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main issue with relying on people you know for information rather than doing your own research, as mentioned in the text?

    <p>People tend to relay information that they have heard, even if not accurate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is hindsight bias, as described in the text?

    <p>The tendency to believe that one would have predicted an outcome before it happened.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What makes research findings seem believable when they are read?

    <p>The cases that support the finding come to mind when we read them, so it seems believable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main conclusion drawn from the discussion about accepting explanations for events, without thoroughly testing them?

    <p>We may think that we understand why things happen, when we actually do not.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one example of a flawed belief people may hold without adequate evidence, as mentioned in the text?

    <p>Belief in extrasensory perception (ESP) or astrology.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect can biases have on our conclusions?

    <p>Biases may cause us to make erroneous conclusions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Introduction to Psychology

    • Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.
    • The word "psychology" comes from Greek words "psyche" (meaning life) and "logos" (meaning explanation)
    • Psychologists use scientific research methods to understand behavior.
    • Psychologists systematically collect and analyze data.
    • Psychological behavior can be affected by several variables.

    Psychology as a Science

    • Psychology is a scientific discipline.
    • Psychologists use the scientific method to investigate questions about behaviour.
    • "Everyday scientists" conduct research projects to understand behaviour, such as when we experience failure in a test or important life events.
    • Scientific research can help discover principles about human behavior.

    The Problem of Intuition

    • Intuition, while helpful, is not always scientific.
    • Intuitions can be faulty, as people can wrongly attribute causes to events without sufficient testing.
    • Other explanations for events may be more accurate than intuition.
    • Eyewitness accounts can be wrong, but often perceived as confident.
    • The assumption that certain experiences are true and not falsifiable, like ESP (extrasensory perception) or astrological predictions.
    • Accepting explanations without rigorous testing can lead to inaccurate conclusions.

    Hindsight Bias

    • Hindsight bias is the tendency to believe you could have predicted an event after learning the outcome.
    • The outcome is sometimes already believable due to similar prior cases (e.g, attraction between people, such as “opposites attract” vs "birds of a feather").
    • Psychological research has identified that certain outcomes are more often true than others.
    • Research findings are sometimes wrongly perceived as predictable.

    Why Psychologists Rely on Empirical Methods

    • All scientists use empirical research.
    • Empirical research methods involve collecting, analysing, and interpreting data.
    • Scientific procedures don't automatically prevent bias, but the sharing of knowledge helps challenge it.
    • Scientific research continually updates findings and knowledge.
    • Norms for behavior change over time (e.g., technology).

    The Challenges of Studying Psychology

    • Psychological experiences are extremely complex.
    • Predicting behaviour is difficult due to individual differences and different situations.
    • Individual differences (like intelligence, self-esteem, anxiety, and aggression) influence behaviour.
    • Individual differences in behaviour make prediction probabilistic.
    • Human behavior is complex because multiple factors influence it.
    • Multiple causes interact when one cause is present.
    • Predicting behaviour is influenced by interacting factors like genetics, personality, and culture.
    • It is important to be skeptical of oversimplifications when attempting to explain behaviour.

    Modern Psychology's Roots

    • Psychology has roots in ancient Greece and the thinking of philosophers (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle).
    • Early debates in psychology included nature vs nurture.
    • Psychology emerged as a scientific discipline in the late 19th century.
    • The first experimental psychology lab was founded by Wilhelm Wundt.
    • Important schools of thought like Structuralism and Functionalism shaped the field.
    • Other influential figures include Freud, Pavlov, Piaget and several others.

    The Study of Psychology

    • Psychology has multiple perspectives (e.g., biological, behavioural, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and subjective).
    • Views on behaviour may vary based on these perspectives.
    • Topics may be analyzed from more than one perspective simultaneously.

    What do Psychologists Do?

    • Psychologists conduct research, teach, and provide mental health services.
    • Work can be in academic or non-academic settings.

    Specialties in Psychology

    • Psychology has a wide variety of specialties.
    • Diverse perspectives broaden understanding of psychology and create diverse career paths.
    • The categories of specialties in psychology include Experimental, Educational, Clinical, Counseling, Developmental, Cognitive, Gender/cultural, Industrial-organizational, and Social.
    • Specialties focus on specific areas of human behaviour or mental processes.

    Psychological Research

    • Psychological research employs the scientific method.
    • A hypothesis is tested using various methods and techniques (e.g., experimental, correlational, observational methods).
    • Ethical considerations in research are crucial (e.g., minimal risks, informed consent, and privacy).

    Studying That Suits You

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

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Introduction to Psychology Lecture 2 PDF

    Description

    Explore the foundations of psychology as a scientific discipline. This quiz covers key concepts such as the scientific method, the role of intuition, and the variables affecting psychological behavior. Test your understanding of how psychologists systematically study and interpret human behavior.

    More Like This

    Introduction to Psychology Overview
    25 questions

    Introduction to Psychology Overview

    UnparalleledEcoArt avatar
    UnparalleledEcoArt
    Psychology Overview and Scientific Approach
    40 questions

    Psychology Overview and Scientific Approach

    EvaluativeCotangent1409 avatar
    EvaluativeCotangent1409
    Psych 306: Research Methods in Psychology
    31 questions

    Psych 306: Research Methods in Psychology

    PurposefulAstronomy avatar
    PurposefulAstronomy
    Psychology as a Science Overview
    47 questions

    Psychology as a Science Overview

    ExcitedParabola6921 avatar
    ExcitedParabola6921
    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser