CHPT- (#5)- NAME OF CHAPTER Flashcards
(25 cards)
Psychology
the scientific study of behavior
Science
the use of systematic methods to observe the world, including human behavior, and to draw conclusion
Mental processes
thoughts, feelings and motives that people experience privately but that can not be observed (not able to see)
Behavior
everything we do that can be directly observed (able to see)
The Psychology Frame of Mind
Psychology is a discipline that tests assumptions bringing scientific data to bear on the questions of central interest to human beings.
Psychologist conduct research and depend on the research to provide evidence of their conclusions.
Critical thinking
the process of thinking deeply and actively, asking questions, and evaluating the evidence.
Curiosity
noticing things in the world and wanting to know what and why.
Skepticism
challenge facts and questioning what others believe
Objectivity
trying to see things as they really are and not as observer would like them to be seen
Empirical method
Empirical method – the collecting of data and logical reasoning. Psychologist wait for what the data tells them rather than going on their hunches.
Psychology as the Science of All Human Behavior
• Psychology is more than clinical work. Most psychologist are in academic settings doing research.
How did we end up with the idea that psychology is only mental health
When one thinks of psychology, you associate Sigmund Freud – who believed that most of human behavior is caused by dark, unpleasant, unconscious impulses.
Psychologist
Psychologist seek to understand the truths of human life in all its dimensions, including people’s best and worst experiences and everything in between.
The Biological Approach
- Focus of the body, brain and nervous system
- Neuroscience- The scientific study of the structure, function, development, genetics, and biochemistry of the nervous system, emphasizing that the brain and nervous system are central to understanding behavior, thought and emotion.
The Behavioral Approach
- An approach to psychology emphasizing the scientific study of observable behavioral responses and their environmental determines
- Behaviorist emphasize the importance of observing behavior to understand an individual and stress the importance of environmental determinants of behavior
The Psychodynamic Approach
- An approach that emphasize on unconscious thoughts and the conflict between biological drives and society demands and early childhood experiences.
- Today this theory tends to place less emphasis on sexual drives and more on cultural or social experiences that determines the behavior
Humanistic Approach
- This approach emphasizes a person’s positive qualities, the capacity for positive growth and the freedom to choose one’s destiny.
- Caring about others and willing to help others
Cognitive Approach
Approach emphasizing the mental processes involving in knowing how we direct our attention, perceive, remember, think and solve problems
The Evolutionary Approach
- Approach centered on evolutionary ideas such as adaptation, reproduction, and natural selection as the basis for explaining specific human behavior.
- Just as evolution molds our physical features, such as body shape, it also influences our decision making, level of aggressiveness, fears and mating patterns.
The Sociocultural Approach
An approach that examines the ways in which social and cultural environments influence behavior
Observing some phenomenon
the first step in conducting a scientific inquiry involves observing some phenomenon in the world. The critical thinking, curious psychologist sees something and wants to know why or how it is the way it is.
variables
Scientists studies are called anything that can change.
theory
a broad idea or set of closely related ideas that attempts to explain observations and to make predictions about future observations.
hypothesis
a testable prediction that derives logically from a theory. Testing through empirical research – the next step is to test the hypothesis. Research design a study that will test the predictions.
