Questions and Answers
How was psychology defined for this course?
The study of human behavior.
What are psychological constructs and provide examples?
Psychological constructs are internal psychological states that are not tangible or physical, such as emotion, thought, motivation, sensation, perception, or mental pathology.
What relationship exists between behavior and the measurement of psychological constructs?
Psychological constructs underlie behavior; for example, we can measure emotion by observing someone excited or sad.
What relationship exists between behavior and the diagnosis of clinically significant mental pathology?
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Identify a problem with defining behavior with extremely encompassing language like "patterns in time"?
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How was behavior defined for this course?
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As defined for the course, what is the function of behavior?
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As defined for the course, where does behavior exist?
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As defined for the course, how can behavior be distinguished from other psychological phenomena?
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Provide a definition of biology.
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What is the difference between anatomy and physiology?
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What is the difference between development and evolution?
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Identify 4 explanatory goals of biological psychology.
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Why is a distinction made between evolutionary explanation and functional explanation?
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Provide an example where evolution and function differ.
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Provide a definition of physiological psychology.
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What is the relationship between psychological phenomena and physiological processes?
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What is problematic with mentalistic explanations of behavior?
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What is animism and how does it relate to evidence of trephining?
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What does it mean to study something scientifically?
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What is empiricism and how does empiricism relate to objectivity?
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Why is basing knowledge on intuition, personal anecdote, emotional reaction, or a non-scientific authority subjective?
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How can psychological constructs be studied empirically?
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How can the psychologist explain behavior as being controlled by the brain, and the sociologist explain behavior as being controlled by social context, and both can be correct?
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What are levels of organization?
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How does level of analysis relate to different disciplines of science?
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Study Notes
Psychology Overview
- Psychology defined as the study of human behavior.
- Psychological constructs are intangible internal states including emotions, thoughts, motivations, sensations, perceptions, and mental pathologies.
Behavior and Psychological Constructs
- Behavior is influenced by psychological constructs; for example, emotions like excitement or sadness can be measured by observing corresponding behaviors.
- Clinically significant mental pathologies require persistent behaviors that negatively affect various life aspects (e.g., social, recreational, work).
Defining Behavior
- Using overly broad terms like "patterns in time" for behavior can lead to ambiguity; for instance, physical changes (like rocks) may be misclassified as behavior.
- Behavior is defined as the interaction between organisms and their environment, serving the function of engaging with the environment.
Organism-Environment Interaction
- Behavior occurs when the whole organism interacts with the environment, distinguishing it from other psychological phenomena (e.g., heart function vs. punching).
Biological Concepts
- Biology defined as the science of life encompassing anatomy, physiology, development, evolution, and distribution of living organisms.
- Anatomy focuses on the identification of structures (organs, parts), while physiology pertains to the functions of these structures.
Development vs. Evolution
- Development refers to growth and maturation throughout the lifespan (proximate explanation).
- Evolution is concerned with species' origins and development over generations (ultimate explanation).
Goals of Biological Psychology
- Four explanatory goals of biological psychology: Evolutionary Explanation, Developmental Explanation, Functional Explanation, Physiological Explanation.
Evolution vs. Function
- A distinction exists between evolutionary and functional explanations; they provide different perspectives on behaviors or traits.
Physiological Psychology
- Physiological psychology studies the influence of the nervous system and biological processes on psychological phenomena.
- Relationship between psychological phenomena and physiological processes can vary, emphasizing the complexity of behavioral explanations.
Scientific Study and Objectivity
- Scientific study involves systematic and empirical investigation, contributing to an objective understanding of behavior.
- Empiricism emphasizes observation and experimentation, linking to objectivity in research methodology.
Subjectivity in Knowledge
- Knowledge based on intuition, personal anecdotes, emotions, or non-scientific authority is deemed subjective, lacking empirical support.
Empirical Study of Psychological Constructs
- Psychological constructs can be studied empirically through observable behaviors and scientific methodologies.
Interdisciplinary Perspectives
- Psychologists may attribute behavior to brain mechanisms, while sociologists may focus on social contexts; both perspectives can coexist and provide valuable insights.
- Levels of organization pertain to different biological systems, influencing the analysis of phenomena across scientific disciplines.
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Description
Test your understanding of key psychological concepts, including human behavior, psychological constructs, and the interactions between organisms and their environments. This quiz will help reinforce your knowledge of how emotions and behaviors are intertwined in psychology.
