intro to psych

Psychology

Scientific study of behavior and mental processes

Behavior

Any action that can be recorded or observed

Mental

Internal states inferred from behavior

Perspectives (neuroscience)

How body and brain enable emotions,memories, and sensory experiences

perspectives (evolutionary) 

how natural selection of traits passed down from generation promotes survival of genes

perspectives ( behavior genetics)

how our genes and environment influences individual differences

perspectives (psychodynamic)

how behavior springs from unconscious drives and conflicts

perspectives (behavioral)

how we learn observable responses

perspectives (cognitive)

how we store, process, and retrieve info

perspectives( social cultural) 

how behavior and thinking vary on situations and culture 

eclectic approach

focusing on different parts of diffrent perspectives

clinical psychologist (Ph.D.)

studies, assesses, and treats using psychotherapy

psychiatrists (M.D)

prescribe medication and psychotherapy

positive psychology

scientific study of human function

Nature v. Nurture

nature: inherited characteristics

nurture: environmental factors ex: parental styles

scientific method

theories, hypothesis,research

theory

broad explanation that organizes and predicts behavior/events

Hypothesis

testable prediction based on theory allows for acceptation, rejection, or revision of theory 

operational definition

instructions needed for everyone to run the same experiment

replication

repeating experiment to confirm founded results 

cases studies

examines one individual/group in depth

survey

self- reported from a group

wording of questions can affect how someone answers the question

random sample

represents population each member equal chance of inclusion

correlation 

measure 2 events (cause and effect)

positive/ negative correlation

(0-1) up up/ up down (0- -1)

correlation and causation

correlation does not prove causation 

experimental group

exposed to treatment

control group

doesn’t get treatment

descriptive 

observe and record behavior 

weakness: no control of variables 

correlational

how one variable predicts other

weakness: doesn’t specify cause and effect 

experimental 

cause and effect 

weakness: not possible ethical reasons