Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Chapter 1
Key terms from Chapter One also mentioned in powerpoints used in lecture.
33
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
10/14/2011

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Psychology
Definition
scientific study of behavior and mental processes
Term
Critical Thinking
Definition
process of objectively evaluating. comparing, analyzing, and synthesizing information
Term
Pseudopsychologies
Definition
"false" psychologies such as psychics, mediums, palmistry, astrology
Term
Goals of Psychology
Definition
To describe, explain, predict, and change behavior and mental processes.
Term
Description
Definition
tells what occurred; first step in understanding behavior;
Term
Explanation
Definition
tells why a behavior or process occurred; depends on discovering and understanding its causes
Term
Prediction
Definition
process of identifying conditions under which a future behavior or mental process is likely to occur;
Term
Change
Definition
To apply psychological knowledge to prevent unwanted outcomes or bring about desired goals; almost always a positive goal; improve work environments, stop addictive behaviors, become less depressed, improve family relationships, etc.
Term
Wilhelm Wundt
Definition
"father of psychology"; established first psychological laboratory in Leipzig, Germany in 1879
Term
Introspection
Definition
monitoring and reporting on the contents of consciousness
Term
Structuralism
Definition
Led by Edward Titchener; identifying the structures of mental life; sought to identify elements of thought through introspection; short lived because people couldn't agree on experiences and was a failure
Term
Functionalism
Definition
how the mind functions to adapt human and nonhuman animals to their environment; led by William James; also eventually declined
Term
Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic Perspective
Definition
Freud;emphasizes unconscious processes and unresolved past conflicts
Term
Behavioral Perspective
Definition
emphasizes objective, observable environmental influences on overt pehavior
Term
Humanistic Perspective
Definition
stresses free will, self-actualization, and human nature as naturally positive and growth seeking; Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow
Term
Cognitive Perspective
Definition
emphasizes thinking, perception, problem solving, memory, language and information processing
Term
Neuroscience/Biopsychology Perspective
Definition
Studies genetics and biological processes in the brain and other parts of the nervous system
Term
Evolutionary Perspective
Definition
Studies natural selection, adaptation, and evolution of behavior and mental processes
Term
Sociocultural Perspective
Definition
Focuses on social interaction and cultural determinants of behavior and mental processes
Term
Women and Minorities Perspective
Definition
Sumner, Clark, Calkins, and Washburn made important contributions
Term
Ethical Guidelines of the science of psychology
Definition
Research participants have rights such as informed consent, debriefing, and confidentiality.
Term
Informed Consent
Definition
Participants should be aware of the nature of the study and significant factors that might influence their willingness to participate
Term
Debriefing
Definition
involves explaining the reasons for conducting the research and clearing up any misconceptions or concerns on the part of the participant
Term
Experimental Research
Definition
Establishes Cause and effect. Components: Independent variables, dependent variables, & experimental controls
Term
Independent variables
Definition
Experimental research: What the experimenter manipulates
Term
Dependent variables
Definition
Experimental Research: what the experimenter measures
Term
Experimental controls
Definition
Experimental Research:(includes control group, experimental group, and extraneous variables)
Term
Descriptive Research
Definition
Cannot determine causes of behavior but can describe specifics
Term
Naturalistic Observation
Definition
Descriptive Research: describes behavior in its natural habitat without altering it
Term
Surveys
Definition
Descriptive Research: Uses interviews or questionnaires on a sample of participants
Term
Case Studies
Definition
Descriptive Research: in-depth investigations
Term
Correlational Research
Definition
Provides important research findings and predictions by examining how strongly two variables are related, and if it is +.- or not related at all
Term
Biological Research
Definition
Methods include brain dissection, lesioning, direct observation, case studies, electrical recording, and brain imaging
Supporting users have an ad free experience!