Ch 1

Question 1

Give examples of research questions and/or application of each subfield

Answer 1

Basic research:
•biological: what are some brain abnormalities that may be present in ADHD or autism?
•cognitive: why do autistic children have a hard time understanding sarcasm ?
•developmental: how do stages of emotional development vary in autism?
•personality: are there any traits that are measured differently in autism?
•social: how do kids with autism interact differently with people ?
•positive: what motivates autistic people to succeed in life ?
Applied fields:
•clinical: helps people with depression how to deal and to get through the tough time
•counseling: helps people suffering with substance abuse
•educational: evaluates and views different ways in which children with ADHD may focus better
•sports: develops a performance improvement plan based on team building activities.
•industrial-organizational: implements reward system to reward hard workers for their good work.

Question 2

Distinguish psychology from related career options and the degrees each one needs

Answer 2

Psychologist(M.S.,Ph.D.):
•may conduct research. Pyschotherapy; applied work
•usually does NOT prescribe medication
-Therapist(M.S.):
•conducts psychotherapy
•does not prescribe or conduct research
•trained in specific areas ex marriage, substance abuse.
-psychiatrist(M.D.):
•may conduct psychotherapy
•prescribed medication for mental disorders

Question 3

Describe the history of psychology

Answer 3

• psychology started off as philosophy
• Aristotle (4th century B.C) method: philosophical inquiry
• not until late 1800s that psychology become own academic discipline

Question 4

Early contributing scientists in psychology

Answer 4

-Wilhelm Wundt= the Structuralists:
•”father of psychology”
•saw psychology as a science
•tried to figure out what our mind is composed of. Wanted to make a table of elements.
•interspection: tried watching and asking someone questions to see someone’s process of thinking.
•would observe
-William James=the functionalist:
•created 1st psychology course at Harvard. Wrote first psychology textbook.
•believed that thoughts and emotions help us adapt and function.
•environmental adaptation. Inspired by Darwin’s evolutionary theory
-Mary Calkins:
•memory researcher
•first female president of American Psycholgical association
-Margret Washburn:
•first female to earn a Psychology PhD. Earned it at Cornell.
•author of , The Animal Mind.

Question 5

What perspective studied the unconscious mind ?

Answer 5

1. Psychodynamic (SIGMUND FREUD)
   •the unconscious mind shapes our personality and behavior
   •dreams and associations; in depth case studies.
   •used clinical method
   Criticisms:
   •lack of research data
   •unreliable measures
   •unfalsifiable theories: any theory you Coke up with has to be able to be tested

Question 6

What perspective focused on external events and observable behavior ?

Answer 6

2. Behaviorist(SKINNER):
   •experimental focus on external events and observable behavior
   •humans are programmable machines.
   IMPUT-OUTPUT
   -all behavior is the result of learning after birth: Reinforcement and punishment.
   •lots of animal testing
   •we are shaped by our experiences
   •Watson experimented eith conditioned responses, created fear response in baby Albert.
   For example the video in class about little Albert, showed how the baby learned fear and was shaped by his experiences.
   •skinner studied the way consequences shape behavior.
   •saw little value in introspection
   CRITICISMS:
   •rejection of internal mental states. Only cared about external observable behavior.

Question 7

Which perspective does experimental focus on internal mental processes and focuses on information processing ?

Answer 7

Cognitive ex George Miller;
•information processing and higher mental facilities. Ed problem solving, language, memory.
•the “black box” is inside the mind
CRITICISMS:
How do we know that internal mental states exist ?
•cognitive neuroscience

Question 8

Which perspective is based on how people use their emotions to adapt to the environment?

Answer 8

4. Evolutionary:
•orgin in Darwin's natural selection
•focuses on the "why" of psychological processes (like functionalists)
•survival and reproduction 
CRITICISM:
•post-facto explanations vs. prediction

Question 9

Explain the biopyschosocial approach in health Psy and its application to any Psycholgical topic

Answer 9

•health Psy focuses on how health is affected by the interaction of biological, Psycholgical & sociocultural factor
-relates ro sport Psy

Question 10

Define psychology and all of its different subfields

Answer 10

-scientific investigation of mental processes and behavior
-Basic Research:
•biological : study brain, body,physical base of behavior
•developmental: all changes we go through in life
•cognitive: information processing,learning,language,problem solving
•personality: what traits you have
•social:how we behave as a group
•positive: what’s positive in human behinds
Applied Fields:
•clinical : mental illness, depression,PTSD
•counseling: similar to clinical but shorter, more specific ex substance abuse, marriage counseling
•educational: what makes teaching more effective for students and teachers
•sports: how mental processes affect performance
•industrial-organizational: behavior of employees to make them more effective