intro to psychology

What is psychology?

The scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

What is psychology not?

Not mere speculation, casual observation, or folk wisdom/stereotypes.

What are the three functions of the brain?

1. Knowledge (Cognition), 2. Emotions (Feelings), 3. Desires (Wants, Needs)

Why is scientific research needed in psychology?

Because casual observation is inadequate.

What are the steps of the scientific method?

1. Make an observation

2. Ask a question

3. Form a hypothesis

4. Make a prediction

5. Test with an experiment

6. Analyze results & report

What are the four goals of psychology?

1. Describe behavior

2. Explain behavior

3. Predict behavior

4. Control behavior

What does "psyche" mean?

soul

What does "-ology" mean?

the study of

Who were early Greek contributors to psychology?

Aristotle and Plato

What is dualism and who proposed it?

The idea that the mind and body are separate but interact; proposed by René Descartes.

Who is associated with mesmerism and early hypnosis?

Franz Mesmer

What is Structuralism?

Focused on uncovering the basic structures of the mind using introspection.

Who is the father of Structuralism and modern psychology?

Wilhelm Wundt

 What is Functionalism?

Studies mental processes in terms of their adaptive purpose and function.

Who are key figures in Functionalism?

William James and John Dewey

What is Behaviorism?

Psychology should focus on observable behaviors.

Who are major Behaviorist figures?

John Watson, E.L. Thorndike, Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner

What is Psychoanalysis?

Mental disorders stem from unconscious conflicts.

Who founded Psychoanalysis?

Sigmund Freud

What is Gestalt Psychology?

Studies how people construct perceptual wholes from parts.

What is the Id?

The primal, instinctual part of the personality ("devil on your shoulder").

What is the Ego?

The rational, decision-making self ("grown-up self").

What is the Superego?

The moral conscience ("angel on your shoulder").

What do Clinical Psychologists do?

Study, assess, and treat patients using psychotherapy (Ph.D.)

What do Psychiatrists do?

Treat mental disorders using medication and therapy (M.D.)

What is the Biological Perspective?

Examines how the brain and body influence behavior and thoughts.

What is the Cognitive Perspective?

Focuses on how people process, store, and retrieve information.

 What is the Behavioral Perspective?

Studies how behavior is learned through environmental interactions.

What is the Humanistic Perspective?

Emphasizes human growth and reaching full potential.

What is the Socio-Cultural Perspective?

Looks at how social and cultural factors affect behavior.

What is the Evolutionary Perspective?

Studies how traits and behaviors evolved for survival and reproduction.

What does "cognitive" refer to in psychology?

refers to mental processes such as perception, memory, reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making.

How is "race" defined in psychology?

a socially constructed category used to classify humans based on physical characteristics like skin color, often with significant social and psychological implications.

What does "sex" refer to in psychological terms?

refers to the biological differences between males and females, including reproductive anatomy and genetic makeup.

How is "ethnicity" different from race in psychology?

refers to shared cultural traits, such as language, ancestry, practices, and beliefs, that connect a group of people.

What is "nationality" in psychological contexts?

refers to a person’s legal affiliation with a specific country, often influencing their identity and experiences.

What are "demographics" in psychological research?

statistical data about populations, such as age, gender, income, education, and ethnicity, used to understand study participants.

What is "implicit bias"?

refers to unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions without our awareness.

What is "explicit bias"?

involves conscious beliefs or attitudes about a person or group, which are openly expressed.

What is "confirmation bias"?

the tendency to seek out, interpret, and remember information that confirms one’s preexisting beliefs or hypotheses.

What is "hypnosis" in psychology?

a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility, often used for therapeutic purposes.

What is "mesmerism"?

an early form of hypnosis, named after Franz Mesmer, who believed in manipulating a natural energy flow called "animal magnetism."

What is an "independent variable" in an experiment?

the factor that the researcher manipulates to observe its effect on another variable.

 What is a "dependent variable"?

the outcome or effect measured in an experiment, influenced by changes in the independent variable.

 What is an "operational definition"?

clearly defines how a concept or variable is measured or manipulated in a specific study.

What is a "hypothesis" in scientific research?

a testable prediction or educated guess about the relationship between two or more variables.

What is a "confounding variable"?

an outside factor that might affect the outcome of an experiment, making it difficult to determine a clear cause-and-effect relationship.