Psychology 101: Intro to Psychology Ch 13. Trends in the Study of Psychology

natural selection

process of gradual change to produce organisms better-adapted to the environment

evolutionary psychology

study of these psychological mechanisms that developed to enhance survival and reproduction

Why did the beaks of the finches on the Galápagos change over time?

1. to aid them in combat with other finches

2. to be better suited for the particular food source they were exposed to the most

3. to help them build nests

4. to increase their mating opportunities by appearing more attractive to finches of the opposite sex

to be better suited for the particular food source they were exposed to the most

According to evolutionary psychology, people are more likely to report fear of spiders and snakes than of guns and bombs because _____.

1. the venom of spiders and snakes causes infertility

2. spiders and snakes have existed for a much longer period than guns and bombs, which allowed a natural fear to develop

3. spiders and snakes generally cause more deaths than guns and bombs

4. there are fewer guns and bombs in existence than spiders and snakes

spiders and snakes have existed for a much longer period than guns and bombs, which allowed a natural fear to develop

Natural selection refers to _____.

1. selecting healthier organic food rather than processed food

2. the process of gradual change through many generations of organisms to eventually produce organisms better adapted to their environment

3. the changing of the seasons

4. identifying unconscious obsessions that affect behavior in a dysfunctional manner

the process of gradual change through many generations of organisms to eventually produce organisms better adapted to their environment

The study of evolutionary psychology is defined as _____.

1. The study of observable behavior

2. The study of determining to what extent genetics affect personality and to what extent the environment affects personality

3. The study of thoughts and behaviors that developed through natural selection to promote survival and reproduction

4. The study of the effects of specific chemicals in the brain

The study of thoughts and behaviors that developed through natural selection to promote survival and reproduction

Who is credited with the theory of evolution?

1. Charles Darwin

2. Sigmund Freud

3. William James

4. Wilhelm Wundt

Charles Darwin

Karen Horney

• born in 1885 in Germany

• was a psychoanalyst/ psychologist following Freud’s theory of the unconscious

• founded feminine psychology which was a women-oriented repudiation of Freud’s theory of penis envy

Melanie Klein

• born in 1882

• believed that children should be analyzed using play techniques

projective identification

people play out their emotional experiences on others and thus come to know more about their unconscious

Anna Freud

• Sigmund’s Freud’s youngest daughter

• lectured frequently

defense mechanisms

structures people create to defend themselves against difficult feelings

Mary Ainsworth

best known for attachment theory

attachment theory

ideas about how children form attachments to their primary caregivers and how the specific nature of these attachments play out in their daily lives

strange situation

parents and children were observed in unfamiliar environments

Sandra Bem

• well-known for the work she did in researching the psychology of gender

• developed the gender schema theory

egalitarian marriage

men and women play equal roles

gender schema theory

explains that gender becomes a way for people to organize different aspects of their lives and identities

Eleanor Maccoby

has done substantial research over the course of her career in a child and family psychology

What was the name of Mary Ainsworth's famous experimental model?

1. Behaviorism

2. Defense mechanisms

3. The strange situation

4. Attachment theory

The strange situation

Which female psychologist pioneered feminist psychology?

1. Anna Freud

2. Melanie Klein

3. Karen Horney

4. Eleanor Maccoby

Karen Horney

Which psychologist was interested in play as a way of helping children?

1. Melanie Klein

2. Mary Ainsworth

3. Sandra Bem

4. Anna Freud

Melanie Klein

Which psychologist developed the concept of egalitarian marriage?

1. Karen Horney

2. Sandra Bem

3. Melanie Klein

4. Anna Freud

Sandra Bem

Which of the following ideas was Anna Freud interested in?

1. Internal affect

2. Attachment

3. Defense mechanisms

4. Androgyny

Defense mechanisms

critical psychology

• argues that the traditional perspective undermines the establishment of community and even supports and strengthens unjust social systems

• emphasizes how class and class barriers in society affect the thinking, actions, and mental health of individuals

• combat oppression and inequality

positive approach

holds that logic, objectivity, and the scientific method are the only ways to truth

participant action research (PAR)

gets the people being researched involved in the research

critical theory

argues that science must work to improve the lot of people

Critical theorist Jurgen Habermas emphasized the role of _____ in shaping and bettering society.

1. the status quo

2. participant action

3. interpersonal communication

4. social media

interpersonal communication

Critical theory states that science should __________.

1. never state opinions about its culture

2. always deal only with easily measured data

3. work to improve society

4. stay out of politics

work to improve society

What philosophical outlook relies on logic, objectivity, and structured scientific analysis?

1. Habermas' principle

2. positivism

3. communal psychology

4. the Frankfurt school

positivism

In participant action research, who collects and analyzes data?

1. the research participants

2. students and interns

3. everyone, via social media

4. only the lead researcher

the research participants

Margaret, a psychologist, uses open-ended interviews in her research protocol. This is an example of what type of data analysis?

1. qualitative

2. communal

3. critical

4. quantitative

qualitative

optimism

hopefulness about successful future outcomes

Martin Seligman

• an American psychologist

• focused on optimism as a learned skill

self-talk

the unvocalized thoughts that run in our heads

self-efficacy

one’s belief in their own competence to produce desired outcomes

happiness

• the experience of pleasure and positive emotions

• feeling engaged in, and absorbed by, a certain activity

• engaged not just in any activity, but in a meaningful activity

Dan Gilbert

• another American psychologist

• said that we’re really not so great at predicting the circumstances that will make us happy

Which individual displays a high level of self-efficacy?

1. Diane believes her problems are worse than her coworkers' problems.

2. Marcel prefers to perform the same tasks each day at work.

3. Shana often takes on new challenges at work.

4. Doug is hesitant to apply for a new job because he lacks confidence in his skills.

Shana often takes on new challenges at work.

Which of the following is TRUE of self-talk?

1. Both optimists and pessimists can learn to change their self-talk.

2. Self-talk is always negative and cannot be changed.

3. Only pessimists are capable of changing their self-talk.

4. Only optimists are capable of changing their self-talk.

Both optimists and pessimists can learn to change their self-talk.

Which of the following individuals is likely to be the LEAST happy?

1. Leo, who lives with his cat and receives psychological therapy.

2. Margo, who lives alone and works from home.

3. Mack, a high school drama teacher who lives alone.

4. Aliyah, a college student who lives with her extended family.

Margo, who lives alone and works from home.

Compared to pessimists, optimists tend to _____.

1. be less able to cope with stress

2. experience more distress

3. doubt that they can solve problems

4. be confident about solving problems

be confident about solving problems

According to positive psychology, happiness involves all of the following EXCEPT:

1. Experiencing pleasure

2. Being engaged in an activity

3. Having a high level of wealth

4. Engaging with a meaningful activity

Having a high level of wealth