Chapter 1

Question 1

What is the definition of psychology?

Answer 1

The scientific study of the mind and behavior

Question 2

What are the four big ideas of psychology?

Answer 2

1. Critical Thinking is Smart Thinking. 2. Behavior is a Biopsychosocial Event. 3. We Operate with a Two-Track Mind (Dual Processing). 4. Psychology Explores Human Strengths as Well as Challenges

Question 3

What is behaviorism?

Name three key theorists.

Answer 3

Focus on observing and controlling behavior. (Key theorists: Pavlov, Watson, & Skinner)

Question 4

What is cognitive psychology?

Answer 4

The branch of psychology that explores the operation of mental processes related to perceiving, attending, thinking, language, and memory, mainly through inferences from behavior. (Look up key theorists in your book.)

Question 5

What is psychoanalysis?

Name one key theorist.

Answer 5

Focus on the role of the unconscious in affecting conscious behavior. Usually involves patient talking about themself. (Key Theorist: Freud)

Question 6

What is developmental psychology?

Answer 6

scientific study of development across a lifespan

Question 7

What is introspection?

Answer 7

Process by which someone examines their own conscious experience in an attempt to break it into its component parts

Question 8

What is extroversion?

Answer 8

Tendency toward being predominantly concerned with and obtaining gratification from what is outside of the self.

Question 9

What is neuroticism?

Answer 9

Disposition to experience negative affects, including anger, anxiety, self-consciousness, irritability, emotional instability, and depression

Question 10

What is biopsychology?

Answer 10

Study of how biology influences behavior

Question 11

What is the biopsychosocial model?

Answer 11

Perspective that asserts that biology, psychology, and social factors interact to determine an individual’s health

Question 12

What is clinical psychology?

Answer 12

Area of psychology that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders and other problematic patterns of behavior

Question 13

What is cognitive psychology?

Answer 13

Study of cognitions, or thoughts, and their relationship to experiences and actions

Question 14

What is counseling psychology?

Answer 14

area of psychology that focuses on improving emotional, social, vocational, and other aspects of the lives of psychologically healthy individuals

Question 15

What is a dissertation?

Answer 15

long research paper about research that was conducted as a part of the candidate’s doctoral training

Question 16

What is the empirical method?

Answer 16

method for acquiring knowledge based on observation, including experimentation, rather than a method based only on forms of logical argument or previous authorities

Question 17

What is forensic psychology?

Answer 17

Area of psychology that applies the science and practice of psychology to issues within and related to the justice system

Question 18

What is functionalism?

Name one key theorist.

Answer 18

Focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment (Key theorist: James)

Question 19

What is humanism?

Name two key theorists.

Answer 19

Perspective within psychology that emphasizes the potential for good that is innate to all humans (Key theorists: Maslow, Rogers)

Question 20

What does the suffix ‘ology’ denote?

Answer 20

“Scientific study of”

Question 21

What is personality psychology?

Answer 21

Study of patterns of thoughts and behaviors that make each individual unique?

Question 22

What is a personality trait?

Answer 22

Consistent pattern of thought and behavior

Question 23

What is a postdoctoral training program?

Answer 23

Allows young scientists to further develop their research programs and broaden their research skills under the supervision of other professionals in the field

Question 24

What does the greek word ‘psyche’ mean?

Answer 24

Greek word for soul

Question 25

What is the difference between a PhD and a PsyD?

Answer 25

PhD is the doctoral degree conferred in many disciplinary perspectives from the college of liberal arts and sciences. PsyD is the doctoral degree that places less emphasis on research-oriented skills and focuses more on application of psychological principles in the clinical context.

Question 26

What is sport and exercise psychology?

Answer 26

Focuses on the interactions between mental and emotional factors and physical performance in sports, exercise, and other activities

Question 27

What is structuralism?

Name one key theorist.

Answer 27

Understanding the conscious experience through introspection (Key Theorist: Wundt)

Question 28

What did Gestalt Psychology focus on?

Name three key theorists.

Answer 28

Focused on the ‘whole’ picture of a person’s psychology (Key Theorists: Wertheimer, Koffka, Köhler)

Question 29

What is feminist psychology?

Name one key theorist.

Answer 29

Emphasis on women entering into psychology, because men’s bias caused mischaracterizations of women. (Key Theorist: Weisstein)

Question 30

What is multicultural psychology?

Name one pioneer. Hint: First African American to receive a PhD in psychology in the US

Answer 30

Emphasis on incorporating cultures other than that of just caucasian Americans. (Pioneer: Sumner)