General Psychology Overview

Flashcards covering introductory psychology concepts, degree paths, major historical perspectives, logical fallacies, and scientific thinking based on lecture notes by Heidi Matlack.

How is Psychology defined in the lecture notes?

The scientific study of the mind, brain and behavior.

What are the etymological meanings of the roots "psyche" and "ology"?

"psyche" means mind/spirit, and "ology" means the study of.

What do the ABC's of psychology stand for?

A stands for Affect (emotions/feelings/sensations), B stands for Behavior (observable/measurable), and C stands for Cognition (awareness/thoughts).

What are the five challenges of psychology listed in the lecture?

1. Human behavior is difficult to predict. 2. Influences are rarely independent of each other. 3. Individual differences. 4. People often influence each other. 5. Behavior is often shaped by culture.

According to the academic flow chart, how long does an Associate Degree take to complete?

2 years.

According to the academic flow chart, how long does a Bachelors Degree take to complete?

4 years.

According to the academic flow chart, how long does a Masters Degree take to complete?

2 years.

According to the academic flow chart, how long does a Doctorate Degree take to complete?

3 years.

According to the academic flow chart, how long does Medical School take to complete?

5 - 8 years.

What career paths are listed for an individual holding a Masters Degree in Psychology?

Mental Health Counselor, Marriage & Family Counselor, Drug & Alcohol Counselor, etc.

What fields of specialization are listed for Psychologists holding a Ph.D. or Psy.D.?

Counseling, Clinical, School, Industrial, Developmental, Experimental, Biological, and Forensic.

What degree must a Psychiatrist hold?

M.D.

What movement were Americans in the 1800s fascinated with according to the notes?

Spiritualism.

What are the 5 major theoretical perspectives of psychology?

Structuralism, Functionalism, Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Psychoanalysis.

Who established the first full-fledged psychological laboratory in 1879?

Wilhelm Wundt.

What technique did Wilhelm Wundt use to reflect on mental experiences?

Introspection.

What were the three main problems with Structuralism?

Disagreements on subjective reports, imageless thought, and processes taking place outside the conscious awareness.

Who founded Functionalism in 1890, and what was its focus?

William James; it focused on the adaptive purposes of psychological characteristics (asking "why" questions rather than "what" questions).

Which evolutionary theory influenced William James's concept of Functionalism?

Charles Darwin's theory of "natural selection".

Who introduced Behaviorism in 1913, emphasizing observable behavior?

John Watson.

What did B.F. Skinner propose regarding rewards, punishments, and "black box psychology"?

Rewards and punishments are delivered by the environment, and with black box psychology, you know what goes in and what comes out without needing to know what happens between input and output.

Who introduced Cognitivism in 1920?

Jean Piaget.

In Cognitivism, how are "interpretation" and "insight" defined?

"Interpretation" is how people evaluate information, and "insight" is understanding the underlying nature.

Who introduced Psychoanalysis in 1900, and what did he identify as primary influences on behavior?

Sigmund Freud; he identified unconscious drives (sexuality and aggression) as primary influences.

How is pseudoscience defined?

A set of claims that seem scientific but are not.

What is the definition of a logical fallacy?

Traps in thinking that can lead to mistaken conclusions.

What is the Emotional Reasoning Fallacy?

Using our emotions as a guide to the validity of a claim.

What is the Bandwagon Fallacy?

Assuming a claim is correct because of how many people believe it.

What is the Either-Or Fallacy?

Believing there can only be one of two extreme answers when there may be many options.

What is the Not Me Fallacy?

Believing we are immune from errors in thinking.

What is the Appeal to Authority Fallacy?

Accepting a claim just because an authority figure endorsed it.

What is the Genetic Fallacy?

Confusing correctness of a belief because of its source, rather than its merit.

What is the Argument from Antiquity Fallacy?

Belief that a claim must be true because it has been around a long time.

What is the Argument from Adverse Consequences Fallacy?

Confusing validity with real world consequences.

What is the Appeal to Ignorance Fallacy?

Belief that since a claim has not been proven false, it must be true.

What is the Naturalistic Fallacy?

Inferring a moral or value judgment based on a fact (how the world is vs. how the world ought to be).

What is the Hasty Generalization Fallacy?

Drawing a conclusion based on insufficient evidence.

What is the Circular Reasoning Fallacy?

Basing a claim on the same claim, reworded slightly in different terms, where the conclusion is the same as the first or second premise.

What is the Appeal to Pity Fallacy?

Substituting a claim intended to create pity for evidence in an argument.

What is the Hypothesis Contrary to Fact Fallacy?

Offering a poorly supported claim of what might have happened if circumstances were different.

What is the Post Hoc fallacy?

Concluding that one event caused another simply because the proposed cause occurred prior to the event.

What is the False Analogy fallacy?

Comparing objects or ideas with similar characteristics to support an argument, resulting in an unsupported claim due to differences between them.

What is Poisoning the Well?

Attempting to discredit what a person might later say by presenting unfavorable information about that person.

How is scientific skepticism defined in the notes?

"To consider carefully" — keeping an open mind to all claims, accepting claims only after they have been tested, and getting a second opinion.