Module 2: Psychology, Critical Thinking, and Science

Vocabulary flashcards defined directly from PSY 101 Module 2 lecture notes on critical thinking, psychology etymology, pseudoscience studies, and scientific principles.

Psyche

Ancient Greek word meaning mind.

Logos

Ancient Greek word meaning knowledge or study.

Introspection

Personal observation of your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Cognitive Unconscious

The mental processes where inner thoughts, feelings, sensations, and motives take place, making accurate introspection difficult.

Psychology

The scientific study of overt behavior and covert mental processes.

Pseudosciences

False sciences, examples of which include palm reading, healing crystals, and astrology.

Culver & Ianna (1988)

A study that evaluated 3,000 astrological predictions, finding that only a small percentage were accurate and generally vague.

Gauquelin (1970)

A study where astrologers asked to match people to horoscopes were not accurate and could not distinguish murderers from regular people.

Hartmann, Reuter, & Nyborg (2006)

Research establishing that there is no connection between astrological signs and intelligence, personality, compatibility, leadership, marriage success, physical characteristics, or career choices.

Martens & Trachet (1998)

Research noting that the ancient Babylonians created astrology thousands of years ago, and despite the zodiac shifting one full sign, it is ignored by astrologers.

Critical Thinking

A type of reflection that asks whether a belief can be supported by both scientific theory and observation.

Falsification

An attempt to show how a common sense belief or theory might be false.