Chapter 1: Psychology, The Science of Behaviour

Question 1

What is psychology?

Answer 1

• The scientific study of behavior and the factors that influence it
• factors such as biological, individual and environmental

Question 2

Basic Research

Answer 2

-knowledge gained purely for its own sake
-the goal is to describe how people behave and to identify factors that influence it
-such research can be carried out in a lab, or in the real world
- eg —> Robert Cave’s Jigsaw study: showed how competition led to hostility

Question 3

Applied Research

Answer 3

-knowledge gained to solve specific practical problems
-uses principle discovered via basic research to approach problem solving

Question 4

4 Goals of Basic Psychology

Answer 4

1: Describe how people and animals behave

#2: Explain and understand the causes of the behaviour
#3: Predict how people and animals behave under certain conditions
#4: Influence of control the behaviour through knowledge and control of causes

Question 5

Perspectives

Answer 5

-diverse viewpoints on something allows for an. enriched understanding of behaviour and its causes
-six different perspectives:
#1: biological (the physical aspects of human nature, brains and genes)
#2: cognitive (thought process)
#3: psychodynamic (unconscious forces that motivate behaviour)
#4: behavioural (the role of external environments on actions)
#5: humanistic (self actualization and free will)
#6: sociocultural (cultures that relate to behaviour)

Question 6

Biological Perspective

Answer 6

-empahsizes the role of the brain and its biochemical processes

Question 7

Mind-Body Dualism

Answer 7

-the belief that the mind is a spiritual entity, and isn’t subject to physical laws of the body
-no amount of research regarding bodily processes can explain the mind
-an ancient and widely-held view, most notably amongst Greeks

Question 8

Monism

Answer 8

-the belief that the mind and body are one, and mental events are a product of physical events
-a modern view agreed upon by most scientists

Question 9

Discovery of the Brain

Answer 9

-late 1700s, Luigi Galvani discovered that the severed leg of a frog was able to move when subjected to an electrical current
-this defied prior belief that bodily movements are caused by the soul
-in 1870, researchers applied electrical stimulation directly to the brains of animals which resulted in movement of specific parts depending on which part of the brain got the impulse
-Karl Lashley is known for damaging specific regions of the brain and studying the effects of this on learning and memory amongst animals tasked to run through mazes
-in 1929, EEG allowed researchers to measure electrical activity of the brain

Question 10

Evolution and Behaviour

Answer 10

-Darwin’s natural selection theory demonstrated that characteristics that increase survival are more likely to be inherited
-he proposed that humans and apes arose from the same ancestor
-the development of human behaviour goes along with evolution

Question 11

Sociobiology

Answer 11

-evolution causes complex social behaviours in human species
-natural selection favours behaviours that increase ability to pass on genes
-aggression + competition, male dominance, female nurturing

Question 12

Altruism

Answer 12

-the belief that one’s genetic survival is more important than their physical survival

Question 13

Genetics

Answer 13

-behavioural tendencies are influenced by genetic factors
-animal breeding of behavioural traits is possible
-identical twins are very behaviourally similar than fraternal twins

Question 14

The Cognitive Perspective

Answer 14

-humans are information processors and problem solvers whose actions are governed by thought and planning
-these mental capabilities is what sets humans apart from animals
-focuses on sensation and perception as humans experience the world
-both biological and environmental (illusions)
-there are several contributors towards the modern cognitive perspective

Question 15

Structuralism

Answer 15

-the analysis of the mind in terms of its basic elements (believed to be sensations)
-Wilhelm Wundt founded the first lab of experimental psychology in 1879

Question 16

Functionalism

Answer 16

-the functions of consciousness instead of its structure
-influenced by Darwin’s evolutionary theory (adaptation to succeed)
-William James helped include biological and mental processes to further understand behaviour

Question 17

Gestalt Psychology

Answer 17

-the opposite of structuralism
-elements of experience are organized into wholes
-Wolfgang Kohler concluded that;
-the ability to perceive relationships is the essence of intelligence
-insight is the sudden perception of a useful relationship / solution to a problem
-insight was demonstrated as a chimpanzee used various items in a cage to reach a banana at the top

Question 18

Jean Piaget

Answer 18

-studied how children think, reason and solve problems
-he focused on the development of the mind and how we adapt to our environment

Question 19

Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck

Answer 19

-studied mental distortions and irrational thought problems and their effect on emotional problems
-studied how distress is often caused by the way a situation is perceived, not always by external solutions

Question 20

Modern Cognitive Science

Answer 20

-AI focuses on how people produce and recognize speech
-Social Constructivism; what we think is reality is largely our own creation, little shared reality exists

Question 21

The Psychodynamic Perspective

Answer 21

-searches for causes of behaviour within personality
-emphasizes the role of unconscious processes and past unresolved conflicts
-Sigmund Freud focused on how hysteria (random development of physical symptoms) was largely influenced by unconscious forces
-repression was used as a defence mechanism to push them to the unconscious depths of mind
-behaviour is a reflection of unconscious internal struggle

Question 22

The Behavioural Perspective

Answer 22

-focuses on the impact that external environmental stimuli have on human actions
-British Empiricism: all ideas and knowledge are gained empirically
-John Locke: the human mind is initially a blank paper
-“seeing is believing” is more credible than reasoning, which may be wrong

Question 23

John Watson,1920s

Answer 23

-heavily lead the movement of behaviourism
-observable behaviour is more credible than unobservable inner consciousness
-he devoted efforts to discovering laws that govern learning and performance
-B.F. Skinner believe that mental events, images and feelings are behaviours, not causes

Question 24

Cognitive Behaviourism

Answer 24

-an attempt to bridge the gap between behavioural and cognitive perspectives
-the environment affects our thoughts which affects our behaviour
-mental abilities allows us to control behaviour, and influence the environment

Question 25

The Humanistic Perspective

Answer 25

-focuses on values, choice, fulfillment of potential
-problems of behaviours are often caused by blocks in a person’s ability to seek potential
-emphasizes free will and innate tendencies towards growth
-rejects unconscious forces as behavioural causes
-stresses the importance of conscious motives, freedom, and choice

Question 26

Terror Management Theory

Answer 26

-personal value is constructed from thoughts about the afterlife

Question 27

The Sociocultural Perspective

Answer 27

-focuses on how culture is transmitted and similarities/differences between cultures
-humans have the need to develop cultures to feel order in their social system
-Margaret Mead studied differences in cultural expectations and thus behaviour among men and women of three tribes
-Differences in culture is emphasized with individualism and collectivism;
-eg –> The US has pride in oneself whereas Japan is prideful in unity

Question 28

Timeline of Perspectives

Answer 28

• 1879: Structuralism
• End of 19th century: Functionalism and Psychodynamic
• 1920s: Behaviourism
• 1960s: Cognitive
• Always: Biological

Question 29

Casual Factors of Behaviour

Answer 29

1: Biological

-analyses behaviour in terms of brain processes, hormones and genetics
-cannot explain experiences and feelings
#2: Psychological
-analyzes the role of thought, memory, planning and problem solving
-people are influenced by motivational, emotional and personality processes
#3: Environmental
-the past and present environment
-personal and cultural environment