Psychology as a Science and its History

flashcards cover the core ideas: psychology as a science, critical thinking, memory retrieval (testing effect), the Retrieve & Remember feature, everyday beliefs, birth of psychology and Wundt’s experiment, early pioneers and gender barriers, notable women in psychology, diversity in the field, and examples of how psychology challenges common beliefs.

How is psychology a science according to the notes?

Psychology uses the scientific attitude, asking whether ideas work and relying on scientific evidence rather than gut feelings to understand how we act, think, and feel.

What critical-thinking questions do psychologists ask when evaluating a research report or news story?

They ask: How do they know that? Who benefits? Is the conclusion based on a personal story or scientific evidence? How do we know one event caused the other? How else could we explain things?

What is the memory 'testing effect' described in the notes?

Memory research shows we retain information better when we actively retrieve it through self-testing and rehearsal.

What is the Retrieve & Remember feature mentioned in the text?

Self-tests throughout the textbook designed to boost learning by encouraging retrieval practice.

Give examples of gut-feeling beliefs that critical thinkers should question.

Beliefs like 'I feel like I’m safe from COVID here' and questions such as 'I feel climate change is happening' or 'I feel self-driving cars are more/less dangerous'—these should be evaluated with evidence.

When and where was psychology born, and what was the first experiment?

Psychology was born in December 1879 in a German university; Wilhelm Wundt and assistants created the first psychology laboratory and studied the time it took to press a key after a stimulus—the atoms of the mind.

What did Wundt measure in his first experiment and approximately how long did it take?

The time it took to press a telegraph key after hearing a stimulus; most responses were about one-tenth of a second.

Who were some of psychology’s early explorers and what were their backgrounds?

Early explorers included Wundt (philosophy and physiology), Darwin (naturalist), Pavlov (physiologist), Freud (physician), Piaget (biologist), and James (philosopher).

What barrier did Mary Whiton Calkins face, and what were her achievements?

Harvard denied her the PhD she earned; she declined a degree from Radcliffe and later became the first female president of the APA in 1905.

Who was the first woman officially to receive a psychology Ph.D., and what were her contributions?

Margaret Floy Washburn; she helped found animal behavior research and became the second female APA president in 1921.

What do the notes say about psychology’s diversity over time and today?

Historically male-dominated; today women are about 61% of APS members and 75% of psychology student affiliates, with one-third of recent doctorates earned by people of color.

What gaps persist for women and people of color in psychology academia, according to the notes?

Gaps remain in publishing in top journals, promotions to senior positions, and salaries despite broader participation.

Name a few surprising findings psychology overturned according to the notes.

Sleepwalkers are not acting out their dreams; past experiences aren’t recorded verbatim in the brain; brain stimulation or hypnosis won’t replay long-buried memories; opposites do not generally attract; most people do not suffer from low self-esteem, and high self-esteem isn’t always good.

What does the phrase 'atoms of the mind' refer to in the notes?

A description of the fastest and simplest mental processes measured by Wundt in psychology’s earliest experiments.

What does Fathali Moghaddam say about democratic citizenship in science?

It begins by accepting that you could be wrong, you must critically question everything, and you must revise your opinions as the evidence requires.