PSYCH 121 TEST 1

Foundations of Psychology

  • Empiricism

    • Definition: Knowledge comes from experience; the environment shapes development.

  • Nativism

    • Definition: Traits and abilities are inborn.

  • Structuralism

    • Founder: Wilhelm Wundt

    • Focus: Studies the elements of human consciousness.

  • Functionalism

    • Founder: William James

    • Focus: Studies the purpose of mental processes.

  • Behaviourism

    • Founder: John Watson

    • Concept:

    • Classical Conditioning: Learning through association (Pavlov).

    • Operant Conditioning: Learning through consequences (Skinner).

Social Psychology

  • Asch's Conformity Study

    • Focus: Conformity

    • Key Findings:

    • More neutral trials at the start increase conformity.

  • Normative Influence

    • Definition: Conforming to be liked.

  • Informational Influence

    • Definition: Conforming to be correct.

  • Milgram's Obedience Study

    • Focus: Obedience to authority.

    • Explanation for Obedience: Agentic state.

  • Comparison of Milgram and Zimbardo's Studies

    • Commonality: Participants dehumanised their victims.

  • Zimbardo's Study

    • Focus: Power of roles; depersonalisation.

  • Critique of Zimbardo's Study

    • Critic: Christine Maslach

    • Focus: Studied burnout.

  • Bystander Effect

    • Definition: People are less likely to help when others are present.

    • Causes:

    • Diffusion of responsibility

    • Audience inhibition

    • Social influence

  • Social Loafing

    • Definition: People put in less effort in groups.

    • Reduction Strategies:

    • Make contributions identifiable

    • Use small groups

Motivation, Expectation & Performance

  • Pygmalion Effect

    • Definition: Positive expectations lead to better performance.

  • Golem Effect

    • Definition: Negative expectations result in worse performance.

  • Discoverer of the Pygmalion Effect

    • Researcher: Rosenthal

Cognitive Processes

  • Cognitive Dissonance

    • Definition: Discomfort experienced from inconsistent beliefs and behaviors.

  • Developer of Cognitive Dissonance Theory

    • Psychologist: Leon Festinger

  • Fundamental Attribution Error

    • Definition: Over-attributing others’ behavior to their traits.

  • Just-World Hypothesis

    • Definition: Belief that people get what they deserve.

Learning & Development

  • Bandura's Study

    • Focus: Observational learning (Bobo doll experiment).

  • Watson's Study

    • Focus: Fear conditioning (Little Albert experiment).

Personality

  • Machiavellianism

    • Definition: A manipulative, strategic, self-interested personality.

  • Right-Wing Authoritarianism

    • Developer: Bob Altemeyer

    • Three Components of RWA:

    • Authoritarian submission

    • Authoritarian aggression

    • Conventionalism

Research Methods

  • Independent Variable

    • Definition: The variable manipulated by the researcher.

  • Dependent Variable

    • Definition: The outcome measured.

  • Confounding Variable

    • Definition: An uncontrolled factor that can affect results.

  • Control Group

    • Definition: A baseline group that does not receive the manipulation.