History and Approaches

Question 1

Define:

Psychology

Answer 1

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

Question 2

Define behavior as it relates to psychology.

Answer 2

observable actions

Question 3

__________ are defined as internal experiences, including feelings and thoughts.

Answer 3

Mental processes

Question 4

Why is psychology a scientific study?

Answer 4

• uses empirical data to disprove hypotheses
• describes, predicts, and explains behavior and mental processes
• systematic collection and observation of data

Question 5

An example of the nature vs. nurture controversy is whether intelligence is __________ or derives from __________.

Answer 5

inherited; experience

Question 6

Define dualism as it relates to psychology.

Answer 6

idea that the mind and body are separate entities that interact

When you think of Dualism you should think of Descartes, who said “I think therefore I am” (Cogito ergo sum).

Question 7

What is monism?

Answer 7

the idea that the brain and the mind are the same thing, and that every mental state is reducible to an identical brain state

Question 8

Plato and Descartes, believers in dualism, are on the side of __________ in the nature vs. nurture controversy.

Answer 8

nature

Descartes believed knowledge was innate and the pineal gland was considered the mind.

Question 9

Which side in the nature vs. nurture controversy are Aristotle and Locke, believers in monism, on?

Answer 9

nurture

Locke’s “tabula rasa” translates to “blank slate” suggesting that knowledge is learned through experience.

Question 10

Psychology grew out of which discipline(s) in Ancient Greece?

Answer 10

philosophy, physiology, and biology

Question 11

Who is credited with the foundation of scientific psychology?

Answer 11

Wilhelm Wundt, who performed the earliest studies in 1879 in Germany, is considered the father of the discipline of psychology. He created the first lab dedicated to psychological research, and wanted to measure consciousness.

Question 12

__________ examines the structure of the mind and basic elements of consciousness. Proponents of this system felt that consciousness should be the data of psychology and the best way to research was by using individuals who were trained in introspection.

Answer 12

Structuralism

Question 13

Define:

Introspection

Answer 13

Introspection is the process whereby observers look inward and objectively analyze their sensory experience.

Question 14

Name the first president of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Answer 14

G. Stanley Hall

Question 15

Who was Edward Titchener?

Answer 15

Titchener, a researcher at Cornell University, was one of the earliest structuralists. He felt that psychology should study the structure of consciousness, and that meant studying sensations, images, and affections (emotions).

Question 16

__________ was the first woman to receive her Ph.D. in psychology.

Answer 16

Margaret Floy Washburn

Question 17

Define functionalism as it relates to psychology.

Answer 17

Functionalism was the school of thought that was a reaction to structuralism. Functionalism studies how the mind adapts to its environment. Functionalism was interested in individual differences, whereas structuralism was interested in groups of people.

Question 18

Who was Mary Whiton Calkins?

Answer 18

first female president of the American Psychological Association (APA)

Question 19

Name three of the earliest functionalists.

Answer 19

1. William James
2. James Cattell
3. John Dewey

Question 20

How did William James contribute to functionalism?

Answer 20

James published psychology’s first textbook, called The Principles of Psychology, from a functionalist perspective.

Question 21

Which psychological approach does this statement reflect?

Behavior results from learning through experience.

Answer 21

behavioral

Question 22

What is behavior modification?

Answer 22

set of techniques to help individuals unlearn habits that have led to psychological problems

Question 23

Describe Ivan Pavlov’s classical conditioning experiments.

Answer 23

Pavlov, an early behaviorist, in his famous classical conditioning experiment, trained dogs to salivate in response to the sound of a bell.

Question 24

What did John Watson believe psychology should study?

Answer 24

Watson, one of the earliest behaviorists, felt psychology should be the science of overt behavior and reject the study of mental processes.

Question 25

Who is the psychologist behind operant conditioning of rats and pigeons?

Answer 25

B.F. Skinner

Question 26

Define:

operant conditioning

Answer 26

training organisms to repeat responses that lead to rewards and not to repeat responses that lead to punishment

Question 27

What is the key premise in Gestalt psychology?

Answer 27

Gestalt psychology stresses that the whole process should be studied, rather than specific parts.

Gestalt psychology was a reaction to structuralism
While structuralism seeks to study the elements that make up consciousness, Gestalt psychology stresses the idea that the “whole is greater than the sum of its parts”

Question 28

Max Wertheimer was a _____ psychologist.

Answer 28

Gestalt

Question 29

What are the ABCs of behavior according to the behavioral approach?

Answer 29

• antecedent environmental conditions
• behavioral actions
• consequences of behavior

Question 30

Where do behavioral geneticists believe behavior comes from?

Answer 30

particular behaviors are attributed to genetically-based psychological characteristics

Question 31

Who is the father of psychoanalysis?

Answer 31

Sigmund Freud

Question 32

According to psychoanalysis, early life experiences are related to the development of one’s __________ later in life.

Answer 32

personality

Question 33

Other than Sigmund Freud, name four psychologists who associate with the psychoanalytic perspective.

Answer 33

1. Carl Jung
2. Alfred Adler
3. Karen Horney
4. Heinz Kohut

Question 34

The __________ approach studies unconscious motives, while the biological approach studies chemical processes.

Answer 34

psychoanalytic

Question 35

What is the difference between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind?

Answer 35

The conscious mind is readily accessible, while the subconscious mind is inaccesible but influences behavior.

Question 36

Define:

repression

Answer 36

psychoanalytic term for burying information in the subconscious

Question 37

__________, unlike behaviorists, believe free will guides behavior and leads to personal growth.

Answer 37

Humanists

Question 38

Define:

humanism

Answer 38

psychological perspective that believes humans have unique qualities of behavior that differ from other organisms

Question 39

Name two psychologists who associate with the humanistic approach.

Answer 39

1. Abraham Maslow
2. Carl Rogers

Question 40

Technological advances and physiological research formed the basis of the __________ approach.

Answer 40

biological

The biological approach is also known as biopsychology or neuroscience.

Question 41

According to the biological perspective, behavior is related to the __________ processes within the nervous and endocrine systems.

Answer 41

chemical

Question 42

Which psychological approach does this statement reflect?

Behaviors that contribute to survival and reproduction are naturally selected.

Answer 42

evolutionary

Question 43

Who was the inspiration behind the evolutionary approach to psychology?

Answer 43

Charles Darwin

Darwin’s theory of natural selection said all creatures have evolved over time in order to survive and reproduce.

Question 44

Which psychological approach focuses on thinking, language, and how humans receive, store, and process information?

Answer 44

cognitive

Question 45

Who first studied the cognitive development of children?

Answer 45

Jean Piaget

Question 46

The structuralists studied consciousness, thinking, and memory. This area of psychology is currently known as __________.

Answer 46

cognition

Question 47

Which psychological approach does this statement reflect?

People from different cultures interpret gestures, body language, and verbal language differently.

Answer 47

sociocultural

These psychologists study how cultural differences affect behavior.

Question 48

Organize in chronological order from earliest to latest, based on when each became popular:

• sociocultural approach
• behavioral approach
• humanistic approach

Answer 48

• The behavioral approach became popular in the early 20th century with Pavlov’s research
• The humanistic approach came about in the mid-20th century in opposition to Behaviorism
• Lastly, the sociocultural approach grew toward the end of the century as there were more interactions between different cultures

Question 49

Instead of calling themselves bio-cog-socio-humanists, these psychologists would identify as being __________ psychologists.

Answer 49

eclectic

Question 50

Identify the type of psychologist:

These individuals evaluate and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Answer 50

clinical psychologists

Question 51

What do counseling psychologists specialize in?

Answer 51

Counseling psychologists help people make changes in their lifestyles.

Question 52

What do developmental psychologists study?

Answer 52

Developmental psychologists study psychological development over an individual’s lifespan.

Question 53

__________ psychologists study the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

Answer 53

Educational

Question 54

Identify the type of psychologist:

These individuals study how humans improve technology and consumer products

Answer 54

engineering psychologists

Engineering psychologists are also known as human factors psychologists.

Question 55

Forensic psychologists study the relationship between psychology and __________.

Answer 55

legal issues

Question 56

Health psychologists study the biological, social, and psychological factors surrounding health and __________.

Answer 56

illness

Question 57

What do industrial/organizational psychologists specialize in?

Answer 57

Industrial/organizational psychologists focus on improving productivity in the workplace.

Question 58

Identify the type of psychologist:

These individuals examine the relationships between the brain, nervous system, and behavior.

Answer 58

neuropsychologists

Neuropsychologists are also known as:
biological psychologists
biopsychologists
behavioral geneticists
physiological psychologists
behavioral neuroscientists

Question 59

__________ psychologists explore attitudes, traits, and goals of individuals.

Answer 59

Personality

Question 60

Identify the type of psychologist:

These individuals examine methods for discovering and interpreting psychological data.

Answer 60

psychometricians

Psychometricians are also known as psychometric psychologists and measurement psychologists.

Question 61

Identify the type of psychologist:

These individuals assist patients with mental disabilities, developmental disabilities, and disabilities from physical trauma.

Answer 61

rehabilitation psychologists

Question 62

What do school psychologists specialize in?

Answer 62

School psychologists focus on counseling students, educators, and parents.

Question 63

What do social psychologists study?

Answer 63

Social psychologists study how an individual’s thoughts and behavior are related to his or her interactions with other people.

Question 64

Identify the type of psychologist:

These individuals assist athletes in narrowing their focus on goals, increasing motivation, and coping with the fear of failure.

Answer 64

sports psychologists