Introduction to Psychology: Theories and Approaches

What are the major schools of psychology?

The major schools of psychology include Behaviourism, Psychoanalysis, Humanism, Cognitive, and Biological.

What does Behaviourism focus on?

Behaviourism focuses on the influences of a person's environment and experiences, emphasizing observable behaviors and learning through conditioning.

What is the main idea of Psychoanalysis?

Psychoanalysis suggests that all human behavior is influenced by early childhood experiences, which affect the unconscious mind throughout life.

What does Humanism emphasize in psychology?

Humanism emphasizes the inherent goodness of humans, the capacity for self-determination, and the importance of conscious experiences and individual growth.

What is the focus of Cognitive psychology?

Cognitive psychology focuses on the mental processing of information, including thoughts and plans that guide behavior.

What is the role of Experimental psychologists?

Experimental psychologists conduct research and teaching, often specializing in areas like psychology or developmental psychology.

How do Applied psychologists use research?

Applied psychologists directly apply research findings and psychological theories to solve everyday problems in various settings.

What are some popular areas of Applied psychology?

Popular areas include industrial/organizational psychology, forensic psychology, and military psychology.

What do Clinical psychologists do?

Clinical psychologists study, diagnose, and treat psychological problems.

What is the unconscious mind according to Freud?

The unconscious mind refers to information processing that we are not aware of, holding unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and memories.

What did Carl Jung believe about the unconscious mind?

Carl Jung believed that the unconscious mind includes patterns of memories, instincts, and experiences common to all people.

What are the three parts of Freud's Iceberg Theory?

The three parts are the ego, the id, and the superego.

What is the function of the ego in Freud's theory?

The ego is the rational part of the mind that operates on the reality principle and suppresses the urges of the id.

What does the id represent in Freud's theory?

The id represents the instinctual part of the mind that operates on the pleasure principle.

What is the role of the superego according to Freud?

The superego is the moral center of the mind, guiding behavior based on moral standards.

What is the focus of Biological psychology?

Biological psychology studies the brain and nervous system, including the biological underpinnings of behavior, evolution, and genetics.

What is a key characteristic of Feminist psychology theory?

Feminist psychology theory examines the influence of gender on behavior and the social context of psychological issues.

What is classical conditioning as related to Behaviourism?

Classical conditioning is a learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, leading to a learned response.

What is operant conditioning in Behaviourism?

Operant conditioning is a method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior.

What is the significance of early childhood experiences in Psychoanalysis?

Early childhood experiences are believed to shape the unconscious mind and influence behavior throughout life.

What is the importance of conscious experiences in Humanism?

Conscious experiences are important in Humanism as they relate to individual growth and self-determination.

What did Freud believe about human personality?

Freud believed that human personality results from the ego's efforts to resolve conflicts.

How did Freud compare the mind?

Freud compared the mind to an iceberg, with the conscious mind above water and the unconscious mind below the surface.

What are the three components of the mind according to Freud?

The id (completely unconscious), the ego, and the superego (which operate both consciously and unconsciously).

What is repression in Freud's defense mechanisms?

Repression is a defense mechanism where the ego distorts reality to deal with anxiety.

Name three defense mechanisms identified by Freud.

Repression, denial, and projection.

What is free association in Freud's therapy?

Free association is a technique where the patient relaxes and says whatever comes to mind, projecting their feelings onto the therapist.

Who was Karen Horney and what was her contribution to psychology?

Karen Horney was a Neo-Freudian who disagreed with Freud on the influence of sexual conflicts in childhood and founded feminine psychology.

What did Horney argue about women's dependence on men?

Horney argued that women were pushed by society and culture to depend on men for love and status.

What was Carl Jung's relationship to Freud?

Carl Jung was a student of Freud's but disagreed with him on sexuality and human behavior.

What did Jung found in psychology?

Jung founded analytic psychology, which focuses on balancing a person's psyche based on conscious and unconscious mind.

What are the two parts of the unconscious according to Jung?

The personal unconscious (memories from ancestors) and the collective unconscious (universal archetypes shared between cultures).

What is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)?

The MBTI is a personality assessment tool based on Jung's theory of introversion and extroversion.

What are the four main approaches in psychology?

Personality, abnormal, developmental, and clinical psychology.

What is the purpose of clinical psychology?

The purpose of clinical psychology is to understand, prevent, and relieve distress or dysfunction that is psychologically based.

What does personality psychology study?

Personality psychology studies patterns of thoughts, feelings, responses, and interactions that influence self-perception, values, attitudes, and expectations.

What is the focus of abnormal psychology?

Abnormal psychology focuses on unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought, often in the context of mental illness or disorder.

What does the DSM stand for?

The DSM stands for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

What is the difference between adaptive and maladaptive behavior?

Adaptive behavior adjusts one's behavior in socially accepted, healthy ways, while maladaptive behavior results in dysfunctional or counterproductive behavior.

What did Horney contribute to the study of anxiety and fear?

Horney contributed to the study of neurotic disorders, focusing on anxiety and fear.

What is the significance of the collective unconscious in Jung's theory?

The collective unconscious contains universal archetypes that are shared across cultures.

How did Horney's views differ from Freud's regarding female psychology?

Horney believed Freud's theories did not accurately represent females and that personality is not influenced by sexual conflicts in childhood.

What is the DSM?

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is the authoritative guide on disorders.

How does developmental psychology explain human change?

Developmental psychology seeks to explain how and why human beings change over the course of their lifespans, often defined by stages of development.

What factors influence development according to psychological perspectives?

Factors include heredity, environments, personality, developmental stage, attachment, identity, attitudes, perception, consciousness, dreams, and disorders.

What are explicit attitudes?

Explicit attitudes are things we consciously think about and have developed attitudes for, such as views on drug use or communication with the opposite sex.

What are implicit attitudes?

Implicit attitudes are things we do not consciously think about but have developed attitudes for, such as stereotypes about leadership or feelings towards smoking.

What is cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced when individuals hold conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes, leading them to seek consistency in their thoughts and behaviors.

How might the identification of a disorder be controversial?

The identification of a disorder can be controversial due to differing perceptions of what is considered abnormal and the implications of labeling individuals.

What are some psychological theories mentioned in the notes?

Theories include those by Maslow, Pavlov, Skinner, and concepts of attention and intelligence.

What is the significance of developmental stages in psychology?

Developmental stages help understand how thinking, feelings, and behavior change throughout a person's life.

What role do attitudes play in development?

Attitudes, both explicit and implicit, influence how individuals perceive and interact with the world around them.

What is the relationship between attitudes and behavior?

Attitudes can affect behavior, and cognitive dissonance may lead individuals to change their attitudes or justify inconsistencies in their behavior.

What is the impact of environment on psychological development?

The environment plays a crucial role in shaping personality, identity, and developmental outcomes.

How does heredity influence psychological development?

Heredity contributes to individual differences in personality and behavior, affecting development throughout the lifespan.

What is the importance of attachment in development?

Attachment is vital for emotional and social development, influencing relationships and behavior later in life.

What are some common situational experiences that affect development?

Common situational experiences include age-related milestones and social interactions that shape growth.

How do perceptions of danger influence behavior?

Perceptions of danger, such as avoiding dark spaces, are influenced by past experiences and implicit attitudes.

What is the role of identity in psychological development?

Identity formation is a key aspect of development, influencing how individuals see themselves and interact with others.

What is the relationship between consciousness and attitudes?

Consciousness affects the formation of explicit attitudes, while implicit attitudes often operate outside of conscious awareness.

How do psychological perspectives view the process of thinking, feeling, and acting?

Psychological perspectives analyze the interplay between thinking, feeling, and acting as central to understanding human behavior.

How can changing attitudes lead to changes in behavior?

Changing attitudes can lead to changes in behaviors because attitudes influence how we act.

What are some methods to change attitudes?

Attitudes can be changed through education, contrary experiences, operant conditioning, exposure to different attitudes, and questioning the validity of those attitudes.

What is Attribution Theory?

Attribution Theory suggests that we make judgments about a person based on their perceived disposition rather than situational factors.

What is the Fundamental Attribution Error?

The Fundamental Attribution Error occurs when we overemphasize personality traits and underestimate situational influences in judging others.

How do stereotypes influence behavior?

Stereotypes can influence our behaviors towards others, which may confirm those stereotypes in a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What is the principle of closure in perception?

The principle of closure is the brain's tendency to fill in gaps in information to perceive a complete image.

What does perceptual constancy refer to?

Perceptual constancy refers to the brain's ability to recognize an object as unchanged despite changes in perspective.

What are the five senses and their corresponding types of energy?

Sight receives light energy, hearing receives sound energy, touch receives mechanical energy, smell receives airborne chemical energy, and taste receives chemical energy.

What is the Opponent-Process Theory?

The Opponent-Process Theory explains how different types of neurons respond to different colors and accounts for the negative afterimage effect.

What characterizes normal consciousness?

Normal consciousness is characterized by being awake, responsive to the environment, and having fluctuations in concentration and attentiveness.

What is confusion in terms of consciousness?

Confusion involves atypical thinking with altered speed, clarity, and coherence, including inattentiveness and disorientation.

What is the state of drowsiness and stupor?

Drowsiness and stupor involve significantly reduced mental and physical activity, with difficulty sustaining wakefulness.

What is a coma?

A coma is a state where a person appears to be asleep and is incapable of responding to external stimuli.

What is subjective experience in consciousness?

Subjective experience involves being aware of one's own awareness, such as knowing when one is dreaming.

How can consciousness be measured?

Consciousness can be measured physiologically through brain activity and behaviorally through observable actions.

What is the significance of dreams in psychology?

Dreams are significant in psychology as they raise questions about the nature and purpose of consciousness.

What role do popular figures play in changing attitudes?

Popular figures can influence attitude change by serving as role models or credible sources.

What automatic decisions do we make about others during social interactions?

We quickly assess what a person is like, whether we like them, if we can trust them, and their attractiveness.

What is the impact of our thoughts about others on our behavior?

Our thoughts about others influence our behavior towards them, often leading to confirmation of our initial judgments.

What is the relationship between perception and reality?

Perception involves the brain interpreting sensory information to create an understanding of reality.

What is the measurement of sound in terms of waves?

Sound is measured by its amplitude (wave size) and frequency (number of waves per unit time).

What did Freud suggest about dreams?

Freud said that the unconscious elements would be revealed to our conscious mind.

What is the Primitive Instinct Rehearsal Theory?

It emphasizes that dreams allow us to practice our fight or flight instincts.

How do dreams contribute to psychological healing?

Dreaming takes the edge off painful experiences to allow for psychological healing.

What role do dreams play in problem-solving?

Dreaming helps us grasp problems and formulate solutions.

What does the continual activation theory suggest about dreams?

It emphasizes that our dreams result from the brain's need to consolidate and create long-term memories.

What are dyssomnias?

Dyssomnias are intrinsic sleep disorders, which include extrinsic sleeping disorders and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.

What are parasomnias?

Parasomnias include sleep terrors, sleepwalking, nightmare disorder, sleep-related eating disorder, and sleep paralysis.

What is the difference between mental illness and mental disorder?

Mental illness encompasses a broad range of conditions affecting mental health, while mental disorder describes conditions causing significant distress or impairment.

What is the hierarchy of needs proposed by Maslow?

It suggests that people need basic needs met before pursuing social or emotional actualization.

What did Jung theorize about personality types?

Jung theorized that we consciously gravitate to one functional type (thinking, feeling, sensation, intuition) while our unconscious gravitates toward the opposite.

What is psychometrics?

Psychometrics is the study that uses questionnaires and tests to measure personality, ability, and knowledge.

What is Skinner known for in psychology?

Skinner is credited with developing true behaviorism, focusing on observable behaviors and operant conditioning.

What is operant conditioning?

Operant conditioning involves using rewards and punishment to influence behavior.

What was the Binet-Simon Test?

It was the first IQ test invented by Binet, applying the idea that intelligence could be measured.

How did environmental factors influence IQ scores according to studies?

Studies show that twins raised in different homes have significant similarity in IQ, and factors like nutrition and schooling can influence IQ scores.

What was the purpose of Asch's conformity study?

Solomon Asch wanted to investigate the extent of social pressure and how it could influence an individual's judgment even when the majority was incorrect.

What is the significance of the Bobo Doll experiment?

The Bobo Doll experiment demonstrated how children imitate aggressive behavior observed in adults.

What did Pavlov's dog experiment illustrate?

Pavlov's experiment illustrated classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus produces a response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus.