UNIT 1

what makes psychology a science

passion for exploring and understanding

scientific attitude

skeptical but not cynical, open minded but not gullible, humble and open to new perspectives

critical thinking

looks at assumptions, sources, biases, evidence, and conclusions

structuralism

structure of the mind

introspection

looking within yourself to understand

stimuli

physical change in energy

wilhelm wundt

studied atoms of the mind with structuralism and introspection. One of the first psychologists

william james

studied what the mind does and the mind’s function. stream of consciousness

functionalism

how do thoughts and behaviros help us adapt

mary whiton calkins

memory researcher and first female APA president

margaret floy washburn

influential author and first female PhD. second APA female president. studied comparative psych

behaviorism

believes psych should be an objective science and should study behavior without looking at inner mental processes. influential into the 1960s

John B watson

studied behavior and learned fear

BF Skinner

leading behaviorist who rejected introspection and studied how consequences shape behavior

descriptive statistics

using statistical methods to provide a sample summary of data

inferential statistics

using stats to interpret data from a sample to make inferences about the population

experiment

researcher manipulates a variable to see the outcome

regression towards the mean

tendency for extreme or unusual scores to fall back towards the average

hindsight bias

a tendency to believe, after knowing the outcome, that you knew all along

peer reviews

scientific experts who evaluate a research article’s theory, originality and accuracy

theory

explanation using an integrated approach to predict behavior and events

hypothesis

testable prediction often implied by a theory

operational definitions

carefully worded statement of exact procedures used in a research study

replicate

repeating a research study to see if the results can be reproduced

preregistration

communication planned study publically

meta analysis

statistical procedure for analyzing the results of multiple studies

case studies

one individual or group studied in depth

naturalistic observation

observing behavior in natural situations without controlling environment

survey

obtaining self reported attitudes

random sample

fairly represents a population

population

all those in a group being studied

correlate

a measure of the extent to which 2 factors predict each other

illusory correlation

perceiving a relationship where none exits

psychaitrists

branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders. provides medical treatment

community psychologists

studies how people interact with their social environments

testing effect

enhanced memory after retrieveing rather than rereading info

empirical approach

evidence based method from observation and experimentation

humanistic psychologists

early psych approach that emphasizes human growth potential

cognitive psychology

study of mental processes involved in learning, percieving, remebering, thinking, communicating, and problem solving

cognitive neuroscience

study of brain activity and cognition

psychology

science of behavior and mental processes

nature-nurture issue

genes and experience having an effect on traits and behavior

natural selection

inherited traits better enable for survival and will likely be passed down

evolutionary psych

study of how behavior and mind have changed due to natural selection

behavior genetics

study of relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior

culture

enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes, values, and traditions shared by a group

positive psychology

study of human flourishing to help strenghthen communities

biopsychosocial approach

integrated approach that incoorporates biological, psychological, and socio cultural analysis

levels of analysis

analyzing phenomena from a different views: biological to psychological to sociocultural

basic research

aims to aims to increase scientific knowledge base

applied research

scientific study to solve practical problems

counseling psychologists

assists people with living problems to help them reach greater well being

clinical psychologists

studies and treats people with psychological disorders