chapter 1: the history and scope of psychology

1.1 what are the 3 things to scientific thinking?

Curiosity

Skepticism

Humility

1.2 Define what “Critical thinking” is

Critical thinking is the action of examine assumptions, evaluating deviance, assessing conclusions, appraising sources, and discerning hidden biases

1.3 what were some of the important milestones of psychology in the early years

• the starting of the first couple of schools of thoughts being structurnalism and functionalism

• the amazing female psycholoist Margarent floy washburn

• 
  

1.3 what were the 2 main thoughts of the psychology?

Structuralism

Functionalism

1.3 Define what structuralism is

This was an early school of thought by Wundt which used introspection to try to reveal the structure of the human mind

1.3 Define what functionalism is

This is an early school of through promoted by james and darwin which explored how mental and behavioral porcess function such as how it enabled organisms to adapt, survive and flourish

1.3 what were some of the flaws with structuralism

The main thing that made it unreliable is the need for the individual having to be smart, verbal people which could vary wildy from individual to individual

1.3 what were some of the flaws of functionalism

• Ignores social change: Focuses on stability and misses how conflict drives society.

• Conservative bias: Justifies the status quo and existing inequalities.

• Circular logic: Assumes institutions exist because they are useful, then uses their existence as proof.

• Ignores subjective experience: Fails to account for what conscious states actually feel like (qualia).

• Mistakes processing for understanding: Confuses complex rule-following with actual comprehension.

1.3 what is the main function of consciousness

its main function the day to day life is to consider past actions, adjust our current present, and plan our future,

1.4 define what “ behaviorism” is

• the which psychology should be an objective science

• studies of behavior with relation to mental process( this view isn’t used too much \

1.4 who made psychoanalytic psychology and what is it used for

Sigmund Freud

This form of psychology touched on how our unconscious mind and experiences from childhood affect our behaviors

1.4 what is “humanistic psychology”

This form of psychology focus on the pontential of growth, need for love and acceptance and the environment which can nuruture or limit personal growth

1.5 define what “ cognitive psychology”

This is the study of psychology which focus on the mental processes which are involved in perceiving learning, remembering, thinking, communicating, and problem solving

1.5 define what “ cognitive neuroscience” is

This is the interdisciplinary field of study which studies how brain activity is linked with cognition

1.5 define what “cognition” is

This the perception, thinking, memory, and language

1.5 how is “psychology” defined as

it is the science of behavior and mental processes

1.5 define what “behavior” is

This is any objective action which an organism does such as - yelling, smiling, blinking, sweating

1.5 define what “mental proccesses” are

These are any subjective experiences of an organism such as - Sensations, perceptions, dreams, thoughts, beliefs, feelings

1.5 define what the “nature-nurture issue” is

This is an ancient issue which asks wether the contributions of genes and experience makes to the development of behavior and psychological traits

• Nurture works on what nature provides

1.5 Define what “natural selection” is

This is the principle which inherited traits enables organisms to survive and have a higher chance to reproduce in a certain environment

1.5 define what “evolutionary psychology” is

This is the study of psychology which uses the principles of natural selection to evaluate the mind and its behaviors

1.5 define what “behavior genetics” is

This is the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

1.5 define what “epigenetics”

is it how experince can shape/influence genetic expression

1.5 define what “neuroplasticity” is

this is the brains ability to learn and adapt

1.5 what does “WEIRD” stand for why is it good for sutdying?

(Western, Educated, Industrialized Rich, Democratic) cultures

it is important for them to study since they make up a small part of the people in the world

1.5 what is a “Culture”

These are enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group(s) of people from one generation to the next

• studying culture helps to find difference, similarities and kinnship as individuals and communities

1.5 what is “gender indentity”

this is an individuals sense of being male, female, a mixture, or neither

1.5 what is “Positive psychology”

This is the psychological study which focus on human flourishing, promoting strengthens, virtues which help individual or communities

1.5 what is the “biopsychosoical approach”

this is an integrated approach wihcih incorporates biological psychological and social cultural levels of analysis

1.5 what are the “3 levels of analysis”

These are the differing complementary views which range from biological, psychological, social cultural which is used to study phenomenon

1.5 what is “basic reaearch”

pure science which aimts to increase the scientific knowledge base

1.5 what is “applied reaearch”

This is a scientific study which aims to solve practical problems