Exam 1 psychology

chapter 1,2,3,4,5

what is psychology

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior, encompassing various subfields such as cognitive, developmental, and social psychology. It examines how individuals think, feel, and act in different contexts.

empirical method

a systematic approach to research that relies on observation and experimentation to test hypotheses and gather data.

introspection

a method of self-observation where individuals report their thoughts and feelings, often used in the early study of psychology. also called (internal perception) by Wundt. quality and intensity

structuralism

the early school of psychology that aimed to analyze the structure of the mind by breaking down mental processes into their basic elements.

functionalism

an early school of psychology that focused on the purpose of consciousness and behavior, emphasizing how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environment.

who was the first American psychologist

William James

psychoanalytic theory

a psychological perspective founded by Sigmund Freud that emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior and mental processes, focusing on internal conflicts and childhood experiences.

behaviorism

a school of thought in psychology that focuses on observable behaviors, emphasizing the role of environmental factors in shaping behavior and dismissing internal mental processes.

cognitive psychology

a branch of psychology that studies mental processes such as perception, memory, thought, and problem-solving, emphasizing how people understand and think about the world.

Developmental psychology

is a branch of psychology that studies the psychological growth and changes that occur throughout the lifespan, focusing on cognitive, emotional, and social development from infancy to old age.

Gestalt psychology

like a puzzle

trephination

is an ancient surgical procedure that involves drilling or scraping a hole into the skull to treat health issues or release spirits.

empirical

is a method of knowledge acquisition based on observation and experimentation, emphasizing the importance of evidence obtained through the senses.

deductive reasoning

is a logical process where conclusions are drawn from general principles or premises. It involves starting with a general statement and reaching a specific conclusion.

inductive reasoning

is a method of reasoning that involves forming generalizations based on specific observations or instances. It aims to develop broader theories from specific data.

falsifiable

is a characteristic of a hypothesis or theory that allows it to be tested and potentially proven false through observation or experimentation.

naturalistic observation

is a research method that involves observing subjects in their natural environment without manipulation or intervention by the researcher, allowing for the study of behavior in real-world contexts.

archival research

is a research method that involves analyzing existing documents, records, or data sets to uncover historical insights or trends without conducting new experiments or observations.

cross sectional research

is a research method that involves analyzing data from a population at a specific point in time, allowing for the comparison of different groups without longitudinal studies.

illusory correlations

are perceived associations between two variables that do not actually exist, often arising from cognitive biases and leading to mistaken conclusions about relationships.

confirmation bias

is the tendency to search for, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs or hypotheses while giving disproportionately less consideration to alternative possibilities.

single blind study

is an experimental design in which only the participants are unaware of which group they are in, reducing bias in their responses while the researchers know the group assignments.

double blind study

is an experimental design in which both the participants and the researchers are unaware of group assignments, helping to minimize bias and placebo effects.

placebo effect

is a phenomenon in which participants experience changes in their condition or behavior after receiving a treatment that has no therapeutic effect, often due to their expectations or beliefs about the treatment.

independent variables

are the conditions or factors that are manipulated by the experimenter to observe their effect on the dependent variable in an experiment.

dependent variables.

are the outcomes or responses measured in an experiment to assess the impact of the independent variables.

validity

refers to the degree to which a test or experiment measures what it claims to measure. It encompasses various forms, including construct validity, internal validity, and external validity.