Psychology: History, Science & Methods

• This study guide helps focus exam preparation but is not a comprehensive list.

History and Defining the Science of Psychology

• Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes.
• Historical antecedents to psychology include philosophy and physiology.
• Zeitgeist plays a role, along with early names in psychology.
• Wilhelm Wundt founded the first psychology laboratory in 1879.
• Primary features of psychology's historical schools of thought include functionalism, structuralism, behaviorism, cognitive, psychoanalytic, and humanistic approaches.
• Cognitive revolution impacted behaviorism.
• Components of the scientific attitude should be understood.
• Various subfields of psychology exist.

Methods in Psychology

• Theory, hypothesis, operational definition, and replication are important concepts.
• A good theory defined.
• Differences exist between descriptive, correlational, and experimental research methods.
• Each method has limits to what it can reveal.
• Types of observation should be considered
• Correlation does not prove causation.
• Positive and negative correlations differ.
• Third variable problem.
• Correlation coefficient ranges from 0.0 (no correlation) to ±1.0 (perfect correlation).
• Sign indicates direction, number indicates strength.
• |-0.87| is a stronger correlation than |+0.54|.
• Experiments:
• Independent variable is manipulated.
• Dependent variable is measured.
• Control groups, placebos, and double-blind methods are used.
• Ethics in research are important (e.g., IRB).
• Measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) should be understood, including how they are determined and impacted by outliers.
• Standard deviation and normal curves are important concepts.

Biological Basis of Behavior

• Biopsychosocial perspective important.
• Early ideas incorporated biology into understanding mind and behavior (e.g., Plato, Aristotle, Phrenology).
• Neurons and their communication processes should be understood.
• Basic components and functions of each component.
• Neuron communication processes.
• Action and resting potentials defined.
• Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers, with primary types such as GABA (a primary inhibiting neurotransmitter).
• Electrochemical action is important.
• Agonists and antagonists and their differences.
• Basic components of the nervous system: CNS, PNS, autonomic, somatic, etc.
• The fight-or-flight response relates to the nervous system.
• Location and functions of major brain structures: brainstem, cerebellum, cerebral cortex, lobes, corpus callosum.
• Phineas Gage's case is instructive.
• Severing the corpus callosum affects the brain.
• Modern tools for understanding brain structure and function include PET, MRI, EEG.

Consciousness

• Definition of consciousness.
• Circadian rhythm can be disrupted.
• Sleep defined and its purpose.
• Difference between sleep stages (vivid dreams and deep sleep).
• Theories on why we dream
• Impact of inefficient sleep.
• Different types of brain waves related to sleep.
• Sleep importance and consequences of sleep deprivation.
• Parasomnias understanding and differentiation.
• Different drug categories and their effects.
• States of consciousness beyond sleep and wakefulness.