Psychology Chapter 1 Test Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What distinguishes a social science from a false science?

A false science includes the study of human behavior.

A social science relies on verifiable evidence. (correct)

A social science doesn't rely on verifiable evidence.

A false science is supported by provable facts.

What is psychology?

The scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.

What is behavior?

Any action that people can observe or measure.

What are cognitive activities?

Mental processes such as dreams, perceptions, thoughts, and memories. Signup and view all the answers

What are psychological constructs?

Tools used to talk about things we cannot see, touch, or measure directly. Signup and view all the answers

What are the goals of psychology?

To observe, describe, explain, predict, and control behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What does psychology as a natural science focus on?

Brain function, experiments/labs, and analyzing biology. Signup and view all the answers

What is psychological research?

Ideas are tested through surveys and experimentation. Signup and view all the answers

Who are clinical psychologists?

The majority of psychologists. Signup and view all the answers

What does counseling psychology focus on?

Identifying client problems and helping with adjustments or goals. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of school psychology?

To help students with problems that interfere with learning. Signup and view all the answers

What does educational psychology focus on?

Course planning and instructional methods for the school system. Signup and view all the answers

What does developmental psychology study?

Changes that occur over a person's whole life. Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of personality psychology?

Identifying human traits. Signup and view all the answers

What is social psychology concerned with?

Individuals' behavior in social situations. Signup and view all the answers

What does experimental psychology study?

Relationships between biological factors and psychological changes. Signup and view all the answers

What is basic research?

Research that has no immediate application. Signup and view all the answers

What is environmental psychology focused on?

How people influence and are influenced by their physical environment. Signup and view all the answers

What does consumer psychology study?

Shoppers' behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is industrial and organizational psychology?

The study of people in work and business settings. Signup and view all the answers

What does forensic psychology involve?

Working with the criminal justice system. Signup and view all the answers

What does health psychology examine?

The relationship between behavior and physical health. Signup and view all the answers

What is introspection?

The method of examining our own thoughts and feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What is associationism?

The idea that experiences remind us of similar past experiences. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the pioneers in psychology?

Those whose scientific approaches in the 15th, 16th, and 1700s led to modern psychology. Signup and view all the answers

Who established structuralism?

Wilhelm Wundt. Signup and view all the answers

Who established functionalism?

William James. Signup and view all the answers

What does functionalism propose?

Mental processes help organisms adapt to their environment. Signup and view all the answers

Who developed psychoanalysis?

Sigmund Freud. Signup and view all the answers

What is psychodynamic thinking?

The view that an individual's mind is unconscious with conflicting impulses. Signup and view all the answers

What did John B. Watson advocate?

Psychology must be limited to measurable events. Signup and view all the answers

What is behaviorism?

The scientific study of observable behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Who established the principle of reinforcement?

B.F. Skinner. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definitions and Concepts

Social Science vs. False Science: Social sciences are based on verifiable facts, while false sciences like astrology lack empirical evidence.
Psychology: Defined as the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes.
Behavior: Any observable or measurable action performed by individuals.
Cognitive Activities: Include mental processes such as dreams, perceptions, thoughts, and memories, which cannot be directly measured.
Psychological Constructs: Abstract tools used to discuss phenomena that are not directly observable, like emotions and dreams.

Goals and Research in Psychology

Goals of Psychology: Aim to observe, describe, explain, predict, and control behavior to enhance understanding.
Psychological Research: Involves testing ideas through methods like surveys and experimental designs.

Branches of Psychology

Clinical Psychologists: The largest group of psychologists focused on diagnosing and treating mental health issues.
Counseling Psychology: Aids clients in identifying problems and achieving personal goals through interviews and assessments.
School Psychology: Supports students facing learning difficulties by providing placement recommendations.
Educational Psychology: Concentrates on strategies for course planning and instructional methods across the school system.
Developmental Psychology: Investigates changes throughout a person’s life across physical, emotional, cognitive, and social domains.
Personality Psychology: Examines individual traits such as shyness and friendliness.
Social Psychology: Studies individual behavior in social contexts, emphasizing the social influences on behavior.
Experimental Psychology: Explores relationships between biological factors and psychological changes, focusing on cognitive behavior.
Basic Research: Conducted for knowledge expansion without immediate practical applications.
Environmental Psychology: Studies how physical environments affect and are affected by human behavior.
Consumer Psychology: Analyzes and predicts behaviors of shoppers and their purchasing decisions.
Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Examines workplace behavior; Industrial focuses on tasks and people, whereas Organizational studies behavior within businesses.
Forensic Psychology: Engages with the criminal justice system and assesses defendants' competency.
Health Psychology: Investigates the interplay between behavior, mental processes, and physical health.

Historical Foundations

Introspection: A method of self-examination of thoughts and feelings.
Associationism: Concept that experiences can trigger memories of similar past experiences.
Pioneers in Psychology: Scientific methods from the 15th to 17th centuries led to modern psychology's emergence in the 1800s.

Influential Figures and Theories

Wilhelm Wundt: Founded structuralism, analyzing consciousness through subjective feelings and objective sensations.
William James: Introduced functionalism, studying the relationship between experiences and behavior.
Functionalism: Proposes that mental processes are crucial for adapting to one’s environment.
Sigmund Freud: Developed psychoanalysis, emphasizing unconscious motives and internal conflicts.
Psychoanalysis: Focus on unconscious motives and internal struggles influencing behavior.
Psychodynamic Thinking: Suggests the mind is largely unconscious, filled with conflicting impulses and wishes.
John B. Watson: Advocated for a behavioral approach in psychology and emphasized measurable events.
Behaviorism: Focuses on the scientific study of observable behavior.
B.F. Skinner: Pioneered the concept of reinforcement in learning processes through experiments with lab animals.
The Gestalt School: Emphasizes the holistic nature of perception and cognition, though details are incomplete.

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Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Psychology Chapter 1. Learn the distinctions between social sciences and false sciences, delve into the definition of psychology, and explore essential concepts like behavior and cognitive activities.