Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Intro to Psychology > Chapter 1 - What is Psychology? > Flashcards

Chapter 1 - What is Psychology? Flashcards

(65 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is psychology?

A

Scientific study of human behaviour and mental processes and how they effect and are effected by an organisms physical and mental states and environment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is science’s approach known as?

A

Positivism

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 4 goals of psychology?

A

1) description (describe the behaviour as accurately as possible
2) explanation (enables researchers to state the causes (why) of the behaviour)
3) prediction (when researchers can specify the conditions which a behavior is likely to occur)
4) control (researchers understand how to manipulate conditions to cause or prevent occurrences)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a theory?

A

General hypothesis or principle that explains how facts are related to one another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the two functions of a theory?

A

1) organizes facts systematically

2) guides scientific research

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What do psychologists use theories?

A

Propose reasons for relationships among events

Allow us to derive explanations and predictions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is critical thinking?

A

Thoughtfully analyzing and probing questions, statements, and arguments of others

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the principles of critical thinking?

A

1) be skeptical
2) insist on evidence
3) examine the definitions of terms
4) examine the assumptions or premises of arguments
5) be cautious in drawing conclusions from evidence
6) consider alternative interpretations of research evidence
7) do not oversimplify
8) do not overgeneralize

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the two types of research?

A

Basic (Pure)

Applied

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What research seeks new knowledge?

A

Basic (Pure)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Which research is used to solve real-world problems?

A

Applied

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Which research uses control?

A

Applied

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Which research describes, explains and predicts?

A

Basic (Pure)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Who is known as the “Father of Psychology”?

A

Wilhelm Wundt

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Who was structuralism founded by?

A

Wilhelm Wundt and Edward Titchener

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What was the research method used by Wundt?

A

Introspection - analyzing basic events of conscious mental experience
- proved to be subjective and inaccurate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What was Joseph Gall’s contribution?

A

Phrenology - talking about different components of brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What do you need to remember about James Mark Baldwin?

A

1) structuralist

2) established first psychology lab in Canada

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Who founded functionalism?

A

William James

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What was William James theory of functionalism?

A

We adapt to our environment, and if we don’t, we die

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Who founded Behaviorism?

A

John B. Watson

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What does Behaviorism state?

A

Psychology should be the study of observable behavior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Who founded Gestalt psychology?

A

Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka, and Wolfgang Kohler

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is Gestalt Psychology focused on?

A

Emphasizes the tendency to organize perceptual input into wholes and patterns. Suggests that insight contributes to problem solving

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Who founded Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Freud
26
What did Sigmund Freud emphasize?
The unconscious and early childhood experiences are of primary importance
27
Who was the founder of Feminist psychology?
Karen Horney
28
What do modern psychologists practice?
Biopsychosocial model - combines aspects of each broad model To explain why we behave and think the way we do
29
What are current perspectives?
Biological, evolutionary, and sociocultural
30
What is the biological perspective?
Study of the brain and nervous system - Seek to understand the link between physical processes and structures and behaviour and mental processes
31
What is the evolutionary perspective?
Focusses on how humans have evolved behaviours required for survival against environmental pressures over the course of evolution
32
Who has influenced the evolutionary perspective?
Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection
33
What is the Sociocultural perspective?
Studies the influence of culture, ethnicity, gender, and Socioeconomic status on behaviour and mental processes
34
What is cognitive psychology?
Specialty that studies mental processes such as memory, problem-solving, reasoning and decision-making, language, perception and other forms of cognition. Humans actively seek out experiences, alter and shape events
35
What is humanistic psychology?
Focusses on uniqueness of human beings in their capacity for choice, growth, and psychological health. Based in the present… What do we need?
36
Who suggested that we are motivated by need?
Abraham Maslow
37
Who suggested that human beings are innately good?
Carl Rogers
38
What is the humanistic-existential perspective?
Focusses on conscious awareness and subjective experience
39
What is humanism?
Stresses the human capacity for self-awareness, self-fulfillment, and growth
40
What is existentialism?
Stresses the importance of free will and responsibility
41
What are learning perspective?
1) Contemporary behaviorist’s emphasize environmental influences and learning of habits to repetition and reinforcement. 2) Social-cognitive theorists suggest that people can modify and create their environment
42
What is the scientific method?
Also known as positivism, it’s a systematic process of conducting research through and create and analysis by: 1) formulating research questions or stating hypothesis 2) Examining questions or testing hypothesis in view of evidence 3) drawing conclusions based on findings 4) Constructing or modifying a theory 5) Developing new research questions or hypothesis
43
What is the case study?
Single individual or a small number of persons are studied in great depth over a period of time
44
What is the cohort study
Case study over an extended period of time (e.g. street corner society)
45
What is the survey?
Method of study in which researchers use interviews or questionnaires to gather information about the attitudes, beliefs, experiences or behaviours of a group of people
46
Which method of research is most useful for a large sample of people?
Survey
47
What is the research method in which researchers observe and record behaviour in its natural setting without attempting to influence or control it?
Naturalistic observation
48
What is the method of research in which behaviour is studied by observation in a laboratory?
Laboratory observation
49
What are the different sampling types?
Random sample and stratified sample
50
What is a random sample?
Sample drawn so that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected to participate
51
What is a stratified sample?
Sample drawn so that identify the sub groups in the population are proportionately represented
52
What is the experimental method?
Six to confirm “cause-and-effect” relationships by introducing independent variables and observing their effects on dependent variables
53
What is the difference between an independent variable and a dependent variable?
Independent - manipulated so that its effects may be observed Dependent - resulting behavior/outcome of the effects
54
Who is the experimental group comprised of?
Participants who obtain the treatment
55
Who belongs to the control group?
Participants who do not obtain the treatment and are used to compare the results of the IV on the behaviour of participants
56
What is a placebo?
A fake treatment that has the appearance of being genuine
57
What is a blind study?
Condition under which participants are unaware of whether or not they have received a treatment
58
What is it called when both study participants and observers do not know who has received the treatment?
Double-blind study
59
What are concerns with psychological tests?
Reliability (consistency in what it measures) and validity (measure what was intended)
60
What is correlational research?
Investigate whether two variables are related
61
What is the correlation coefficient?
Number between 1 and -1 expressing the strength and direction of the relationship between two variables Positive correlation indicates that has one variable increases, the other does as well. Negative correlation indicates that is one variable increases, the other decreases
62
What are the ethics for human research?
- Participation must be voluntary - must be respect for confidentiality - participants must be informed of all risks - participants must be free to withdraw at any time - participants must be debriefed as soon as practicable
63
What are the four principles for ethical decision making?
1) Respect for the dignity of persons and people 2) responsible caring 3) integrity in relationships 4) responsibility to society
64
What are five reasons animals are used in research?
1) provide a simpler model for studying 2) can exercise more control over animals 3) Wide range of medical and other manipulations can be used 4) Easier to study the entire lifespan of an animal 5) Cheaper to use an available at researcher’s convenience
65
What is a guideline provided by the Canadian Counsel on Animal Care for researchers working with animals?
Animals may be harmed only one there is no alternative and the benefits of the research justify the harm

Intro to Psychology (14 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions