Psychology Chapter 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

__________ psychology addresses the full spectrum of human behavior, both the commonplace and the exceptional:

Scientific

________ frequently confirms our existing beliefs and prejudices, rather than challenging them.

Pseudoscience

Which of the following is true of scientific psychological findings?

They can confirm or expand existing beliefs and knowledge.

What type of evidence is considered valid in psychological research?

Empirical Signup and view all the answers

Empirical findings are those that:

rely on observation, experimentation, or measurement. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following helps explain why so many people go to psychics?

Belief in psychic abilities gives people a sense of control and predictability. Signup and view all the answers

The ability to make judgments on the basis of well-supported reasons rather than emotion or anecdote is called:

critical thinking. Signup and view all the answers

Critical thinking involves:

using evidence to make objective judgments. Signup and view all the answers

Critical thinking shows us that on matters of ________, all ideas are not created equal.

fact Signup and view all the answers

Francine is doing a Google search on a topic before writing a paper. Her critical thinking skills are not as good as some of her classmates, so she is likely to ________

rely on the material that appears at the top of the search results. Signup and view all the answers

The first guideline in critical thinking is to be curious and ask questions. Once you've raised a general question, the next step is to:

define your terms. Signup and view all the answers

Examining the evidence is an important part of critical thinking, but we can't always conduct the necessary research on our own to prove or disprove a claim. That's when we need to rely on:

reliable sources. Signup and view all the answers

In their research studies, contemporary psychologists rely heavily upon:

empirical evidence. Signup and view all the answers

In contrast to modern psychologists, ancient scholars explored human nature primarily through:

insights inferred from anecdotes. Signup and view all the answers

Which 16th century philosopher argued that the mind works by associating ideas arising from experience, an idea that continues to influence many psychologists today?

John Locke Signup and view all the answers

In America, Wilhelm Wundt's ideas were popularized by one of his students, _______________, who gave Wundt's approach the name "structuralism."

E.B.Titchener Signup and view all the answers

Like Wundt, structuralists hoped to analyze ________ into basic elements.

sensations, images, and feelings. Signup and view all the answers

_______________ psychology spurred the growth of research on topics that had long been ignored in psychology, including motherhood, rape, domestic violence, gender roles, and sexist attitudes.

Feminist Signup and view all the answers

In the United States, which of the following professionals must have a doctoral degree in psychology?

Clinical psychologists Signup and view all the answers

The term _______________ is unregulated, and so, a practitioner may have an advanced professional degree or no degree at all.

psychotherapist Signup and view all the answers

The _______________ perspective is a psychological approach that emphasizes bodily events and changes associated with actions, feelings, and thoughts.

biological Signup and view all the answers

The first person to announce that he intended to make psychology a science was:

Wilhelm Wundt Signup and view all the answers

_______________ wanted to know how specific behaviors and mental processes help a person or animal adapt to the environment, so they looked for the underlying causes and practical consequences of these behaviors and processes.

Functionalists Signup and view all the answers

One of the founders of functionalism was:

William James. Signup and view all the answers

_______________ is a research method popularized by Wilhelm Wundt in which trained volunteers take as long as 20 minutes to report their inner experiences during a 1.5-second experiment.

Trained introspection. Signup and view all the answers

Randy meets a Californian who grows his own vegetables and refuses to eat nonorganic food. Randy concludes that Californians are overzealous about nutrition. Which critical thinking guideline did Randy overlook?

Don't oversimplify. Signup and view all the answers

A _______________ might study what goes on in the mind of an infant or study different types of intelligence.

cognitive researcher. Signup and view all the answers

Francine is doing a Google search on a topic before writing a paper. Her critical thinking skills are not as good as some of her classmates, so she is likely to ________

rely on the material that appears at the top of the search results. Signup and view all the answers

What type of evidence is considered valid in psychological research?

Empirical. Signup and view all the answers

One reason why people in the general public are often confused about what psychologists do is that:

there is a wide variety of psychology specialties and roles psychologists can play in the community. Signup and view all the answers

One finding of the ________ perspective is that people who tend to be violent also tend to perceive provocation and insult more quickly than others.

cognitive. Signup and view all the answers

The increase in freestanding professional schools of psychology has resulted in:

concerns about an increasing number of poorly-trained psychologists. Signup and view all the answers

Which school of thought in psychology emphasized the importance of the unconscious mind?

psychoanalysis. Signup and view all the answers

In their research studies, contemporary psychologists rely heavily upon:

empirical evidence. Signup and view all the answers

Some psychologists work in basic psychology, doing research, while others work in applied psychology. The two approaches are:

complementary. Signup and view all the answers

Which school of thought in psychology hoped to analyze sensations, images, and feelings into basic elements?

Structuralism. Signup and view all the answers

Andie claims that phrenology is a pseudoscience and not a true science. Which of the following statements supports her claim?

When phrenologists found large "stealing" bumps on the head of a person who was not a thief, they concluded that other positive bumps held this characteristic in check. Signup and view all the answers

Which modern psychological perspective focuses on how people reason, remember, understand language, and solve problems?

The cognitive perspective. Signup and view all the answers

_______________ psychology spurred the growth of research on topics that had long been ignored in psychology, including motherhood, rape, domestic violence, gender roles, and sexist attitudes.

Feminist. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about Sigmund Freud?

Sigmund Freud's concepts had a profound influence on the philosophy, literature, and art of the twentieth century. Signup and view all the answers

A(n) __________ psychologist studies how genetically-influenced behavior that was functional or adaptive during our species' past may be reflected in the present behaviors, mental processes, and traits of modern humans.

evolutionary. Signup and view all the answers

_______________ is the study of psychological issues for the sake of knowledge rather than for its practical application.

Basic psychology. Signup and view all the answers

A psychologist who embraces the cognitive perspective would be most interested in:

how people think. Signup and view all the answers

With which of the following psychological perspectives is the term "behaviorist" most closely associated?

Learning. Signup and view all the answers

In America, Wilhelm Wundt's ideas were popularized by one of his students, _______________, who gave Wundt's approach the name "structuralism."

E.B.Titchener. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was a classic pseudoscientific theory that related bumps on the head to personality traits and did not disappear until well into the twentieth century?

Phrenology. Signup and view all the answers

The research method used by Wilhelm Wundt in which volunteers were taught to carefully observe, analyze, and describe their own sensations, mental images, and emotional reactions is called _______________.

trained introspection. Signup and view all the answers

Sam, a business owner, sought the help of a friend to find out which employees were likely to be loyal and honest if hired. The friend examined the bumps on the heads of all applicants and gave Sam a list of the employees he should hire. Sam's friend is a _______________.

phrenologist. Signup and view all the answers

According to your textbook, _______________ is the aspect of psychology that is least recognized and understood by the public.

research psychology. Signup and view all the answers

_______________ set the course of psychological science by emphasizing the causes and consequences of behavior.

Functionalists. Signup and view all the answers

Dr. Mannisto is a behaviorist who is studying the causes of excessive violence among some hockey players. She is likely to consider whether:

players who engage in excessive violence are rewarded in some way. Signup and view all the answers

A major point of difference between basic research and applied research is that:

basic research is done to acquire knowledge and applied research is done to solve practical problems. Signup and view all the answers

Your textbook discusses a famous laboratory set up in Leipzig, Germany in 1879. The goal of this laboratory was the study of:

psychology. Signup and view all the answers

_______________ psychologists conduct laboratory studies of learning, motivation, emotion, sensation and perception, physiology, and cognition.

Experimental. Signup and view all the answers

Critical thinkers should approach psychology textbooks as:

an opportunity to generate alternative explanations. Signup and view all the answers

A person is asked to look at an apple and then describe the various elements that make up her perception (e.g., color, shape, size, etc.). Which of the following schools of psychology is this research most likely a part of?

Structuralism. Signup and view all the answers

The ability to make judgments on the basis of well-supported reasons rather than emotion or anecdote is called:

critical thinking. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of scientific psychological findings?

They can confirm or expand existing beliefs and knowledge. Signup and view all the answers

_______________ is the study of psychological issues that have direct practical significance.

Applied psychology. Signup and view all the answers

_______________ had the opinion that searching for building blocks of experience was a waste of time because the brain and the mind are constantly changing.

William James. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychology Basics

Scientific psychology explores the entire range of human behavior, recognizing both the ordinary and the extraordinary.
Empirical evidence, gathered through observation, experimentation, or measurement, is valid in psychological research.

Critical Thinking

Critical thinking involves making objective judgments based on well-supported evidence instead of emotions or anecdotes.
Curiosity and questioning are essential for critical thinking, including ensuring clear definitions of terms.
Analyzing evidence is crucial, but reliance on reliable sources is necessary when independent research isn't feasible.

Historical Context

Wilhelm Wundt pioneered the scientific approach in psychology, establishing it as a discipline in 1879.
E.B. Titchener popularized Wundt's ideas in America as "structuralism," aiming to dissect sensations, images, and feelings into basic elements.
William James criticized structuralism, favoring functionalism, which examines how mental processes help adapt to the environment.

Contemporary Psychology

Various specialties exist in psychology, leading to public confusion regarding psychologists' roles and functions.
Feminist psychology has brought attention to historically overlooked topics such as gender roles and domestic violence.
Cognitive psychology focuses on reasoning, memory, language, and problem-solving abilities.

Pseudoscience and Beliefs

Pseudoscience reinforces existing beliefs without empirical support, while pseudoscientific theories such as phrenology misinterpret physical traits as indicators of personality.
The belief in abilities like psychic powers can offer individuals a sense of control and predictability.

Applied vs. Basic Psychology

Basic psychology seeks knowledge for its own sake, while applied psychology focuses on practical significance and problem-solving.
Empirical evidence is essential for both fields, though they serve different purposes.

Psychology Specializations

Clinical psychologists require doctoral degrees, while the term "psychotherapist" lacks standard regulation, leading to inconsistencies in qualifications.
E.g., cognitive researchers examine mental processes; experimental psychologists conduct laboratory studies on various psychological phenomena.

Ethical Thinking and Bias

Critical thinking must avoid oversimplifications and recognize that not all ideas have equal validity when determining facts.
Individuals may display biases, affecting their perspectives on research and conclusions drawn from data.

Evolutionary Influence

Evolutionary psychology investigates how behaviors that once had adaptive significance influence modern human traits and behaviors.

Summary of Foundational Schools

Psychoanalysis emphasizes the unconscious mind.
Structuralism seeks to identify mental components.
Functionalism prioritizes understanding behavior's practical consequences.

Conclusion

Engaging critically with psychological literature opens pathways for alternative explanations and deeper understanding within the field of psychology.

Studying That Suits You

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Test your knowledge with these flashcards from Psychology Chapter 1. This quiz covers definitions and key concepts in scientific psychology as well as differentiating it from pseudoscience. Perfect for reinforcing learning and understanding foundational ideas in psychology.

Psychology Chapter 1 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

__________ psychology addresses the full spectrum of human behavior, both the commonplace and the exceptional:

________ frequently confirms our existing beliefs and prejudices, rather than challenging them.

Which of the following is true of scientific psychological findings?

What type of evidence is considered valid in psychological research?

Empirical findings are those that:

Which of the following helps explain why so many people go to psychics?

The ability to make judgments on the basis of well-supported reasons rather than emotion or anecdote is called:

Critical thinking involves:

Critical thinking shows us that on matters of ________, all ideas are not created equal.

Francine is doing a Google search on a topic before writing a paper. Her critical thinking skills are not as good as some of her classmates, so she is likely to ________

The first guideline in critical thinking is to be curious and ask questions. Once you've raised a general question, the next step is to:

Examining the evidence is an important part of critical thinking, but we can't always conduct the necessary research on our own to prove or disprove a claim. That's when we need to rely on:

In their research studies, contemporary psychologists rely heavily upon:

In contrast to modern psychologists, ancient scholars explored human nature primarily through:

Which 16th century philosopher argued that the mind works by associating ideas arising from experience, an idea that continues to influence many psychologists today?

In America, Wilhelm Wundt's ideas were popularized by one of his students, _______________, who gave Wundt's approach the name "structuralism."

Like Wundt, structuralists hoped to analyze ________ into basic elements.

_______________ psychology spurred the growth of research on topics that had long been ignored in psychology, including motherhood, rape, domestic violence, gender roles, and sexist attitudes.

In the United States, which of the following professionals must have a doctoral degree in psychology?

The term _______________ is unregulated, and so, a practitioner may have an advanced professional degree or no degree at all.

The _______________ perspective is a psychological approach that emphasizes bodily events and changes associated with actions, feelings, and thoughts.

The first person to announce that he intended to make psychology a science was:

_______________ wanted to know how specific behaviors and mental processes help a person or animal adapt to the environment, so they looked for the underlying causes and practical consequences of these behaviors and processes.

One of the founders of functionalism was:

_______________ is a research method popularized by Wilhelm Wundt in which trained volunteers take as long as 20 minutes to report their inner experiences during a 1.5-second experiment.

Randy meets a Californian who grows his own vegetables and refuses to eat nonorganic food. Randy concludes that Californians are overzealous about nutrition. Which critical thinking guideline did Randy overlook?

A _______________ might study what goes on in the mind of an infant or study different types of intelligence.

Francine is doing a Google search on a topic before writing a paper. Her critical thinking skills are not as good as some of her classmates, so she is likely to ________

What type of evidence is considered valid in psychological research?

One reason why people in the general public are often confused about what psychologists do is that:

One finding of the ________ perspective is that people who tend to be violent also tend to perceive provocation and insult more quickly than others.

The increase in freestanding professional schools of psychology has resulted in:

Which school of thought in psychology emphasized the importance of the unconscious mind?

In their research studies, contemporary psychologists rely heavily upon:

Some psychologists work in basic psychology, doing research, while others work in applied psychology. The two approaches are:

Which school of thought in psychology hoped to analyze sensations, images, and feelings into basic elements?

Andie claims that phrenology is a pseudoscience and not a true science. Which of the following statements supports her claim?

Which modern psychological perspective focuses on how people reason, remember, understand language, and solve problems?

_______________ psychology spurred the growth of research on topics that had long been ignored in psychology, including motherhood, rape, domestic violence, gender roles, and sexist attitudes.

Which of the following statements is true about Sigmund Freud?

A(n) __________ psychologist studies how genetically-influenced behavior that was functional or adaptive during our species' past may be reflected in the present behaviors, mental processes, and traits of modern humans.

_______________ is the study of psychological issues for the sake of knowledge rather than for its practical application.

A psychologist who embraces the cognitive perspective would be most interested in:

With which of the following psychological perspectives is the term "behaviorist" most closely associated?

In America, Wilhelm Wundt's ideas were popularized by one of his students, _______________, who gave Wundt's approach the name "structuralism."

Which of the following was a classic pseudoscientific theory that related bumps on the head to personality traits and did not disappear until well into the twentieth century?

The research method used by Wilhelm Wundt in which volunteers were taught to carefully observe, analyze, and describe their own sensations, mental images, and emotional reactions is called _______________.

Sam, a business owner, sought the help of a friend to find out which employees were likely to be loyal and honest if hired. The friend examined the bumps on the heads of all applicants and gave Sam a list of the employees he should hire. Sam's friend is a _______________.

According to your textbook, _______________ is the aspect of psychology that is least recognized and understood by the public.

_______________ set the course of psychological science by emphasizing the causes and consequences of behavior.

Dr. Mannisto is a behaviorist who is studying the causes of excessive violence among some hockey players. She is likely to consider whether:

A major point of difference between basic research and applied research is that:

Your textbook discusses a famous laboratory set up in Leipzig, Germany in 1879. The goal of this laboratory was the study of:

_______________ psychologists conduct laboratory studies of learning, motivation, emotion, sensation and perception, physiology, and cognition.

Critical thinkers should approach psychology textbooks as:

A person is asked to look at an apple and then describe the various elements that make up her perception (e.g., color, shape, size, etc.). Which of the following schools of psychology is this research most likely a part of?

The ability to make judgments on the basis of well-supported reasons rather than emotion or anecdote is called:

Which of the following is true of scientific psychological findings?

_______________ is the study of psychological issues that have direct practical significance.

_______________ had the opinion that searching for building blocks of experience was a waste of time because the brain and the mind are constantly changing.

Study Notes

Psychology Basics

Critical Thinking

Historical Context

Contemporary Psychology

Pseudoscience and Beliefs

Applied vs. Basic Psychology

Psychology Specializations

Ethical Thinking and Bias

Evolutionary Influence

Summary of Foundational Schools

Conclusion

Studying That Suits You

Description

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