General Psychology (Psyc 1011) Flashcards

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering key concepts from the notes: definitions, goals, historical schools, modern perspectives, branches, and research methods in psychology.

What is the etymology of the word psychology and what does it study?

Derived from psyche (mind, soul) and logos (study); psychology is the study of the mind, soul, or spirit and the science of behavior and mental processes.

What are the three aspects highlighted in the modern definition of psychology?

Science, behavior, and mental processes.

What are the four goals of psychology?

Description, Explanation, Prediction, and Control.

Describe the goal of Description in psychology.

Observing the behavior and noting everything about it; asking what is happening, where it happens, to whom it happens, and under what circumstances.

Describe the goal of Explanation in psychology.

Finding reasons for the observed behavior and forming theories to explain it.

Describe the goal of Prediction in psychology.

Determining what will happen in the future based on previous research and observed patterns.

Describe the goal of Control in psychology.

Modifying or changing behavior to achieve desirable outcomes; controlling for factors that influence behavior.

When and where did psychology begin as a science, and who founded it?

In 1879 in Leipzig, Germany; Wilhelm Wundt is regarded as the founder (father) of modern psychology.

What is introspection and which early school used it?

Looking inward into one’s own conscious experiences; used by Structuralism.

Who founded Structuralism and what was its focus?

Edward Titchener; focus on the structure of the mind and its basic elements (sensations, images, feelings) using introspection.

What is Functionalism and who founded it?

William James; study of the function of the mind and how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment; used diverse methods beyond introspection.

What is Gestalt psychology?

A school that emphasizes the mind as a whole and that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; focus on patterns and configurations.

Who is the founder of Behaviorism and what are its core claims?

John B. Watson; psychology should study observable and measurable behavior, ignoring consciousness; emphasized conditioned responses, learned behaviors, and environment; often studied in animals.

What is Psychoanalysis?

A school founded by Sigmund Freud focusing on the unconscious mind, early childhood conflicts, and how unconscious processes influence behavior (often via dreams, slips, etc.).

List modern perspectives in psychology.

Psychodynamic, Behavioral, Humanistic, Cognitive, Biological, Sociocultural.

Describe the Psychodynamic perspective.

Emphasizes unconscious dynamics, inner conflicts, and the role of childhood experiences in shaping behavior and personality.

Describe the Behavioral perspective.

Emphasizes the role of learning and environment in shaping behavior; focuses on observable actions and the influence of rewards and punishments; often called the 'black box' approach.

Describe the Humanistic perspective.

Emphasizes free will, personal growth, self-actualization, and the unique value of individuals.

Describe the Cognitive perspective.

Focuses on mental processes—how people think, remember, reason, solve problems, and use language; examines how thoughts influence behavior.

Describe the Biological perspective.

Focuses on how brain and bodily processes (neurochemistry, genetics) influence behavior and mental processes; emphasizes brain–behavior interactions.

Describe the Sociocultural perspective.

Emphasizes the role of social and cultural factors in shaping behavior; considers how culture and social context influence thinking and actions.

Name several branches/subfields of psychology mentioned in the notes.

Developmental, Personality, Social, Cross-cultural, Industrial/Organizational, Forensic, Educational, Health, Clinical, Counseling.

What are the three major types of research methods in psychology?

Descriptive, Correlational, and Experimental.

What is descriptive research and its common methods?

Describes behavior or a phenomenon; common methods include naturalistic observation, case studies, and surveys.

What is naturalistic observation and its limitations?

Observing subjects in their natural environment; limitations include observer effect and observer bias.

What is a case study?

An in-depth study of a single individual or small group; rich data but limited generalizability.

What is a survey?

A descriptive method that collects data from a large number of people using questions; relies on a representative sample.

What is a correlation in research?

A measure of the relationship between two or more variables; does not imply causation.

What is experimental research?

A method that investigates cause-and-effect by manipulating an independent variable and measuring the dependent variable, with random assignment and control groups.

What is an independent variable?

The variable that the researcher manipulates to observe its effect on the dependent variable.

What is a dependent variable?

The variable that is measured and observed in an experiment; it depends on the independent variable.

What are experimental and control groups?

Experimental groups receive the manipulated variable; control groups do not and serve as a baseline for comparison.

What is random assignment and why is it important?

Randomly assigning participants to groups to reduce bias and ensure groups are comparable.

What are the five steps of scientific research in psychology?

1) Define the problem 2) Formulate a hypothesis 3) Test the hypothesis 4) Draw conclusions 5) Report results.

What is a hypothesis?

A tentative proposition about the relationship between two or more variables that can be tested.

What is a theory in psychology?

An integrated set of principles about observed facts intended to describe and explain a range of phenomena.