PSY2012 IRSC Exam 4 Study Set

Critical Thinking

The ability to analyze, evaluate, and form ideas based on evidence

Concept

A mental grouping of objects, events or people

Prototype

the best fitting example of a category (ie: a robin for the category of bird)

Deductive Reasoning

Reasoning from general statements of what is know to specific conclusions (general to specific)

Inductive Reasoning

Reasoning from specific evidence to general conclusions. (specific to general)

What type of reasoning leads to more certain conclusions?

Deductive reasoning

Metacognitive Thinking

The process that includes the ability first to think and then to reflect on one's own thinking.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to selectively attend to information that supports one's general beliefs while ignoring the information or evidence that contradicts one's beliefs

Heuristic

A short cut method of making complex and uncertain decisions and judgments. Basically, rule of thumb strategies.

Representative Heuristic

Estimate the probability of one event based on how typical it is of another events.

Availability Heuristic

A strategy we used to make decisions based on the ease with which estimates come to mind or how available they are to our awareness. Imagery is more dramatic and vivid.

Framing Effect

Decisions and judgments may be significantly affected depending upon how an issue is framed. How you pose a situation.

Interpersonal Intelligence

Understand and work well with others with others (for example, Mahatma Gandhi)

Emotional Intelligence

The ability to perceive emotions in yourself and other people. (perceive, understand, manage, use)

Who is Howard Gardner?

Developed theory of multiple intelligence after studying people with savant syndrome.

How many multiple intelligences are there?

At least 8 distinct intelligences.

Binet and Simon

Developed the first test of mental capabilities in the early 1900s. Score was called the mental age.

Analytical Intelligence

Intelligence measured by IQ test--"book smarts"

Creative Intelligence

Intelligence that helps us to adapt to novel situations, developing novel solutions.

Practical Intelligence

Intelligence for everyday tasks--street smarts

Why did Binet and Simon develop their test?

To determine how well kids would perform in the French school system.

Mental Age

The equivalent chronological age the child has reached based on their performance on the Binet/Simon test

What did David Wechsler do?

Developed the WAIS and WISC intelligence tests. Has standard scoring and compares performance to same aged peer groups. Commonly used today.

Three criteria of an acceptable psychological test:

Standardization, reliability, and validity

Reliability

The consistency of the results of a measurement. Important to have both test-retest and internal.

Validity

Degree to which a test accurately measures what it is supposed to measure.

Aptitude Test

Test designed to predict a person's future. How well you would do if you were trained to do something.

Achievement test

a test designed to assess what person has learned after then have been taught the information. (FCAT/test in psych class)

Percentage of WAIS scores that fall between 85 and 115

68%

Construct Validity

Does the test measure what it says it measures. (Otherwise referred to as content validity)

Predictive Validity

Does the test actually predict the behavior or trait it says that it does.

Characteristics of mental retardation

IQ of 70 or below, significant limitations in intellectual functioning, limitations in adaptive behavior. Process information more slowly.

What is mental retardation now known as?

Intellectual disability

What are the four levels of mental retardation?

Mild, Moderate, Severe, and Profound

Origins of Intellectual Disabilities

Chromosome genetic abnormalities (Down Syndrome and fragile x syndrome), prenatal abnormalities such as fetal alcohol syndrome, and environmental deprivation

True or False: IQ is due to the interaction of both nature and nurture.

True

How do we know that intelligence is hereditable?

Twin studies. There is definitely a strong genetic influence and the more DNA you share, the more your IQ is correlated.

Why is environment important to intelligence?

We inherit IQ potential from parents, but can only meet that potential from our environment.

What is the Flynn effect?

In the past 90 years, intelligence scores have risen steadily by an average of 27 points.

Convergent Thinking Problems

Problems have a known solution and require analytical thinking and use of learning strategies and knowledge to get the right answer.

Divergent Thinking Problems

Problems that have no known solutions and require novel solutions. Requires fluid and creative intelligence.

Algorithm

Step-by-step formulas or procedures for solving problems.

Fixation

The inability to break out of the particular mindset in order to think about the problem from a fresh perspective.

Mental Set

A tendency to continue to use problem-solving strategies that have worked in the past, even if better solutions are available.

Functional Fixedness

A mindset in which one is blind to unusual uses of common, everyday things or procedures.

Psychoanalytic Perspective

Important for historical context, but not a lot of current science supports it. Developed by Freud.

Freud's Definition of the Unconscious

The unconscious mind is a reservoir or feelings, thoughts, urges, and memories outside conscous ​awareness. Most of the contents are unacceptable or unpleasant such as pain, anxiety or conflict.

Id

Unconscious - operates on pleasure principle, demanding immediate gratification. Strives to satisfy basic sexual and aggressive drives. "Devil on shoulder" (Born with it)

Superego

Unconscious - Superhero of personality. The person's conscience. Provides standards for judgment and future aspirations. Doesn't get along with id. "Angel on shoulder" (Not born with it)

Ego

Conscious - operates on the reality principle. Satisfies the desires of the id and superego. Job is to mediate--is the executive part of the personality.

Defense Mechanisms

The ego's protective methods of reducing anxiety by unconsciously distorting reality.

Repression

banishes anxiety-arousing thoughts, feelings, and memories from consciousness and enables other defense mechanisms

Projection

disguising one's own threatening impulses by attributing them to others

Displacement

shifting sexual or aggressive impulses toward a more acceptable or less threatening object or person

Regression

retreating to a more infantile psychosexual stage where energy is fixated

Rationalization

offering self-justifying explanations in place of the real, more threatening unconscious reasons for one's actions

Reaction formation

switching unacceptable impulses into their opposites (hate to love)

Sublimation

rechanneling unacceptable impulses into socially approved activities.

Projective Tests

Participant is presented with a vague stimulus or situation and asked to interpret it or tell a story about what he sees. Trying to tap in to unconscious mind.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Most widely used projective test--uses 10 cards.

Humanistic Perspective

Belief that people are basically good and can become better if nothing stops development. Backlash to psychoanalysis

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

He said we are motivated by a hierarchy of needs which begins with physiological needs and moves up to self-actualization. Can't move up until the lower one's are met.

Hierarchy of Needs from Bottom to Top

Physiological, Safety, Belonging, Esteem, Self-Actualization

Trait and Factor Theory

Describes how you are--your personality. Doesn't care HOW you got your personality. Goal is to describe and predict your behavior. Scientific theory--lots of research

Big 5 Personality Factor Theory

Based on 5 normal personality traits. Determined based on a survey given which helps to list whether a person is high or low on the traits.

What are the Big 5 Traits

Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, Neuroticism, Openness, Extraversion (CANOE)

Conscientiousness

High: orderly, hardworking, careful in work, disciplined. Low: messy, procrastinates important tasks.

Agreeableness

High: good-natured, trusting. Low: suspicious

Neuroticism

High: anxious, emotional, insecure. Low: emotions don't flux too much, pats self on back. Nervous system trait

Openness

High: imaginative, interested in new experiences. Low: follow the rules, concrete thinkers, like routine.

MMPI Test

Assesses ABNORMAL personality factors

Attribution Theory

tendency to give causal explanations for someone's behavior, often crediting either the situation or the person's disposition

Fundamental Attribution Error

Tendency to overestimate the impact of personal disposition and underestimate the impact of the situation or the person's disposition.

Situational Attribution

Inference made that the cause of someone's behavior is because of an EXTERNAL factor.

Self-serving Bias

Make situational attributions for our own failures and dispositional attributions for our successes.

Cognitive Dissonance

When our behaviors and beliefs are competing with each other, we tend to change our beliefs. We need to get them in line.

Asch Length of Line Experiment

Designed to show social conformity. We tend to adjust our behavior or thinking toward some group standard

Milgram Obedience Study

Type of conformity in which a person yields to the will of another person (Over 50% of people continued to shock until the end)

Social Loafing

tendency of an individual in a group to exert less effort toward attaining a common goal than when tested individually